Advances in Glazing Technology
| Pages | 2-4 |
| Published date | 01 May 1982 |
| Date | 01 May 1982 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/eb057247 |
| Author | Stephen Barratt |
| Subject Matter | Economics,Information & knowledge management,Management science & operations |
Advances in
Glazing Technology
by Stephen Barratt
Marketing Manager, Tremco Ltd
This article is more a hope for the future than a statement
of the present situation, for although there have been
developments in both glasses and types of window frames,
methods of glazing are still largely traditional, using glaz-
ing compounds more suited to the building technology of
the early part of the century. This is not the result of lack
of technological advance in materials or methods so much
as the general reluctance of glaziers themselves to consider
any change from the traditional. There are, of course,
many situations where hand grade compounds and putties
can be used successfully—provided the seal is regularly
maintained—but as changes occur in glasses and frames,
the locations become fewer.
Let us consider first the glass being used in present
buildings, be they domestic or commercial, and one im-
mediate observation is that the areas of individual panes
tend to be larger. In addition, there is increasing use of en-
vironmental glasses, such as insulating glass units and solar
control glasses as well as safety glasses and plastic sheets.
The operation of glazing
is
the fixing of the glass into the
surround to provide a cushioned, weatherproof and air-
tight seal, which will allow for movements between glass
and surround due to thermal and moisture changes and
wind loading. It is obvious that as dimensions increase, the
magnitude of the differential movement between the glass
and surround increases, and therefore places greater
demands on the flexibility of the glazing seal. Hence glaz-
ing systems and compounds which are suitable for small
panes may not provide sufficient flexibility when large
areas of glass are involved.
Where solar control glasses are involved, the
temperature at the glass edge will be considerably greater
than for clear glass, and one result of this is that glazing
compounds which harden by oxidation will have this pro-
cess accelerated, thereby reducing the effective life of the
seal. Of course the solar gain in the glass will also have the
effect of increasing the thermal movement of the glass.
Glazing Sealants for Greater Flexibility
Glazing sealants are available which provide greater flex-
ibility than traditional compounds so that large areas of
glass need present no problems, and likewise the modern
polymer based sealants are practically unaffected by oxida-
tion and can therefore tolerate the heat build up experienc-
ed with solar control glasses without suffering early
failure. However, before considering types of sealants and
systems, let us look at the commonly used window frames,
and assess their effect on the glazing seal.
There is at present a general trend towards the use of
maintenance free (or simply maintained) materials and this
is particularly true of window frames. Plastic or plastics
coated frames have been used to a limited extent for some
years,
and aluminium is well known in the window in-
dustry. There are now special finishes available for both
2 INDUSTRIAL MANAGEMENT + DATA SYSTEMS
To continue reading
Request your trial