S55

Laminated glass

Laminated glass consists of the joining of several glass sheets of any thickness, by means of intermediate films made with translucent plastic materials. These films are mostly made of polyvinyl butyral (PVB), ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) and UV-activated resins, or simply a mixture of their ingredients.

These films can be transparent, translucent or coloured (sometimes the colours may have been applied directly to the interlayer, although it is the sheet that is usually coloured) and include practically everything: patterned paper, LEDs, fabrics, etc. They can also receive acoustic and solar control treatment.

Laminated glass properties.

Its most remarkable property is that, in case of fracture, the plastic film prevents glass fragments from shattering. This considerably improves its mechanical performance in case of impact and avoids the danger of glass splinters being released. This is possible thanks to its sheets or thickness (PVB).

The greater the number of sheets, the safer it is against intrusion, dramatically increasing safety for people and objects under the roof. The UNE-EN 356 standard classifies these glass sheets in a scale comprising different levels, depending on their resistance to impact.

Laminated glass is also known as safety glass, although this is just one of the types on the market and not all safety glass (such as tempered glass) is necessarily laminated.

Tempered glass

Tempered glass is a type of safety glass, processed by thermal or chemical treatments, to increase its thermal resistance compared to regular glass. This is achieved by compressing the exterior surfaces and tensioning the interior surfaces.

To do this, the glass is subjected to a thermal process of 650ºC, before receiving a sharp cooling of air, resulting in a glass with excellent shock resistance and tolerance.

Tempered glass properties.

Thanks to its special composition, when a tempered sheet of glass is broken by accident, it crumbles into small granular pieces instead of splintering into large jagged fragments. Granular pieces are less likely to cause injury.

In addition, with this type of glass the chances of breakage due to thermal shock are reduced thanks to its high absorption of solar energy. Energy absorption is the percentage of solar energy absorbed by the glass that generates an increase in temperature. This value is indicative of the risk of breakage due to thermal shock. If it is very high, the glass should be tempered.

It is advisable to use tempered glass in the vast majority of glazing requirements, especially in those occupying a large surface area, and in all locations that are exposed to circulation of people or that present a risk of breakage or impact, as well as to different temperatures.

Insulating glass

Insulating glass, also known as double glazing, multiple glazing, or Climalit (trademark), consists of two or more glass sheets separated by a space that prevents any contact between the glass.

The inner space between the glass sheets is usually filled with dry air or other inert gas, but it is also possible to form a vacuum, thus improving their performance. In any case, the spaces are hermetically sealed to prevent air flow and the entry of pollutants.

There are also insulating glasses with special 'very low emissivity' treatments, a transparent metal coating on the inner surface, which provides 50% more insulation than conventional double glazing.

Insulating glass can be combined with other solar control functions, low emissivity, etc.

Insulating glass properties.

If there is a positive aspect to double glazing compared to other glass models, it is the possibility of creating customised glass according to the performance required. Therefore, this type of glass can incorporate heat, acoustic and safety insulation features.

For example: a product with highly beneficial features can be achieved by combining an insulating glass with a low-emissivity and solar control glass all in the same panel, even adding a laminate or acoustic laminate.

In addition, thanks to its space this glass offers very low thermal transmittance and therefore great thermal insulation, which will provide air conditioning savings of over 50%.

Finally, it must be noted that the gas contained in the space will also greatly influence the properties of the glass.

For example: the main objective of the SF6 is to improve the acoustic insulation by reducing approximately 3 dB. Argon, on the other hand, has a low heat conductivity, lower than that of air, which provides greater thermal insulation (reduction of the U value by more than 0.3 W/m²). On occasions, a mixture of two of these gasses is used to achieve specific properties.

Chamber size and energy transmittance.

The thermal transmittance (U-value) in a glass sheet has an inverse relationship to its thickness. The higher the interlayer profile (and therefore the greater the distance between the glass sheets), the lower the radiation transmission (the U-value decreases).

Please note: in spaces greater than 15-18 mm, the air currents created inside them increase energy transmission, so the generic rule referred to here does not apply.

Sandwich panel

Our roofs enable the installation of totally opaque and highly resistant aluminium plates or sandwich panels. These plates are composed of three sheets: thermo-lacquered aluminium sheets with different finishes (RAL coatings, anodised or wood) that are placed on the inside and outside, and an extruded polystyrene core of great resistance to compression that provides excellent thermal insulation.

Sandwich panel properties.

Lightweight structure with high impact resistance, manufactured in different thicknesses according to insulation needs. It also comes in a great variety of finishes, although light colours on the outside are always recommended for greater durability.

Perfect for applications in which a totally opaque enclosure is required, blocking out incoming light when it is closed. Once the system is opened, light is allowed back in.