Glass is a transparent, most versatile material that we use in our homes every day. From drinking glasses to fancy crockery, everything is made of glass. Apart from this, glass is also used for decorative purposes in the house in the form of painted or tinted glass. But if you are wondering how many types of glass are commonly used in the construction industry and what are their attributes, then you have landed onto the right page. In this blog, we will discuss the various types of glass used in the construction industry and their applications.
So, without further ado, let’s get started.
Different Types of Glass Used in the Construction Industry
Glass as a building material and in many architectural designs have been used since ages. With new technologies, the functions and properties of glass have improved over the years. The following are different types of glass and their uses in the construction industry.
- Annealed glass
- Tempered glass
- Insulated glass
- Laminated glass
- Coated glass
- Decorative glass
We will discuss each of their properties in detail in this blog.
Annealed glass
It is a soft, non-tempered, normal glass that is slowly cooled after it has been formed. Since they are not tempered or undergo any process that strengthens or toughens it, they can be easily broken and cause injuries since the broken pieces have long sharp edges. It is used in areas where safety is not a prime concern, but you need to cut down on costs.
Because of its transparency and clarity, it is used on table tops and in styling your furniture pieces. Moreover, they are also popularly used in showcases and clear indoor screens.
Tempered glass
Tempered glass undergoes a process of high heating and rapid cooling which toughens the glass and hardens it to sustain pressures. Therefore, tempered glass is considered much harder and stronger than normal glass. Another big advantage of using tempered glass is that it can withstand moderate heat conditions i.e. up to 470°F.
It is used in sliding doors, bathtub enclosures, skylights, elevators, swimming pools and balcony doors because it is stronger than the normal, average glass. Due to its ability to withstand moderate heat, it is well-suited for a shower room, swimming pool and bathtub etc. Moreover, they are now increasingly being used to design staircases because of its toughness and durability. In offices, on conference tables and kitchen countertops, tempered glass is a popular choice. Similarly, the room dividers in offices and the shelves in retail shops are all made of tempered glass.
Insulated glass
Insulated glass has two plies of glass which is separated by an aluminum sheet or other layers. In some cases it is filled with gases like argon to make it a low-emission glass. When air is trapped between two sheets of glass, it makes it insulated. This allows the insulated glass to to reduce heat gain during the summer season and thus lower AC bills. Similarly, in the winter season heat loss is reduced in insulated glass causing low heating bills.
Insulated glass is used in windows and in the exterior façade where you want to block the sunlight from entering the building.
Laminated glass
Although glass is a fragile material, with modern innovative solutions its durability is enhanced with improved functionalities. Laminated glass is one such type. It is a processed glass that is one of the best alternative options than normal glass because it is shatterproof and can’t break easily. This tough glass is used in the construction industry in areas where durability is important such as in high-security areas, even in government offices where security is a primary concern.
The laminated glass is also bullet proof and is placed in areas prone to burglary and theft or any criminal activities such as in windows in residential units which gives a tough time for the burglar to break in.
Its structure involved two glass panes with a middle layer which is made of Polyvinyl Butyral (PVB). This middle layer creates a bond with both layers of glass and holds it together. The chemical bond between the layers renders it capable to withstand pressure enabling it to not shatter easily. Even if laminated glass breaks, it doesn’t create shards of glass that have sharp edges. The glass may break but the glass will remain attached to its inner layer reducing the impact. The bond between the PVB sheet and the glass is a chemical bond and thus it does not shatter easily.
Coated glass
This type of glass has a surface coating or a layer that is applied to the glass to modify its appearance and influence its properties. It can be turned into a scratch-resistant or corrosion-resistant glass due to a surface added to the glass. It also requires less maintenance since it is not prone to scratches. The coating on the glass surface is applied through controlled exposure of glass surface to vapours that bind to the glass resulting in a permanent layer. Neutral-coloured coatings were introduced in 1980 after many experiments.
During the 70s, single glazing was popular, but it caused large thermal losses. Later, double glazing was introduced, which reduced thermal losses further. The double-glazed technology was then combined with modern thin film technology to create colour-neutral, transparent coatings which has further halved the energy losses. It is estimated that around 80% of the heat is lost through the transparent glass surface. To enhance its thermal insulation properties, thin metal films are deposited onto the glass. Coated glass also has other technical attributes such as noise insulation, and solar protection. It is therefore used in buildings where low-emission and low-thermal losses are desired.
Decorative glass
There are different decorative glass used both in residential and commercial properties. Acid-etched decorative glass is chemically treated with an acidic material to produce a surface finish that diffuses light and allows a frosted appearance by reducing the glare on screen. Acid-etching can either be done on the entire glass surface or in specific areas to provide different levels of translucence. It is used in shower screens, conference rooms and many areas where privacy is a primary concern.
We hope this guide on common glass types and their uses was useful to you. If you are thinking of incorporating glass in your next construction project, then you should also take a look at:
- Ways to decorate your house using glass
- Types of tempered glass
- Uses of textured glass
- How to incorporate recycled glass in your home décor
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