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There are various types of glass used in construction for different purposes. This article discusses the engineering properties and uses of these glasses.
Glass is a hard substance which may be transparent or translucent and brittle. The fusion process used to manufacture glasses. In this process, sand is fused with lime, soda, and some other admixtures and then cooled rapidly. Glasses used in construction purposes and architectural purposes in engineering.
Fig. 1: Use of Glass as Building Envelope1. Transparency of Glass
Transparency is the main property of glass which allows the vision of the outside world through it. The transparency of glass can be from both sides or from one side only. In one side transparency, glass behaves like a mirror from the other side.
2. Strength of Glass
The strength of glass depends on the modulus of rupture value of glass. In general glass is a brittle material but by adding admixtures and laminates we can make it as more strong.
3. Workability of Glass
A glass can be molded into any shape, or it can be blown during melting. So, workability of glass is a superior property.
4. Transmittance
The visible fraction of light that passing through glass is the property of visible transmittance.
5. U value of Glass
U value represents the amount of heat transferred through glass. If a glass is said to be insulated unit then it should have lower u value.
6. Recycle Property of Glass
Any glass can be 100% recyclable. It can also be used as raw material in construction industry.
Types of Glass and their Uses
The types of glass used in construction are:
1. Float Glass
Float glass manufactured from sodium silicate and calcium silicate so, it is also called as soda-lime glass. It is clear and flat, so it causes glare. Thickness of the float glass is available from 2mm to 20mm, and its weight range from 6 to 36 kg/m2. The application of float glass includes shop fronts, public places, etc.
Fig. 2 Laminated Glass2. Shatterproof Glass
Shatterproof glass is used for windows, skylights, floors, etc. Some type of plastic polyvinyl butyral is added in its making process. So, it cannot form sharp-edged pieces when it breaks.
Fig. 3: Shatterproof Glass3. Laminated Glass
Laminated glass is the combination of layers of ordinary glass. So, it has more weight than a normal glass. It has more thickness and is UV proof and soundproof. These are used for aquariums, bridges, etc.
Fig. 4: Laminated Glass Used in Building Construction4. Extra Clean Glass
Extra clean glass has two unique properties, photocatalytic and hydrophilic. Because of these properties, it acts as stain proof and gives a beautiful appearance. Maintenance is also easy.
Fig. 5: Extra Clean Glass5. Chromatic Glass
Chromatic glass is used in ICU’s, meeting rooms etc. it can control the transparent efficiency of glass and protects the interior from daylight. The chromatic glass may be photochromic which has light sensitive lamination, thermos-chromatic which has heat sensitive lamination and electrochromic which has electric lamination over it.
Fig. 6: Chromatic Glass6. Tinted Glass
Tinted glass is nothing but colored glass. A color producing ingredients is mixed to the normal glass mix to produce colored glass which does not affect other properties of glass. Different color-producing ingredients are tabulated below:
Table 1: Different Types of Ions Used to Produce Various Colors in Glasses
Coloring ionColorIron oxideGreenSulphurBlueManganese dioxideBlackCobaltBlueChromiumDark greenTitaniumYellowish brownUraniumYellow Fig. 7: Tinted Glass7. Toughened Glass
Toughened glass is a durable glass that has low visibility. It is available in all thicknesses, and when it is broken it forms small granular chunks that are dangerous. This is also called as tempered glass. This type of glass is used for fire-resistant doors, mobile screen protectors, etc.
Fig. 8: Toughened Glass8. Glass Blocks
Glass block or glass bricks are manufactured from two different halves and they are pressed and annealed together while melting process of glass. These are used as architectural purpose in the construction of walls, skylights etc. They provide aesthetic appearance when light is passed through it.
Fig. 9: Glass Block9. Glass Wool
Glass wool is made of fibers of glass and acts as an insulating filler. It is fire-resistant glass.
Fig. 10: Glass Wool10. Insulated Glazed Units
Insulated glazed glass units contains a glass is separated into two or three layers by air or vacuum. They cannot allow heat through it because of air between the layers and acts as good insulators. These are also called as double glazed units.
Fig. 11: Insulated Glazed Glass UnitGlass is a hard substance which may be transparent or translucent and brittle. It is manufactured by the fusion process.
What are the properties of glasses?The fundamental properties of the glass that make it suitable for building construction applications are transparency, strength, workability, transmittance, U value, and recycling.
What are the types of glasses?Float glass, shatterproof glass, laminated glass, extra-clean glass, chromatic glass, tinted glass, toughened glass, glass blocks, glass wool, and insulated glazed units.
What are the applications of glasses in building constructions?shop fronts, public places, windows, skylights, floors, aquariums, bridges, stain proof, aesthetics, ICU’s, meeting rooms, insulations, wall constructions, fire-resistant doors, and mobile screen protectors.
What is U value of a glass?U value represents the amount of heat transferred through glass. If a glass is said to be insulated unit then it should have lower u value.
What is laminated and tempered/ toughened glass?Laminated glass is the combination of layers of ordinary glass. It has superior weight, thickness, UV proof, and soundproof than a regular glass. Toughened or tempered glass is a durable glass that has low visibility.
Read More: Uses of Glass in Construction
Like most building materials, glass comes in several varieties and styles. There are types of glass made for security, aesthetics, privacy, and insulation purposes, and they all differ a bit. Changes in their manufacturing processes can result in increased strength, color changes, and even safer ways of breaking. And each of these types of glass has at least one unique practical use.
This guide on the different types of glass will explain the attributes of glass, as well as the most common glass types, are made along with their common uses.
The different varieties of glass all have their own attributes and uses. However, there are essentially three properties of glass that are most important in determining their uses.
As a material, glass varieties abound. For example, glass panels used for vehicle windows are different from the glass used in hospital room doors. Despite the wide range of glass types, there are some basic types that are more common than others. The following will explain the most common types and their uses.
Float glass is a type of glass panel made from floating molten glass over a bed of molten tin. The tin is a flat surface that is denser than the glass, providing a perfectly flat glass surface. As the glass cools, it hardens and is cut to shape.
At its most basic level, float glass is a popular choice for window glass. However, it’s also the base form of glass that manufacturers modify to make other types of glass, so it’s always in high demand.
Annealed glass is essentially float glass that has gone through the annealing process. This process involves slowly cooling float glass with blasts of cold air on one side. This prevents imperfections and internal stresses, allowing for extremely clear glass. It’s ideal for cutting and shaping.
Like float glass, annealed glass is used for glass windows. It can also be used to form other types of glass, such as laminated or tempered glass.
Tempered glass, also known as toughened glass, is designed to be strong and also break into smaller, safer pieces than float or annealed glass. Manufacturers start with a basic float or annealed glass, heat it to roughly 1200 degrees Fahrenheit, and then cool the surface quickly while allowing the interior of the pane to cool slowly. This creates internal tension and external compression, improving the sheet’s strength up to four times.
This heating and cooling process changes the way the glass break. When a pane of toughened glass breaks, it shatters into small pieces, creating much safer conditions than float or annealed glass’s large, sharp shards. However, it cannot be cut or drilled after cooling so the manufacturing process is more complicated than float glass.
Tempered glass is a popular choice for mobile devices, automobile windows, shower doors, and large windows in tall buildings. Not only do these applications require strength, but should they break, the small pieces are much safer for vehicle occupants, pedestrians below, or folks in the bathroom.
Laminated glass is a type of glass made from two or more sheets of annealed glass with a thin layer of translucent material between them. This translucent layer, typically made from polyvinyl butyral, holds the glass in place should the panes break. The double layers and the film also make these panels much stronger and less likely to break. For this reason, laminated glass is also commonly known as safety glass.
Laminated glass is the most common type of glass found in doors, windows near walkways, or windows that need additional security. Generally, glass panes that are more than 9 square feet in total area, or windows frequently exposed to tornadoes or hurricanes are typically made from laminated glass as well.
Heat-strengthened glass is similar to tempered glass, with a heating and cooling process used to increase the glass’s strength. However, heat-strengthened glass is cooled more slowly, reducing the amount of tension within the glass. This makes the glass up to twice as strong as float or annealed glass but it maintains a similar break pattern, meaning they break into larger shards of glass that typically stay in the frame. Heat-strengthened glass is popular in high-temperature environments where thermal stresses may affect float or annealed glass.
Like most building materials, glass comes in several varieties and styles. There are types of glass made for security, aesthetics, privacy, and insulation purposes, and they all differ a bit. Changes in their manufacturing processes can result in increased strength, color changes, and even safer ways of breaking. And each of these types of glass has at least one unique practical use.
This guide on the different types of glass will explain the attributes of glass, as well as the most common glass types, are made along with their common uses.
The different varieties of glass all have their own attributes and uses. However, there are essentially three properties of glass that are most important in determining their uses.
As a material, glass varieties abound. For example, glass panels used for vehicle windows are different from the glass used in hospital room doors. Despite the wide range of glass types, there are some basic types that are more common than others. The following will explain the most common types and their uses.
Float glass is a type of glass panel made from floating molten glass over a bed of molten tin. The tin is a flat surface that is denser than the glass, providing a perfectly flat glass surface. As the glass cools, it hardens and is cut to shape.
At its most basic level, float glass is a popular choice for window glass. However, it’s also the base form of glass that manufacturers modify to make other types of glass, so it’s always in high demand.
Annealed glass is essentially float glass that has gone through the annealing process. This process involves slowly cooling float glass with blasts of cold air on one side. This prevents imperfections and internal stresses, allowing for extremely clear glass. It’s ideal for cutting and shaping.
Like float glass, annealed glass is used for glass windows. It can also be used to form other types of glass, such as laminated or tempered glass.
Tempered glass, also known as toughened glass, is designed to be strong and also break into smaller, safer pieces than float or annealed glass. Manufacturers start with a basic float or annealed glass, heat it to roughly 1200 degrees Fahrenheit, and then cool the surface quickly while allowing the interior of the pane to cool slowly. This creates internal tension and external compression, improving the sheet’s strength up to four times.
This heating and cooling process changes the way the glass break. When a pane of toughened glass breaks, it shatters into small pieces, creating much safer conditions than float or annealed glass’s large, sharp shards. However, it cannot be cut or drilled after cooling so the manufacturing process is more complicated than float glass.
Tempered glass is a popular choice for mobile devices, automobile windows, shower doors, and large windows in tall buildings. Not only do these applications require strength, but should they break, the small pieces are much safer for vehicle occupants, pedestrians below, or folks in the bathroom.
Laminated glass is a type of glass made from two or more sheets of annealed glass with a thin layer of translucent material between them. This translucent layer, typically made from polyvinyl butyral, holds the glass in place should the panes break. The double layers and the film also make these panels much stronger and less likely to break. For this reason, laminated glass is also commonly known as safety glass.
Laminated glass is the most common type of glass found in doors, windows near walkways, or windows that need additional security. Generally, glass panes that are more than 9 square feet in total area, or windows frequently exposed to tornadoes or hurricanes are typically made from laminated glass as well.
Heat-strengthened glass is similar to tempered glass, with a heating and cooling process used to increase the glass’s strength. However, heat-strengthened glass is cooled more slowly, reducing the amount of tension within the glass. This makes the glass up to twice as strong as float or annealed glass but it maintains a similar break pattern, meaning they break into larger shards of glass that typically stay in the frame. Heat-strengthened glass is popular in high-temperature environments where thermal stresses may affect float or annealed glass.
Wired glass is an older type of glass used to promote safety in schools, hospitals, and other commercial environments. The metal mesh, or wires, inside the glass prevent the pane from breaking and falling, keeping most of the glass in the frame and maintaining the door’s fire resistance. Should the glass be exposed to high temperatures during a fire, wired glass holds the shards in the frame to prevent the fire from spreading as quickly.
The most common uses for wired glass include school and hospital doors and windows, specifically for use in fire doors.
Insulated glass is a type of glass that inhibits the transfer of heat through a window or door. Rather than the glass itself being insulated, it’s actually a system of two or more panes of glass, a spacer between them, an inert gas between the panes, and a frame to hold it all together. The space between the two panes of glass prevents heat from traveling along a thermal bridge, trapping it on one side of the glass. On hot days, it keeps the heat outside. On cold days, it keeps the heat inside.
Insulated glass is commonly used in windows or doors, or any opening where heat loss is a probable and undesirable outcome. Typically, these windows use annealed or laminated glass panes.
Mirrored glass is a type of coated glass used to reflect images and light. It starts as sheets of float glass, but the manufacturer coats one side with a metal material. The float glass is perfectly clear, while the metal (typically silver or aluminum) film reflects the image back to the person. To adhere the metal to the glass, the manufacturer boils the metal of choice and places the sheet of float glass on top. As the metal atoms cool, they adhere to the sheet of glass, providing a permanent bond.
The most common use for mirrored glass is aesthetics, such as hanging a mirror in a bathroom for shaving or make-up. Also, wall-mounted mirrors, as well as those in motor vehicles, all utilize this type of glass.
Those are just a few of the most popular types of glass on the market (there are even more). However, the types discussed cover the most common uses of manufactured glass. Each type of glass has its own strengths and weaknesses, making them each ideal for certain situations. Whether it’s to maintain comfortable temperatures in living spaces or to resist tornadoes and hurricanes, there’s a specific type of glass for the job.
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