Trends and Choices in Glass Selection

Graham Dodd, Arup Materials Consulting

As glass processing technology improves the quality and range of glass types available to facade designers, three trends emerge as significant. The exploration of simple and complex curvature in architecture corresponds with the availability of more curved glass options but standards and specifications lag somewhat behind. Colour is making inroads into top quality architecture to an increasing extent, which provides challenging opportunities for glass in the increased spandrel areas required to meet increasing standards of building energy performance. The improved cooling control and flatness provided by today's tempering machines is demanded by an increasing preference for heat-strengthened glass in ever-increasing thickness for a wider range of applications. Although heat-soaked fully tempered glass is ideal for some roles, it is making way for laminated heat-strengthened glass in certain applications. The evidence for, and issues arising from, these trends will be discussed.

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The Authors

Mr. Graham Dodd Associate Director Arup Materials Consulting Trained in manufacturing industry and qualified as a Mechanical Engineer, Dodd has worked in the design of glass structures and facades since 1988; initially with Pilkington Glass and since 1994 with ... Read more