Tag: floor

Glass is clearly safe!

Glass is an integral part of modern architecture and interior design. A versatile and sustainable material, glass – used for façades, windows or in interiors – gives buildings and homes structural stability, aesthetic appeal and a contemporary look while helping save energy and costs.
There has been some debate about safety in the use of glass in general, particularly fire. But, be assured if proper norms and guidelines are followed for designing and constructing glass buildings, and the right types of glasses are used for façades, the destructive effects of fire are greatly reduced. In actuality, glass facades are not inflammable, rather they are flame-retardants.

Glass – See what’s safe
internationally today, there are excellent alternatives available for clear vision safety glass. These include high-performance products like transparent glasses with intumescent layers, special coatings and laminates. Tempered/toughened glass, laminated glass, insulated glass units and wire mesh glass are also good fire retardants.
They can actually substitute a brick wall in terms of fire-rating property yet give transparency. While some of the fire safety glasses function as a physical barrier preventing the spread of fire and smoke, certain advanced solutions can actually drastically reduce the radiant heat from a fire.
The European classification standards (EN 13501) for glass use the following system:
E – Integrity
W – Low Radiation
I – Insulation
Accordingly, the following types of glasses are available in the FRG range
E Class – They provide for only integrity. These are special tempered glasses, and they prevent the spread of flames to the non-fire side. There will be no protection from radiation in this type of glass. They are normally used for internal applications.
EW Class – These are tempered and laminated glasses. They prevent the flames and control the non-fired radiation to a maximum of 15KW per sqm. They offer integrity and for low heat radiation. They are used for internal and external applications.
EI Class – This type of FRG glasses offer integrity and insulation. The maximum temperature on the non-fire side does not exceed an average of 140 degree Celsius.

A range of high-quality, fire-resistant glasses are available today to mitigate the adverse effects of fire accidents and offer enhanced protection.
• Wired Glass – It is more stable at higher temperatures and is also resistant to the pressure of fire hoses as the embedded wire mesh helps the glass keep its structural integrity even after thermal stress causes cracks
• Borosilicate Glass – Borosilicate, because of its extremely low thermal expansion coefficient, is ideal for any application that requires heat resistance
• Toughened Glass – The special tempering process used in this glass makes it highly resistant to stress. In case, it gets to the point of breaking, it crumbles into small granules that are less injury prone
• Toughened Glass with flame-retardant coating – This flame retardant coating is typically metal that further enhances the flame and heat resistance of the glass
• Toughened Glass with Intumescent gel – As is the property of any intumescent, the gel increases greatly in size when exposed to fire, and its high hydration content keeps the surrounding areas significantly cooler than any other material
• Laminated Glass with Intumescent layers – Highly desirable for façades, the lamination makes it hard enough for the façade and windows, and the intumescent layers restrict temperature rise during fires although the glass is 100% transparent and lacks wiring within
It would be unfair to blame glass for the destruction caused by fire in buildings. In most cases, it is negligence and/or illegal/ poor-quality design and construction that result in loss of life and property. If proper norms and building safety codes are followed, and guidelines adhered to, glass façades only help in fire rescue and do not make it worse. All over the world, glass is a widely accepted building material utilized on a massive scale for architecture and design.
Know more: bit.ly/AISIndia

For all that glass can be- Asahi India launch event

Post author By AIS
Post date August 31, 2015
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Sen’s Bucket covered the newly launched AIS store at South Extension which bought two experts – Glasxperts and Windshield Experts together.

Never been much fond of glass except for admiring the occasional crockery at dining events, but the utility of it, seems to be far beyond, and also more dynamic. Asahi India Glass (AIS) recently unveiled their new store in South-Extension (Arjun Nagar), Delhi, where as can be seen, has dedicated areas for windshield customers (car owners), and those needing architectural support. More than just a store launch, it was a lot about the real innovation one can bring in with glass, should one be willing to spend money and have the taste for it.

A lot of the questions around glass, as with many other building materials, is the longevity of the product questioned, and also the maintenance it would need in time. Most of the products they provide are hopefully easy to maintain and do provide a great deal of assistance post sales, as well. And from the looks of it, customers are seriously pouring in with their demands, and coincidentally, there was a case of a windshield being seamlessly replaced as if nothing was ever really wrong.

Though the pictures are not that clear, but the stock of equipment used to fit the windshield on the car displayed above seemed to be modern and also being sophisticated enough ensure a smooth application. If one can notice, its seriously seamless in the way it was installed on the vehicle. Obviously, there were some stages to this process, but never the less swiftly followed. Perhaps the entire thing took less than an hour!

The star attraction at the store would be the GlasXperts section, which is dedicated to the architectural needs of the customers. The reason being, the innovation and finesse with which the company works. A lot of the best glassworks will not just be slabs of the glass alone, but artistic depictions to set them apart. The Lord Ganesh framed mural on the wall is one such example.

One of the things in the obviously glass laden upper floor was this otherwise simple looking door. However, the manager was kind enough to show how technology has been used behind this. What appears opaque here, will change the texture, simply with the press of a button, placed this door. With the help of sensors placed at the corners, the light passing through special crystals infused within the glass are scattered, due to which the glass becomes opaque. Similarly, when needs transparency, a flick of the switch will make light pass through the concentrated crystals which enable a clearer views across the panel.

One of the main things we all commonly grumble about, and legitimately so, is the after-sales service. Asahi India Glass happens to be a fully integrated company when it comes to selling to their customers. This means, after buying some of the hi-end products, or any product from them, you need help to maintain or repair, or perhaps need some advice for future planning and design, you can rely on these guys to come across and help you. It might cost you a bit more, but then when you compare to the conveniences, you can naturally conclude that its worth spending the extra money but have someone to give you complete solutions. You don’t need to run around different places.

The thing about AIS is that they would not be giving you cheap imports, for the sake of margins and deal closing. That means they will charge you a price, and if it doesn’t match with the clients, they might just refuse, instead of cutting prices and compromising on quality. In short, if one has to summarize AIS, it’s about a lot of value addition, like pre-sales and after-sales services, which set them apart, and quite frankly, can be a big relief during renovations and constructions. And with their footprint increasing, one might just have a branch around the corner to help you out find something nice for home styling.

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Walk on Glass

Post author By AIS
Post date May 19, 2015
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Glass is a characteristic feature of architecture and design in the new age. As innovative uses for glass continue to expand, glass is now available in various colours, textures, shapes and designs to people, who are looking to transform their spaces. Glass flooring provides an exciting combination of style and function, making a dramatic impact in both residential and commercial spaces.

Glass floors add a decorative dimension to your interiors and give your homes or commercial spaces a touch of sophistication. Glass flooring is resistant to moisture and various kinds of other infestations.
The obvious concern when it comes to such an extensive use of glass, is the safety involved. Comprehensive calculations for glass thickness and construction are what decides the selection and application of this type of glass.

Glass allows light to pass through the floor, creating a very airy and luxurious dwelling. As natural light permeates the space, it creates different moods and forms a seamless transition between rooms. Glass can also be used in landings and ‘see – throughs’ from one floor to another to add even more visual appeal. Adding an artistic touch to the glass floor, can bring notable dispersed light, to cascade down in a thousand hues of colors.

Glass flooring is generally installed keeping in mind the customer’s requirement. Tempered laminated glass, Heat Strengthened laminated glass and Tempered glass laminated with sentry PVB are preferred choice of glass, for its durability and resistance to breakage.
Glass flooring is attractive and easy to clean. It is aesthetically pleasing and can make any room look bright, attractive and stylish. Glass definitely is a contemporary and fashionable take on flooring.
Engineered with safety and durability as its foremost objectives, glass flooring solutions from Glasxperts’ provides a unique alternative to traditional material for modern architecture.