The technology applied to the ancient glass, has made this unique and vital material for the development of an infinity of products and solutions, have not only sustainable advantages, but also practical, efficient and hygienic, this last aspect, vital in this era of covid-19. For this reason, the United Nations Organization has declared 2022 as the International Year of Glass.
Within the applications in glass, which are infinite, areas as important as art, architecture, engineering, health, architecture, security or commerce.
In the case of security, technologies have also advanced. Under this criterion, there are currently windows with anti-theft systems, which allow us to maintain natural light, together with a highly efficient security system. The anti-theft glass is designed and manufactured to resist shock and prevent it from breaking.
Security: windows to the rescue
“Today we must live with windows full of bars, blinds, movement sensors, among others. Anti-theft glass manages to make your home a much safer place, without having to invest large sums of money in security systems. In addition, the glass itself has acoustic control functions and filtration of 99% of UV radiation, which protects upholstery, furniture and carpets from discoloration,” says Gonzalo Acevedo, General Manager of Vidrios Lirquen.
This product is made up of two raw glasses industrially bonded to a plastic sheet, lbecause it has the property of containing the person or object that hits the glassthen, instead of breaking like raw glass, the broken glass shards stick to the plastic sheet and the cloth maintains its integrity.
Despite its use for crime, it still has use in home security, being installed on balconies, in order to prevent it from falling into the void if any person or object hits the glass, being retained in the plastic sheet. Finally, these types of solutions are not only used at home, but also in companies that seek greater security in the face of increased crime.
Energy saving: at home and buildings
Sustainability being an issue that the construction sector has taken very seriously, issues such as the envelope of a building, constitute one of the crucial points to generate not only energy savings, but also the entry of natural light and important aesthetic aspects. This is explained by the architect Biagio Arévalo, a consultant in sustainable construction and energy efficiency.
“In the process of designing and specifying the projects, with sustainability goals, the aim is to obtain high efficiencies in energy consumption and the best ‘comfort’ conditions for users. In addition to the ‘software’ tools, which allow us to model the operating conditions of buildings, we can also simulate various options regarding the envelope. In these simulations, different strategies can be considered, the most effective being to use high-tech glass and configurations with vertical, horizontal or double glazed surfaces.”, emphasizes Arevalo.
Similarly, it can be obtained with glass greater control in the amount of natural lightingl in the different spaces of the project, and most importantly, according to consultant Biagio Arévalo, maintain natural ventilation conditions and temperature within ‘comfort’ parameters, and added to this, the cost/benefit assessment allows specifying the best option to contribute to the energy performance of the building.
The advantages of the millennial and declared king of 2022
This noble material, which has been vital in the evolution of humanity and has improved people’s quality of life, is the protagonist of the year, after the UN declaration of the International Year of Glass, honoring its contribution and versatility, which also it is vital for sustainability and a green world.
And it is that among its advantages is that it is a material that does not degrade during its recycling process, so it can be recycled infinite times without losing its quality; it is moldable during its manufacture and rigid in its final state; the king of transparencies, but also it can even limit the entry of UV rays; it is waterproof, guaranteeing the conservation of food and protecting against inclement weather in the case of construction, and although its base materials are natural and abundant raw materials, one of the main sources of manufacturers today is recycled glass, contributing to the reduction of the carbon footprint.