In many architectural designs, glass has been used as a building material since ages. With novel technologies, the properties and functions of glass have enhanced over the ages. Nowadays, glass is a material that is widely used as a symbol of luxury and affluence and is even more preferred by construction professionals in today’s modern architectures.

The construction industry is one of the important parts of the economy all over the world. In modern architectures, there has been a growing need for transparent building structures like glass constructions, facades or roof structures, and predominantly steel. In the past few years, the use of glass in the construction of buildings has remarkably amplified. 

What exactly is a Glass?

In simple terms, glass is a substance formed using liquid sand. It is a mixture of several metallic silicates, one among which is usually that of an alkali metal. It can be also referred as a solidified super-cooled solution of several metallic silicates having immeasurable viscosity. 

Glass is nothing but any amorphous non-crystalline solid that shows a glass transition nearby its MP (melting point) which is about 1,700°C (3,090°F). The most common type of glass is a silicate, which comprises mainly SiO2, silicon dioxide, or silica. Additional compounds and elements or impurities are added to the silicate to modify the colour as well as other features of glass. Glass currently is being utilized for tiling, glazing, and many more applications in the construction industry.

What are the Five Key Properties of Glass? 

1. U value

U value represents how much heat is transferred through a glass. Insulated glass units must have a low U value. 

2. Transparency

Transparency is the primary glass property that permits to see through it. Glass can be transparent from one side only (the other side acts like a mirror) or from both sides. 

3. Transmittance

Transmittance is the visible fraction of light passing through the glass. 

4. Strength

The glass’ strength depends on its modulus of rupture value. Glass is generally brittle but it can be made stronger by adding laminates and admixtures.

5. Recyclable and Workability Property

Glass has greater workability as it can be blown during melting or molded into uncountable shapes. Also in construction, glass can be used as raw material, as any type of glass can be 100% recyclable.

What are the Benefits of Glass in Construction Projects?

Glass has the potential to transform the look of a normal-looking infrastructure into a more sophisticated and stunning one. The use of glass in construction makes the building structure look more appealing. When used for external decorations, its usage offers the architectural view. Glass also saves space when used in the interiors. Glass cladding in the building carries out the most required necessity of proper lighting, energy-saving, and heat retention. It also adds a sense of harmony and ingenuousness to any construction project.

Different Varieties of Glass used in the Construction Industry

1. Sheet Glass

It is formed by passing molten glass through rollers to obtain an almost flat finish. But the pressure of rollers leaves the resultant glass sheets with some amount of distortion. This glass can be easily cut using a glass cutter without the need for using any special tool. It is generally accessible in a variety of sizes. Owing to some level of distortion and reasonable price as compared to other glasses, sheet glass is mostly utilized in greenhouses and similar applications, in which visual distortion is not a problem.

2. Float Glass

It is also called soda-lime glass and is manufactured using calcium silicate and sodium silicate. The “float” term denotes the technique used to produce a float glass. To form a float glass, molten glass is smoothly spread over a bed of molten tin. This results in the clear, flat, and distortion-free glass. A float glass does not need any special tool for cutting and can be easily cut using a glass cutter. It can be used for making openable and fixed windows, in public places, as well as for shop facades. Float glass is accessible in a variety of thickness which lies between 2 mm-20 mm, with a weight of about 6-36 kg/m².

3. Shatterproof Glass

This glass rightly justifies its name. It is a kind of glass that offers good shatter resistance. In simple words, it does not break into sharp shards when broken. It is usually used in floors, skylights, and windows. Shatterproof glass is manufactured by adding a plastic polyvinyl butyral resin to avoid it from creating sharp pieces when broken. 

4. Self-cleaning or Extra-clean Glass

Self-cleaning or extra-clean glass is hydrophobic as well as photocatalytic. These two special features make it stain-resistant, which makes it easy for maintenance and also good looking.

5. Chromatic Glass

Chromatic glass is used in meeting rooms and ICUs. It can regulate transparency to protect home interiors from daylight. It might be photochromic (light-sensitive lamination), electrochromic (electric lamination) or thermos-chromatic (heat-sensitive lamination).

6. Patterned Glass

It is flat glass that is been rolled on one side during its manufacturing process. It is utilized for decoration purposes. It is obtainable in various coloured patterns and tints, respectively with a distortion number from 1-5.

7. Tinted Glass

It is simply a coloured glass. To produce coloured glass, a specific kind of ion is added to the normal glass, without affecting other features of the glass. For instance, sulphur results in blue colour, and iron oxide results in green colour. 

8. Toughened Glass

It is also known as tempered or safety glass. It is widely used across various industrial areas due to its strong break resistance. If the glass breaks, it forms several small ‘safer’ shards. It is mainly applicable in home interiors like shower screens, kitchen splashbacks, fences of a swimming pool, and glass balustrade. Also, toughened glass can be utilized in laminated panels for additional safety measures.

9. Wired Glass

There is a wire mesh in the centre of a wired glass structure. A wire mesh is added in order to bind the glass and prevent it from breaking or cracking. However, this doesn’t mean that the glass is completely unbreakable. Wired glass is usually used extensively in industrial structures or areas like service departments.

10. Glass Blocks

They are also known as glass bricks and are developed using two halves annealed and pressed throughout the melting procedure of the glass. The glass blocks are used in skylights and walls. A pleasing and beautiful appearance is created when artificial light or sunlight falls on this type of glass.

11. Glass Wool

Glass wool is fire-resistant. It is formed using glass fibres. It is greatly utilized as an insulating filler. 

12. Insulated Glazed Glass

Insulated glazed glass is also known as double-glazed glass. This type of glass consists of 2 or 3 layers segregated by vacuum or air. This vacuum or air offers good thermal insulation. Hence, this glass does not permit heat to traverse through it.

13. Mirrors 

Mirrors are usually made using float glass. They are available in a thickness of about 4 mm-6 mm with one side silvered. 

The Future of Glass in Architecture and Construction

Over the ages, glass has been elevating modern architectures like no other material. Glass materials not only alter the appearance of facades but also have a vital contribution to the energy efficacy of buildings. The use of glass in the residential and commercial sectors is growing by leaps and bounds. This adaptable material is now being considered as a symbol of luxury and affluence and is even more becoming an architect’s favourite every passing day.