Seminar makes advances in glass clear to 50-plus

HEIGHTENED building regulations over the years have seen the window industry evolve from basic panes of glass to increasingly complex tailor-made installations. At a recent seminar, more than 50 delegates learned how advances in technology had kept pace to meet increased safety and energy efficiency standards.

Rob Gill, of Guernsey Glass, organised the event to update the construction industry on the latest developments in the window business in line with building regulations established in October.

New controls on the level of heat loss mean bespoke windows must be designed for every building to provide the right amount of insulation.

'In the late 1950s, when Les Guille started Guernsey Glass, life was simple - you either had clear glass or obscure,' he said.

'Today, as a result of fossil fuel supply concerns and climate change, subsequent changes to building codes and consumers' awareness of the environment, advances in technology have been harnessed to produce numerous glazing effects.'

He said the number of those and their names could be confusing.

'Add to that specifications requiring minimum thermal transfer and this adds to the confusion. Then put this glass into a frame and life just isn't so simple any more.'

The event at Les Rocquettes was attended mainly by architects and a few builders.

Mr Gill said the intention was to help the industry better understand what effects the various glass and frames would have on their designs.

Each window has a U Value - an energy efficiency rating in terms of its heat loss.

Both the frame and the glass will have different U Values and the proportionate volume of each affects the overall rating.

'When an architect designs a house, they must achieve various U Values and it can become quite a complex calculation.'

The seminar involved three speakers - Keith Watts, of Swedish window manufacturer Sapa, has 20 years' experience in the industry. He spoke for an hour on heat transfer and air permeability. His colleague, David Brierley, who looks after Channel Island sales, discussed various product developments.

Colin Urquhart, joint owner of CDW Gloucester which fabricates most of Guernsey Glass's aluminium products, also spoke.

Mr Gill said they were very pleased with the event.

'We got across everything we wanted to and got some good feedback.'