Incorporating natural daylight into new buildings is of ever-increasing importance. These 12 glazing and daylighting products offer innovative ways to get the most out of a project's windows and glass components.
1. SunGuard CrystalBlue
Guardian Glass
Available coated and uncoated at 6mm thickness in a variety of sizes, this light-blue float glass gives specifiers multiple options in achieving performance and aesthetic requirements. SunGuard CrystalBlue features a visible light transmittance of 58%, a U-value of 1.03, and a solar heat gain coefficient of 0.69. Its subtle-blue hue complements the sky, sea, and surroundings.
2. StormWall XL
CRL-U.S. Aluminum
Hurricane-resistant curtain wall is engineered for design pressures up to +100/-100 psf and 15-psi static water resistance, providing protection against severe weather. It measures 21/2 x 71/2 inches and is glazed with 15/16-inch insulating laminated glass. Its continuous thermal spacer is interlocked within the horizontal and vertical pressure bars for improved thermal performance.
3. SunWave Daylighting System
Firestone Building Products
This double-glazed, acrylic, prismatic-layered dome uses 4,000 prisms per sf to refract, direct, and diffuse sunlight into thousands of micro sunbeams. The system catches up to 20% more light at low angles than standard shapes and transmits light to the workplace area without producing glare or hot spots. Features an insulated, condensation-resistant, thermally broken frame.
4. EcoVeil Sheer Collection
MechoSystems
This line of 100%-polyester, PVC-free shadecloth/window treatment is the first shadecloth/window treatment to meet the stringent Healthier Hospital Initiative Safer Chemicals Challenge. It’s also the first commercially available shadecloth that is able to pass NFPA 701 without requiring chemical flame retardants, says the maker. Available in 1% and 3% openness and stocked at 118 inches wide.
5. Fireframes ClearView
Technical Glass Products
This butt-glazed, fire-rated framing system eliminates the need for colored internal spacers or vertical mullions between adjoining pieces of glass. With a narrow 5mm vertical butt joint and nearly 10-foot heights, the system allows designers to create extensive fire-rated glazed walls with nearly colorless transitions between glass panels for greater vision and transparency within interior spaces.
6. 8300 Series
Wausau Window and Wall
Custom window series is available in a variety of styles—fixed, project-in or project-out casements, awnings, and hopper vents—and has been tested to meet AAMA AW-100 standards, including the new AAMA 910-16 lifecycle testing to 4,000 operating cycles. The company also tested floating vent (pictured) and fixed floating vent configurations, achieving an AAMA AW-40 Performance Class rating.
7. SOLARBAN 90 TINTED GLASS
Vitro Architectural Glass
Solar-control, low-e glass is available with an array of tinted glasses, including blue, bronze, gray, and green tints. Solarban 90 is a quad-silver-coated glass that incorporates a fourth “nano-layer” that can be manipulated to control its reflectivity, color, and solar performance. In a standard one-inch IGU, the coating has a solar heat gain coefficient of 0.23 and a visible light transmittance of 51%.
8. Electrochromic Glass
SageGlass
Looking to solve heat gain and glare issues at the offices of its law firm client Advent, architect Purdy & Slack Associates specified electrochromic glass for the curtain wall at the firm’s 47,000-sf building in Omaha, Neb. In addition to improved employee comfort and views, the glazing will allow Advent to lease part of the building. SageGlass is available in a range of shapes, colors, and sizes up to 5x10 feet.
9. GPX Hurricane
SAFTI FIRST
The GPX Hurricane Wall and Door system is now listed with the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI). The fire-rated glass and framing system satisfies TDI’s criteria for protection from windborne debris in Inland I and Seaward Zones, with wind speeds up to 120 mph and 130 mph, respectively. The system also has complete Florida Product Approval and UL Certifications for Wind-Resistant Building Components.
10. YES 60
YKK AP
Designed to accommodate taller, wider storefront openings, allowing more natural light, the YES 60 line of storefronts can be specified in heights as tall as 14 feet. The three models—FI, TU, and XT—feature YKK AP’s sill flashing design, with no blind seals, a tall back leg for enhanced water resistance, and a patent-pending three-point attachment of the end dam. Options include side lite curtain wall covers and pre-engineered corners.
11. Daylight Dimmer
Solatube INTL.
Designed for high-bay commercial applications such as event spaces and sports arenas, the SkyVault Series line of tubular daylighting devices is available with a Daylight Dimmer. The units feature a 29-inch diameter to maximize daylight, and a butterfly baffle that reduces “flares” when opening/closing, provides even light distribution, and allows users to dim the system to near blackout, for presentations, movies, plays, etc.
12. VNE-53 LOW-E COATING
Viracon
Designed to meet the nation’s most rigorous energy codes, VNE-53 triple-silver, low-e coating features a visible light transmittance of 52% and a solar heat gain coefficient of 0.23 (on low-iron glass in a standard insulating unit). Its neutral-silver exterior appearance provides a consistent color both straight on and off-angle. Available for oversized architectural glass in sizes up to 130x236 inches.
Related Stories
Contractors | Mar 28, 2022
Amid supply chain woes, building teams employ extreme procurement measures
Project teams are looking to eliminate much of the guesswork around product availability and price inflation by employing early bulk-purchasing measures for entire building projects.
AEC Tech Innovation | Mar 9, 2022
Meet Emerge: WSP USA's new AEC tech incubator
Pooja Jain, WSP’s VP-Strategic Innovation, discusses the pilot programs her firm’s new incubator, Emerge, has initiated with four tech startup companies. Jain speaks with BD+C's John Caulfield about the four AEC tech firms to join Cohort 1 of the firm’s incubator.
Projects | Mar 8, 2022
A scalable EV charging solution
Resembling a fueling station, VersiCharge XL—a new electric vehicle (EV) charging concept structure—can charge large numbers of EVs in outdoor areas ranging from small office building parking lots to last-mile logistics hubs to stadium parking lots.
Products and Materials | Feb 24, 2022
MAXXON® Corporation announces strategic affiliation with S3 Surface Solutions
Maxxon® Corporation, creator of Gyp-Crete® and a leader in the underlayment industry for 50 years, has aligned with S3 Surface Solutions, an innovative manufacturer of products that address problematic concrete slabs, to bring innovative, technology-driven subfloor preparation solutions to the flooring industry.
Products and Materials | Feb 14, 2022
How building owners and developers can get ahead of the next supply chain disaster
Global supply chain interruptions that started at the very beginning of the pandemic are still with us and compounding every step of the way. Below are a few proven tips on how to avert some of the costly fallout should we be faced with similar commercial disasters at any time in the future.
Walls and Partitions | Nov 29, 2021
ProWood FR Announces Availability of New Fire-Retardant, UL-Listed Wall Assembly
ProWood FR, a brand of UFP Retail Solutions, recently achieved UL Listing on a fire-retardant, pressure-treated wall assembly, ProWood FR UL V343 2-Hour Wall Assembly (UL 263 Listed).
Lighting | Oct 27, 2021
Legrand Wattstopper Strengthens Digital Lighting Management Products with ioXt Alliance Security Certification
Legrand, a global leader in electrical and network infrastructure solutions, is pleased to announce that the Wattstopper Digital Lighting Management (DLM) product family of networked lighting control systems is now certified through the ioXt Alliance Certification Program. As the most comprehensive cybersecurity certification available, the evaluation positions the Wattstopper DLM networked lighting control solution to meet DesignLights Consortium (DLC) Networked Lighting Control System Technical Requirements (Version 5), also known as NLC5.
| Oct 5, 2021
Weather barrier protects Brooklyn high-rise from the elements
The building team for the 20-story 22 Chapel Street project selects GP DensElement and DensDefy to ensure the building withstands the extremes of New York weather.
Products and Materials | Oct 5, 2021
Watts Offers “Backflow Testers of Tomorrow” Scholarships
The scholarship covers the cost of an approved Backflow Tester Certification training course and exam.
Products and Materials | Aug 16, 2021
Glen Dimplex Americas Appoints Kevin Rantin as Director of US Sales - Trade Flame Division
Glen Dimplex Americas (GD Americas) has appointed Kevin Rantin as Director of Sales and will lead the US Trade Flame Sales Team for the company’s fireplace brands including, Dimplex, Faber and Nectre. A world leader in electric fireplace technology under the Dimplex brand, Glen Dimplex Americas offers a range of industry-leading solutions for virtually every commercial sector and recently added the luxury Faber gas fireplace brand and the trusted Nectre wood-burning stove line to its expanding product portfolio.