Glass science has come a long way over the last 50 years and it is now more practical and stronger than ever. Below we are going to discuss some of the different uses for glass as it pertains to a buildings safety, characteristics, and design features.

Architects and interior decorators use glass to not only enhance a buildings appearance, but also improve its security, decrease its operating expenses, make it more practical, and at the same time do their little part at conserving our environment.

Insulating glass which is normally referred to as double glazing provides a building a type of thermal insulation that helps to keep it warm in the winter and cool in the summer. This type of glass is becoming more and more popular because it usually pays for itself very quickly by reducing a property owner’s utility expenses. In addition, less electricity is required to run the air conditioner which means the utility companies are able to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

Solar control glass is also starting to become more widely used because its properties help to reduce or prevent a building from heating up. This product is presently being manufactured using two different approaches. First, it has a microscopically thin and transparent coating applied to one side. Second, the glass has a tint placed on it that helps to reflect sunlight.

When you think of glass, most people do not realize that it can now help to save lives if a fire happens to occur. There now is a kind of glass that is fire resistance. This type of glass protection value is measured in the number of minutes it takes for a fire to burn though it which can be 30, 60, 90, or even 120 minutes.

The scientists that work in the glass industry have certainly greatly improved its functionality and safety features over the past few decades, and you can be sure that we will see more innovation in the future.