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2006, feb. 15
The growing acceptance of self-cleaning glass is great news for the glazing industry but fabricators, installers and end users should seek the reassurance of premium products from market-leading producers – that's the message from Saint-Gobain Glass, Europe's leading glass manufacturer.
Innovations like self-cleaning glass are proving popular in a commodity market because they add value and help to lift margins throughout the supply chain, but some of the hype has been misleading to say the least. End users should be aware that the so called "easy-clean" alternatives have a number of short comings.
Susan Fitzpatrick, Product Manager for Saint-Gobain Glass, states "these less advanced, spray on coatings have a limited effectiveness that diminishes further over time, relying on a temporary waxy film to just repel water. In contrast, our dual-action self-cleaning glass, SGGBIOCLEAN, is a permanent, more robust offering that is guaranteed to stay on the glass for the lifetime of the window. It combines two essential functions to actively help windows stay cleaner for longer: the special photocatalytic properties harness UV light to actually break down dirt, then when it rains, water sheets across the hydrophilic surface rinsing dirty residues clean away".
Fitzpatrick goes on to say "It is crucial to manage the expectations of self-cleaning glass throughout the supply chain. These products are not 100% maintenance free but they do enable the glass to stay much cleaner for longer than conventional glass, with minimal effort. This is particularly noticeable when used in hard to reach areas that almost never get cleaned such as conservatory roofs".
Saint-Gobain Glass adds that it is important for end users to be aware they can have all the benefits of self-cleaning without compromising other important glazing functions, such as solar control. By choosing SGGBIOCLEAN, fabricators and installers can meet the ever-increasing demand for effective multi-functional glazing. Developed specifically for the fast growing conservatory roof glazing market SGGBIOCLEAN COOL-LITE ST is the world’s first dual-coated glass combining self-cleaning properties with high performance solar control. Both coatings are durable and can be readily toughened meaning the product is easy to handle and process. Manufacturers can offer end users the best of both worlds without compromising on performance or lead times.
Appearance is also an important factor; end users want the benefits of self-cleaning glass, but not at the expense of looking at the world through tinted glasses! Aesthetics were therefore a key consideration in the development of SGG BIOCLEAN, which is the most neutral and least reflective self-cleaning glass on the market. Similarly the SGG BIOCLEAN COOL-LITE ST coatings were specially developed to closely match other glazing in a conservatory, unlike competitor products that simply rely on coloured body tints – a benefit which is proving to be a strong selling point for the domestic market.
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