Tech Talks
At Viracon we continually strive to help our customers in as many ways as we can. Tech Talks provide educational information about individual architectural glass topics.
Glass facades deliver many benefits including daylight, views and dynamic aesthetics. A counterpoint is that birds do not perceive glass as an obstacle to their flight path. This document provides information to balance glass benefits with the adverse impact on birds.
Ceramic Frit and Ink Visual Characteristics
This Tech Talk provides recommendations to minimize undesirable aesthetic outcomes when designing with ceramic enamel—frit or ink.
Field-Applied Coatings and Films on Glass
The appearance and performance of an existing glass façade can be altered by applying a film or coating to the glass. There are risks associated with the use of such films and coatings, including glass breakage or incompatibility. This document provides items that should be considered prior to applying a coating or film to glass.
Glass and Electronic Eavesdropping Protection
This Tech Talk provides information to help you understand the role of electromagnetic shielding in selecting glass for a building façade.
Glass staining occurs when a chemical change or degradation of a glass surface occurs. This document outlines potential causes of glass staining as well as related prevention and cleaning recommendations..
Fully tempered glass is susceptible to spontaneous breakage due to the presence of nickel sulfide inclusions. To mitigate the risk of breakage, fully tempered glass can be heat soak tested. This document outlines the process and benefits associated with heat soak testing.
Insulating Glass Sealant Visual Characteristics
Insulating glass units remain a key element in energy efficient buildings. Glazing systems require insulating glass units to be accommodating, both structurally and visually.
Quench Pattern Characteristics
Strain patterns, sometimes referred to as iridescence, anisotropy or quench patterns, are an inherent characteristic of heat treated glass. This document describes how strain patterns form as well as expected visual characteristics.
Glass breakage can occur for several reasons; one of which is thermal stress. This document provides information about how to identify and minimize thermal stress glass breakage.
Viewing Windows for Swimming Pools and Aquariums
Glass viewing windows in swimming pools and aquariums are subjected to hydrostatic pressures. This document provides guidance for selecting the appropriate glass type and thickness based on the specific hydrostatic pressure to which the glass will be exposed.
Daylighting Video
The following video provides an overview of daylighting and glass selection.
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