Energy saving, self-cleaning, and solar-reflecting technologies add value to architectural projects due to their high performance characteristics and sustainable building design.
Seves Glassblock’s patented ‘Energy Saving’ technology introduces low-emissivity glass plates and pressure controlled argon gas: plates are inserted between the glass faces to interrupt the thermal bridge, and argon gas is injected to reduce a block’s thermal transmittance to U=1.1 W/m2 K, saving energy and protecting the environment.
Standard glass block is hollow one-chamber product, where the inner space is filled with under-pressured air.
The thermal transmission (U-value) of such glass block is approx. 3.0 W/m2K.
Energy Saving option brings a flat glass sheet insertion into the glass block, which eventually forms two-chamber system.
The key stone of Energy saving concept is the coating with very low emissivity which is present on the inserted glass sheet.
In Energy Saving 1.1 solution, both chambers are no longer filled with air, but with Argon gas. This noble gas is used for its thermal conductivity value, which is about the half of the value of common air.
As a result, the total thermal transmission through the glass block is lowered about more than 50%.
Solar-reflecting glass block is made with protective cover films for applications, that protect against UV radiation and reduce overheating in the summer.
The solar reflecting option reduces heat loss from the building in the winter. In the summer it reduces overheating of the interior and also protects against UV radiation.
Glass block with Thermal insulation film and Protective cover film. Thermal insulation film: EWF NSN 70 – vacuum metallized solid polyester, indoors application
New self-cleaning technology reduces cleaning and maintenance costs. Invisible surface coatings contain hydrophilic properties that break down organic dirt and wash away rain water, so the glass maintains a cleaner appearance over time.
Self-cleaning is an application on glass with a special coating that has been deposited to activate the hydrophilic action.
The neutral color of the coating keeps the natural view of the glass and cleans the surface only with water.
Its scratch resistant and durable in time.
The surface of glass block is applied with double-composition layer with strong hydrophobic ability.
The layers are very thin (just a few nanometers) and thus invisible.
In vertical application, the most of the water (up to 90%) drains off the surface, which makes the glass surface naturally cleaner for much longer time.
Self-cleaning technology is highly innovative solution for glass block constructions, which are:
Installed in areas with difficult access for regular cleaning (such as top levels of façade).
Installed in areas with permanent and very high humidity (such as shower boxes and bathrooms).