A Clear Solution with Self Cleaning Glass

                                                                                         

When Pilkington first launched what has been the Holy Grail of glassmakers – glass that helps to keep itself clean – scepticism was often the initial response from customers, especially around April. The second reaction, once convinced that this was indeed a serious proposition, is for a keen fascination with the concept, with market research also showing that window cleaning is in the top three of the nation’s most hated chores.

The key element of Pilkington Activ™ self-cleaning glass is a microscopically thin, transparent coating of titanium oxide. Knowledge of the properties of this compound in relationship to glass has been widely available for as long as 20 years. However, it is the on-line application of the coating that has been patented by Pilkington technologists.

Developed in the UK by Pilkington plc at the company’s Research & Development Centre in Lancashire and launched following extensive field and laboratory testing, Pilkington Activ™ will continuously clean the external surfaces of windows by harnessing the two natural elements of ultra violet light and rain. The dual action of Pilkington Activ™ uses a special, permanent hard coating that continuously reacts with ultra violet light from daylight to break down organic deposits of dirt, with a secondary action that causes rain to flow down the glass in an even sheet to wash the deposits away.

Pilkington Activ™ was launched in the UK in September 2000, initially to private home improvement sector. Uptake has been steady, despite the British double glazing market being notoriously conservative, increasing numbers of companies are realising the benefits of offering their customers an intriguing product, and which offers the ultimate low maintenance home improvement.

A number of social landlords have also seen the advantages, in terms of the reduced maintenance benefits of the product, and as a means of satisfying ever more stringent Health & Safety regulations, and potential legal claims. A sheltered housing development for the elderly in Normanby, Cleveland, for example, was installed with Pilkington Activ™ principally as a maintenance solution when the existing timber windows were replaced last year. The three large blocks of three storey maisonettes previously required a costly window-cleaning programme, as the elderly residents were largely unable to carry out the cleaning themselves. The original plan for the refurbishment was to fit tilt-and-turn style windows, but it was decided that even with these the residents would not be able to carry out their own cleaning. Pilkington Activ™ was chosen to resolve the problem, installed in conventional-style frames that were also considerably cheaper to replace.

The Places for People Group (PfP) specified Pilkington Activ for other reasons at Briary Court in Clayton Brook, Preston, a group of flats owned and maintained by the organisation. During a window replacement programme, urgent attention was also required for a conservatory that provided a lounge for the residents. However, such was the design of the structure that it posed a particularly difficult and hazardous cleaning problem, as much of the glass area was completely inaccessible by conventional means. The glass had always presented a problem for cleaning, in terms of cost and potential hazard and PfP decided to use the opportunity to resolve the problem for good by installing self-cleaning glass.

As whole of life cost calculations are now increasingly the norm, then so Pilkington Activ™ is creating a demand in the public sector. In fact it is largely the interest from RSIs that has caused Pilkington to look far more closely at the sector, and the company is now fully focused on the specific needs of local authorities and housing associations.

In addition to residential accommodation, Pilkington has now developed commercial solutions for curtain walling projects and similar applications. Pilkington Activ™ is now fully tested in combination with solar control glass, Pilkington Suncool™, in various colours and offering a range of performance options. Possible applications are now considerably extended to more typical commercial buildings, offering greater potential for reduction of maintenance cost and risk, whilst also simply keeping buildings looking cleaner, for longer.

About the author:
http://www.pilkingtonselfcleaningglass.co.uk - Pilkington self cleaning glass products - UK manufactures a wide range of float, coated, rolled, laminated and toughened glass products as well as its own range of high performance insulating glass units. Glass is distributed to direct to customers, either as stock or as bespoke processed products to meet their needs either direct from St Helens or through our network of 23 branches countrywide. The company is highly focused on quality and service, continually improving to deliver the benefits of Pilkington's technical ability and innovation to the end user.
Email pilkington@respond.uk.com




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