Cleaning Is History With Sunshade And Pilkington Activ™

Sunshade Blind Systems have used Pilkington glass products to develop an innovative IGU (insulated glass unit) that utilises specially designed blinds between a pane of Pilkington Activ™ Neutral glazing and a pane of Pilkington K Glass™.
 
The £15,000 renovation of the South Ockendon Adult Education Centre incorporates 130m² of the uniquely adapted self-cleaning glass in this first phase of its modernisation programme. Sunshade Blind Systems uses an innovative mechanism which positions the venetian blind between the two panes of glass, therefore offering the same benefits of a blind but without it getting damaged by dust or human contact.
 
The South elevation, where the new IGUs have been installed, allowed in a lot of heat and room temperatures were often uncomfortable. After trialling several types of glass to find a solution to the raised temperatures, the team at Sunshade Blind Systems concluded that Pilkington Activ™ Neutral alleviated this problem. Due to the glazing’s solar control properties the internal temperature of the building can now be controlled effectively, thus reducing the need for air-conditioning during the summer months and lessening the lifecycle costs of the building.
 
Pilkington Activ™ Neutral is a revolutionary self cleaning solar control glass that uses daylight and rainwater to breakdown and wash away organic dirt from exterior surfaces, making it ideal for hard to clean areas.
 
Ian Woolley, Manager, Sunshade Blind Systems, said, “It’s important that students at the South Ockendon Adult Education Centre enjoy an optimum working environment. The combination of Pilkington Activ™ Neutral with the Sunshade Blind Systems mechanism helps keep the running and maintenance costs of the centre to a minimum. The installation of the glazing in this first phase of the project has been so successful that we are installing the product in further areas of the refurbishment of the centre.”
 
Garry Smith, Technical Advisory Service Manager, Pilkington UK said, “The refurbishment project at the South Ockendon Adult Education Centre was a challenge that required Pilkington to use its knowledge of solar, thermal and self cleaning glass properties . By providing our glass products with the specialist knowledge of Sunshade Blind Systems, they have successfully developed a bespoke solution that meets the Centre’s needs.”
 
For more information visit www.pilkington.co.uk.