Date: 28 March 2013
With the advancements and increased demands for less framing and more glass exposure glass is being manufactured and engineered in much larger panels.
Glass in the UK can be specified at panel sizes of 6m long by 3.2m wide maximum. This is due to the way that glass is made and cut at 6m intervals in its float state from the baths. All glass used in the UK needs to be toughened as well which also controls the size of individual glass panels.
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"Glass in the UK can be specified at panel sizes of 6m long by 3.2m wide maximum"
If there is a design requirement for larger glazing panels IQ can source specialist 8m long glass units from the continent. There is of course large costs associated to this specialist ‘Supersized Glazing’ incorporating transport, risk factors and the high specification of glass needed in these large glass panels to ensure they do not deflect.
In terms of costing, any glass panel that is classed as ‘Oversized’ will have inherent costing uplifts.
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"There is of course large costs associated to this specialist ‘Supersized Glazing’ incorporating transport, risk factors and the high specification of glass needed"
IQ Oversized Glass Panels are generally described as any glass unit over 2.4m in both directions or if one of the dimensions exceeds 4m in length. These costing variations are due to the required toughening process all construction glass in the UK needs. There are only very few toughening plants in the UK that can toughen glass over these dimensions and therefore is defined as a specialist item. There are also transportation and installation considerations with these large glass units; heavier panels = more installation manpower required to lift and fit and more specialist equipment. On smaller projects there may be the additional uplift of carnage costs if the installation opening is not accessible on foot or by car.
The first step in cost engineering the glazing on a project would be to ensure that any glass units are under these measurement parameters.
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"The first step in cost engineering the glazing on a project would be to ensure that any glass units are under these measurement parameters"
If there is framing on the project such as IQ’s Minimal Windows sliding doors, speak to IQ’s experienced estimators who will be able to give more advice. IQ can help further cost engineer your project whilst adhering as much as possible to your wanted finish.
Contact IQ Glass for more information
01923 218 348
www.iqglassuk.com
sales@iqglassuk.com
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