EVALAM: Three years of advising customers through its architectural department

In the glass market, there is a trend towards specialization, which forces glass professionals to know how to give reliable answers to the needs of architects and prescritors, who set new challenges day after day. Unlike former years, today it is no longer enough to buy an interlayer and install a laminated glass, now it is compulsory to have more knowledge in processes, in the declaration of performances, in certifications and to know perfectly the building and construction regulations, the accompaniment of a good adviser is essential. At EVALAM are aware of this reality and from the responsibility of being the international reference manufacturer of EVA for architectural use they support and accompany customer from the beginning to the end of the entire project.

Evalam is a passionate company about challenges, so they are proud to help customer to get the most out of their projects thanks to his extensive knowledge of glass, which they have put into practice daily for three years in the Technical Architectural Department, a department exclusively developed to provide a support and guidance service to customers.

No matter the shape or design...

Faithful to EVALAM's motto " no limits in glass creation", the Technical Architectural Department considers each project independently, regardless of the shape, design or measurements. This differential service works to find the most appropriate solution, offering the justifying calculation of the glass compositions and guaranteeing their suitability for service. Based on the tests carried out to determine the mechanical properties offered by the company's products (Evalam Visual, Evalam N-Fluent & AB-AR), it is possible to simulate the stresses to which the glass is subjected in each of the applications defined by the customer and thus be able to advise on the best glass composition to manufacture. The client receives a detailed and personalized report with the results of the static analysis, carried out using finite element analysys software (FEA), where the stresses, deformations and safety factor resulting from the study generated by the efforts contemplated in it are observed. From the analysis of each of the layers that make up the final glass, it is verified that the thicknesses meet the requirements established by the client, providing the optimal solution for their application. In short, it is about guaranteeing the safety of the project with a correct dimensioning of the glass thicknesses that allows an optimal cost-safety ratio.

The calculations include a wide range of applications, from glass placed on walkable floors, walkways, stairs, to glass installed in swimming pools.

… neither does the final application matter.

There are multiple projects in different applications, which the EVALAM Technical Architectural Department has collaborated to define the glass to be applied, being one of the most peculiar applications those glasses designed to be installed as pool walls.

It is important to note that in cases where laminated glass is used as a pool wall, the important role played by the use of EVA, a non-hygroscopic material that does not absorb moisture from the surrounding environment as other products do. Specifically, Evalam Visual and Evalam N-Fluent have been developed to offer great resistance to humidity, avoiding the delaminations that are generated when the glass is installed open-edged and in extreme weather conditions or in unfavorable environments.

There are interesting success stories, such as the collaboration and advice carried out in 2020 with the Panamanian company TEMPERBRAZ, which was responsible for the transformation of a glass composition using 5 ultra-clear 10 mm glasses. 4 of the internal glasses were tempered glass and the last one was raw to brace the others in case of spontaneous breakage. The glasses were laminated with Evalam Visual with a thickness of 1.52 mm between each one. The joints were sealed with transparent structural silicone. During installation, the panels were buried 25 cm deep and supported on a urethane base, and anchored with quick-drying mortar.

Two installations carried out in South Africa also stand out. In both cases, 63 mm thick multilayered glass was used with panels measuring between 1,200 and 3,200 mm wide, laminated with Evalam Visual. This configuration allowed to achieve a beautiful aesthetic from all angles and also accentuate the clarity of the pool water. The glasses were laminated in 2021 by the company PHOENIX FENESTRATION AND GLASS and installed by MACQUATIX.

Aswell the one carried out in Brazil, during the year 2022 by the company LAJEADENSE, responsible for transforming a glass made up of various layers of 12mm glass laminated with Evalam Visual with a thickness of 1.52 mm between each one and with dimensions of 3,120 x 555mm. The architect designed the pool on the terrace with one of its walls in laminated glass that had to carry out the containment functions at the same time and offer a great panoramic view.

Beyond the applications of the use of glass in the application of laminated glass for use in swimming pools, it is worth mentioning the advisory work for applications on walkable floors, such as the laminated glass walkway made by LUXGLASS TECHNOLOGY and which was installed in the Hotel RIU Plaza (also known as Edificio España) in 2019. This completely transparent and safe glass walkway measures 7 meters long x 1.8 meters wide and is suspended 117 meters from the ground. It was laminated with AB-AR, a technical solution that offers compositions that are 50% lighter than glass-only compositions, obtaining the same resistance with added safety. AB-AR is an ideal interlayer for structures of all kinds, whether for use on walkable floors, as is the case, but also for glazed facades, stairs, ceilings, railings, as well as in anti-vandalism security situations.

Works available in a reference book

A part of the work carried out by Evalam's Architectural Technical Department is included in the EVALAM reference book, where it is clear how at EVALAM helps these customers in the development of glass with optimal features and that helps with compliance with the requirements of comfort, protection and useful life. It is an example that reflects how EVALAM is more than an EVA manufacturer, it is a highly-prepared adviser to count on when successfully tackling any project.

PHOENIX FENESTRATION AND GLASS

Temperbraz

Lejaedense