Interpane at glasstec 2008 - New Functions and Designs

The new ipasol bright solar control glazing adds to architects’ creative possibilities by allowing for coloured and hued designs and the optimised iplus E product series that now features an improved solar factor. At glasstec 2008 in Düsseldorf, Interpane exhibited new developments as well as improvements of their established glazing products, which further enhance the possibilities of sophisticated glass architecture as well as energy savings.



Modern architecture increasingly demands glazing products that not only feature energy saving functions but also allow for creative designs. Interpane caters to this demand with their new facade glazing “ipachrome design”, which now provides for spectacular object design: the chrome-based multi-layer system (large-area or partial) makes the glazing just as highly reflecting as a conventional silver mirror. A good example for this technology is the John Lewis department store in Leicester (GB). It features a transparent, elegantly patterned full glass double facade that is reminiscent of a lace curtain. Apart from the integral, flowing appearance, it has another advantage: rain will simply wash off any accumulating dirt. The decor applied using the sputter process also serves more purposes than pure aesthetics alone, in which it is also provides solar and visual protection and enables variations in the transparency. At night, the facade is illuminated from the inside in changing colours, and thereby turns the object’s architecture into a spectacular event. ipachrome design can be turned into toughened safety glass or laminated sheet glass (LSG).



Colours and hues



As of late, colour accents in solar control glazing is becoming more popular again, especially in Asian and Arabic countries. For this reason, the ipasol product series has been expanded by coloured and hued variants (grey, clear, blue, green, and bronze shades), with technical properties that allow for a wide range of applications. Particularly low g-values, coloured or slightly hued, minimum or expressive outside reflection – everything is possible. The solar factor of the “bright” products ranges from 21 to 50 per cent. An example: With its blue touch and a g-value of 21 per cent, “ipasol bright blue” is a particularly suitable large area glazing for buildings, where extreme solar irradiation would lead to high air conditioning costs. “ipasol bright white” on the other hand reaches a g-value of 50 per cent and is thus more suitable for buildings where moderate solar protection is sufficient and more daylight is desired.



Thermal insulation plus increased g-value



Interpane’s top-notch product for energy savings is the super warm glazing iplus 3CL. Apart from an extremely good heat insulating value of Ug = 0.5 W/m2K, it features a solar factor of 55 per cent and a light transmittance of 72 per cent at excellent colour neutrality. In the same context, the well-established iplus E warm glass series has also been energetically optimised. The solar factor (g-value) of the base products was increased to 62 per cent.



Impulses for interior design



Glass as a building material is increasingly used for interior design purposes. New technologies such as ceramic digital printing or design laminates expand the possibilities for decorative glass designs. The Interpane trade fair booth itself has been designed using “ipadecor P” – here, real photographs are incorporated into the glazing by using laminating technology. The glossy surface provides for a detailed replication of high brilliancy.



New backcut anchor system: Precise and flexible



The safety glass works in Hildesheim, Germany, produce a new backcut anchor system that is suitable for indoor and outdoor applications. Using bore holes of only 8mm in diameter, the fasteners can be mounted fast and quickly. The anchors are adjustable and are easy to install. Rubber buffers gently divert forces to the supporting structure, so that the glazing is not subject to any noteworthy forces. After installation, the mounting system is virtually invisible from the outside – this makes for even, attractive glass surfaces, regardless of whether it is used for facades or interior design.







Energetically optimised

Energetically optimised warm or super warm glazing provides excellent thermal insulation and solar energy gains.

Photo: Interpane







ipachrome design

The most impressive double facade of the John Lewis Department Store in Leicester, England. The pattern itself is a new, partial coating, which also allows for delicate, artistic types of object design: “ipachrome design” by Interpane. From the outside it is just as highly reflecting as a conventional silver mirror.

Photo: Interpane

Object design: Foreign Office Architects