Acid-etched Glass on Surface One Applications

It is important to state that acid-etched glass can be used on surface 1 of the IGU, meaning it is directly exposed to the outside environment. 

The  four acid-etch finishes that are part of the Walker Textures program, namely Satinlite, Satin, Velour and Opaque can be used on any of the surfaces in an insulated glass unit. Since acid-etching is not a coating, nor a film or sandblast, it has basically the same resistance properties as un-etched glass in exterior weather conditions. The closed-pore surface structure of our acid-etch finishes make the glass easy to clean and resistant to staining. This is the reason why acid-etched glass is ideal for use in exterior applications. Furthermore, it is important to state that acid-etched glass can be used on surface one of the IGU, meaning it is directly exposed to the outside environment.

Having the acid-etched surface on position one of the sealed unit offers many advantages. One of the main uses of acid-etched glass in a surface 1 application is glare reduction from an outside view. It is also used extensively to enhance colours applied on surface 2 of the glass, in non-vision or spandrel applications. Of course, surface one treatment does offer a much better visible impact, while providing privacy, daylight penetration and light diffusion. Enhanced colour rendering is also achieved when a laminate with a coloured interlayer is used as the outboard lite in an insulated unit.

The selection of the acid-etched finish really depends on the design intent and desired overall look. It is important to review 12”x12” samples of the IGU makeup being considered to get a good idea of the look produced by combining acid-etched glass, with the desired finish, and Low-E glass.

Here are some examples of projects that use acid-etched glass on position 1 of an IGU:

INRS in Montreal  (http://walkerglass.com/projects-gallery/inrs-national-institute-of-scientific-research/)

Barnard College in New York City (http://walkerglass.com/projects-gallery/diana-center-barnard-college/)

University of Pennsylvania - Nanotech in Philadelphia

University of Pennsylvania - Nanotech

If you have questions on the use of acid-etched glass in exterior applications or need further information, do not hesitate to contact us and we will gladly connect you with one of our architectural experts.