Importance of Sustainable Glazing, Material Selection Highlighted in Webinar

The construction industry is becoming increasingly cognizant about how material selection affects the environment throughout a product’s lifetime. Kate Stewart, architectural specialist with ICD High Performance Coatings, addressed sustainable glazing options in a Midwest Build Week Online, AIA-accredited session titled, “Strategies to Create Healthier Buildings.”

Stewart explained that buildings and construction are responsible for 40% of global energy use and 11% of global CO2 emissions. This means that coating chemistry and material performance matter.

“The green building market is rapidly transforming the industry, transitioning from a movement to the norm,” said Stewart, adding that sustainable material selection is being driven by stringent local code adoption and project stakeholders such as architects and owners/developers.

She explained that insulating glass units save energy by insulating the interior from the exterior. Adding a low-E coating contributes further to energy savings and lessens the need for interior cooling and heating. Stewart pointed out that glass is made of non-polluting raw materials such as sand, soda ash, limestone and glass cullet. Glass also contributes to daylighting for occupant wellbeing and increased productivity. It also lessens the need for artificial lighting.

While sustainable vision glass is important, it’s also important to consider the sustainability of spandrel glass. Stewart says one way to make spandrel glass greener is by using water-based coatings. Coatings are made up of additives, pigments/fillers, binders/resins and carrier elements. The carrier elements are often water or solvent based. Some solvent-based coatings may contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which Stewart said are harmful to the environment and human health. On the other hand, water-based coatings do not harm workers or contribute to ozone pollution, according to Stewart. She explained that product claims should be backed by test results.

Stewart said silicone coatings are made with a water-based formulation and are bonded naturally to glass. These products are cured through the evaporation of water at ambient of low temperatures and become tack-free, elastomeric films with high levels of adhesion. The GANA 89-1-6 specification can be listed as a performance criteria for these products, which should go through temperature cycling, humidity cycling and UV-A weathering.

In addition to not containing VOCs, Stewart pointed out several other benefits of silicone coatings. Silicone coatings can be harmonized with vision glass through color. Stewart also said that they can be combined with bird-friendly patterns to create visual continuity with bird-friendly vision glass. Silicone coatings can also contribute to several LEED credits. Stewart highlighted the importance of material transparency for stakeholder decision making.

“Transparency documents hold manufacturers accountable and increase pressure on manufacturers to offer sustainable products,” said Stewart about health product declarations (HPDs). She added that the more sustainable products made, the more accessible and cost effective they become.