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Self-Cleaning Glass acknowledged by British Standards Institute
By Bronwen Elisabeth Roberts
Safe window-cleaning practice has always been a concern for both the British Standards Institute (BSI) and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), which holds the responsibility for Building Regulations in England and Wales. However, due to increasing specification of Pilkington Activ™ for high-rise developments and commercial properties, both organisations are now acknowledging the growing popularity of self-cleaning glass.
The relevant British Standard – BS 8213 Part 1 – was revised in October 2004 to include guidelines on the use of self-cleaning glass. The revisions make it even simpler for architects, specifiers and building control officers to see the benefits of choosing Pilkington Activ™ in accordance with these recommendations.
BS 8213 Part 1 is essentially a code of practice for 'design for safety in use and during cleaning of windows'. The paper offers guidance and recommendations for the construction, operation, maintenance and cleaning of windows. The revised paper now includes the wording: 'If it is not possible to provide windows that can be safely cleaned on both sides from within the building, self-cleaning glass should be used in situations where satisfactory cleaning is likely to result.' It stands to reason that their has been an increase in the use of self-cleaning glass in Conservatories, Windows, Doors & Skylights.
Pilkington Activ™ can therefore help specifiers to fulfil this recommendation, provided it is used in situations where it is fully exposed to daylight and rainfall, enabling the glass to work to full effect. Its dual-action cleaning process can then use UV light to break down and loosen organic dirt and for rainwater to then wash it away. In situations where there are deep window recesses or overhangs in the building design, the self-cleaning glass would need occasional hosing down, and this would need to be taken into account when considering the new Standard's suggestions.
With the commercial use of self-cleaning glass rising rapidly in the UK, the acknowledgment of the importance of the product by these relevant building authorities supports the belief that Pilkington Activ™ - the world's first self-cleaning glass - represents the present and future of the glazing industry.
About the Author
Come on world do keep up! Long described as an impossible dream, Pilkington self-cleaning glass uses natural light and rainwater to keep windows clearer and better looking. To see how this vision became a reality – and how you can benefit – visit the world of Pilkington Activ™
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