GLASS

Building construction and materials

Syed Mohsin jameel

November 2020

University of kashmir
School of Architecture
1. Introduction: Glass is an inorganic solid material that is usually
transparent or translucent as well as hard, brittle and impervious to
the natural elements.
Glass has been made into practical and decorative objects since
ancient times, and it is still very important in applications as
disparate as building construction.
It is made by cooling molten ingredients such as silica and sand with
sufficient rapidity to prevent the formation of visible crystals.

2. Properties: Glass is a transparent or translucent material. It

absorbs, retracts and transmits light. It has no definite crystalline
structure nor sharp melting point. Glass is weather resistant, fire
resistant and an excellent electric insulator. Last but not least, it can
be formed into any desired shape,

3. Uses: In buildings Glass is most typically used as

transparent glazing material in the building envelope, including
windows in the external walls. Glass is also used for internal
partitions and as an architectural feature. When used in buildings,
glass is often of a safety type, which include reinforced, toughened
and laminated glasses.
4. Types and applications:
(a) Reflective glass: When the intensity of
light is less on one side and more on the
other, it turns into a mirror and vice versa
when the intensity level swaps.

Figure 1 – refractive glass

Source-glass.com
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(b) Laminated glass: also known as

bulletproof glass is produced by adding
laminate layers. Such glasses are used in high
security zones and even in the cars of most
VVIPs.
Figure 2- laminated glass
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(c) Tinted glass: reduces the brightness of

light and hence used more in places where
the brightness of sun is more than or in
locations with extreme heat conditions.

Figure 3-tinted glass

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(d) Crinkled glass: has a wrinkled surface and it

is used for aesthetic purpose in interiors.
 Figure 4-crinked glass
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(e) Glass bricks: is an innovative material used to

make floors, partitions and even roof. These help
to bring light and can be used in bath cabins,
toilet partitions or furniture pieces

Figure 5-glass bricks

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(e) Reinforced glass: is a type of safety glass that

is storm-resistant. It can also withstand
explosions and stop burglars from entering the
house.

Figure 6-reinforced glass

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