Glass as Building Material (Types, Properties,& Applications)

Glass as a building material is brittle in nature and has very diversified applications. Glass is used for interior decoration to window and door panels.

Types of Glasses Available in the Market

Glass Wool: It is an insulating material made from glass fibre. It is used to insulate floor,walls, and attics from heat.
Soda Ash Glass: This is the most common type of glass used in buildings. It is made from silica, soda ash (Sodium Carbonate), and limestone. Soda Ash Glass is also known as Flint Glass.
Toughened Glass: It is commonly used in doors, facades, staircases, balustrades, and partitions.
Colored Glass: This type of glass finds its place in interior decoration.
Float Glass: Float glass is used in many applications, including windows, mirrors, picture frames, tabletops, and shower enclosures.
Tinted Glass: It is used in buildings to keep cooler than the outside atmosphere.
Chromatic Glass: It controls the transparency of glass and widely used in meeting rooms to achieve privacy.

Properties of Glass as a Building Material

Glass is brittle and has low strength.
It is available in many colors, is transparent, and has different opacities.
Glass is a corrosion-resistant building material.
Glass is erosion-resistant.
We can get a smooth surface for our curtain walls and facades.
Glass provides higher thermal insulation.
Glass can be manufactured in any desired shape
Glass is a good electric insulator.

Applications of Glass in Building Construction

Glass partitions are used in offices and commercial spaces to create separate areas while maintaining an open, airy feel.
Certain types of glass, like double-glazed or coated glass, provide excellent thermal and acoustic insulation, contributing to the energy efficiency of buildings.
In windows and door panels glass is used extensively.
In interior decoration, glass fits the best.
Float glass, made from sodium silicate and calcium silicate is for modern windows and doors