JUMBO SEALED UNITS
Supertuff has the largest automated Sealed Unit assembly line in the UK and manufacture all sizes of Sealed Units up to full Jumbo size units suitable for commercial applications such as shop fronts and building facades.
Capabilities include the assembly of all ranges of IGU (Insulated Glass Units) including Spandrel Glass with bespoke painted frit, toggle fitting for frame-less glazing and stepped units.
Supertuff has invested in specialist lifting equipment and specially adapted vehicles to ensure that large panels are safely handled and transported to site.
GLASS STAIRCASES
A glass staircase stands as the pinnacle in contemporary glass design. Layering toughened glass panels, followed by the application of a laminate creates robust stair treads, and is the typical method used in a glass staircase construct.
However, glass stairs can be designed and constructed in other ways too including glass treads set in to a steel frame, to entirely frameless cantilevered steps that appear to protrude unsupported from a wall.
Whichever application is chosen, it is important to ensure that strong, Toughened Glass is used, and laminated together in layers, to deliver extra strength to these slim, walk-on glass panels.
Applying anti-slip resistance to the external face of the stair tread may be considered to improve health and safety, especially to outdoor constructions. A sandblasted layer of Toughened Glass or an anti-slip screen pattern can be applied to the top of the tread offering a perfect anti-slip solution.
For a decorative effect coloured or digitally printed interlayers can be included within the layered glass tread. If using a coloured interlayer design for your staircase, integrated LED lighting within the construction, can add a dramatic effect.
For a fully clear glass staircase you should consider the use of low iron glass. Thick panels of standard clear glass can leave a green tint to glass panels, using Low Iron Glass will reduce the green tint for a much clearer finish.
If, like us, you can’t get enough of glass and you want to go ‘full-fat’, take the ‘glass construction’ even further with glass balustrades.
GLASS WALLS & PARTITIONS
Glass units or blocks can be used to create external walls and internal glass partitions.
Externally, insulated glass units can be used within a framed curtain walling system, or as a frameless structural glass construction, to create a fixed insulated wall made entirely of glass.
With all large external glass elevations, thermal performance of the glass is an important factor for the overall comfort levels of the internal space. Ensuring all glass, within a glass wall, is double or triple glazed will make the internal space warmer and reduce heating costs.
Internal partitions can be made entirely out of glass and allow natural light to travel through walls to illuminate internal spaces or walkways. In most cases this internal glass wall doesn’t need any frame, so a completely frameless installation is possible. Integrated doors will not require frames either.
Privacy, especially in commercial or office buildings, may be something to consider. The use of sandblasted glass or a translucent colored interlayer can help in overcoming this challenge. For a high drama and dynamic approach to privacy, use switchable privacy glass – the glass can be changed from transparent to translucent in a matter of seconds.
Where a fire rating is required to protect the exit ways of a building in the case of fire, frameless or framed fire rated glass can be included within these glass walls to maintain the fire rating required.
It may be prudent to include some type of manifestation on large frameless glass installations for safety; to prevent unsuspecting people bumping in to the glass – you’d be surprised how often it does happen! Decorative Glass is often the answer with screen printing, painting, sandblasting or digital printing all providing the perfect solution.
SHOP FRONTS
A shop front is a literal window in to a world of aspiration; a space used to lure customers through the doors.
Extra clear Low Iron Glass is useful in retail installations, especially where large glass elevations are used with thicker glass specifications. Low Iron Glass is infinitely more clear than its counterparts and delivers a more natural hue, enabling a clearer view through a shop front to the enticing displays inside.
Similarly, Anti-reflective Glass will reduce external reflections, even under high sunlight, allowing potential customers to focus on the products within rather than the distraction of their own reflection.
Glazed doors offer a clean, seamless look to the line of glass in shop front installations and can be frameless or framed depending on the design specification required.
Branding is an important aspect of any retail environment. The integration of a logo or slogan can be inscribed into the glass itself, maintaining the view through the shop front whilst advertising the company. This can be achieved by Screen Printing, Sandblasting or Printed Interlayers.
Digital Printed Interlayers, within the glass panel, can be used as a marketing tool and convey a message or advert in shop fronts where transparency is not necessarily required.
Glass provides the ideal retail solution, from the outside in, glass structures can lure customers in from the street, and it can dazzle with high-design mirrors and elegant glass shelving. Glass shelving doesn’t interfere with natural lighting within a retail environment unlike other materials which can create a barrier to natural light.
GLASS FLOORS
The trend for using glass more innovatively in architecture and design is growing. Previously glass floors were used to provide a practical light solution to environments where spaces such as basements or windowless rooms had suffered with poor natural light. Many of us are fascinated and stimulated by glass structures, especially when that structure is a glass floor and the vista is some distance below, and today architects are using glass to much greater effect.
Structural units of glass can be used to create walk on areas of glass for use in a full glass floor or floorlight.
In many cases the glass will be a top, walk on layer of Toughened and Laminated Glass, multiple layers of Toughened Glass that are then laminated together to provide additional structural support.
If the walk on glass floor or floorlight is separating two different climates, a glass corridor connecting two structures for example, the Laminated Glass panel can be integrated into a horizontal double or triple glazed unit to maintain thermal performance.
As a health and safety precaution, Anti-slip resistance should be applied to the external face of the glass floor, especially in cases where the glass surface is exposed to weathers such as rain and wind.
There are several Anti-slip solutions: sandblasting the outer layer of glass will create a slightly rougher external surface to the glass floor delivering anti-slip properties. Screen printing the external face of the glass is also an option as it creates a ceramic Anti-slip pattern on the surface.
In all Glass Floor structures, Low Iron Glass is recommended to reduce the noticeable green tint in layered glass constructions.
Low Maintenance Glass can be used to reduce cleaning in high traffic glass floors and specialist Fire Rated Glass can also be used on glass floors where a fire rating is required.
ABOUT US
Super Toughened Glass Ltd (STG) was established in 1999 with the ultimate aim of providing the highest quality tempered glass manufactured to the Kite mark requirement to BS EN 12150.
CONTACT US
Glass House
Unit 2, 5-9 Willenfield Road
Park Royal
London NW10 7BQ
T: 020 8961 8188
F: 020 8961 2222
E-mail: mail@supertuff.co.uk