CITY GLASS recently held a glazing symposium in partnership with the Construction Industry Federation of Zimbabwe (CIFOZ) at the CIFOZ headquarters in Eastlea. The main aim of the symposium was to explain the importance of using the correct glazing products in completing project builds. City Glass is the leading supplier of glass and glazing solutions, not only in Zimbabwe but in the Southern African region as well. This particular symposium was part of the 3030 Lecture series being hosted by CIFOZ to educate the public about the use of different building materials. In his opening remarks, Institute of Architects in Zimbabwe (IAZ) President Emiel Murwira spoke about the technological advances that are taking place at a rapid pace and how they affect the construction industry.
He emphasised that there is a greater need for sharing information to ensure that all construction industry professionals are on the same page. In the past, there have been issues where constructors use the wrong building materials and, therefore, the 3030 Lectures are a perfect solution as they give suppliers a chance to educate the public about their products and construction professionals the chance to utilise materials from an informed position. Issues have also arisen regarding pricing and the 3030 Lectures are also meant to clear up any confusion resulting from the disparity in pricing options between materials supplied by private companies and the government. Brandon Samuels, an expert glazer brought in from PFG South Africa, gave a detailed presentation on glass products and glazing. He stressed the importance of asking qualified architects to recommend the correct glass laminates as each of their products.
has different properties. He explained the danger of buying cheaper glass products to cut costs as products that are different from the ones specifies in an architect’s concept might compromise the standard and functionality of a building in the long run. Over the years, City Glass has established a good reputation by providing worldclass products and providing exceptional customer services, underscored by competitive prices. Most recently, they have used polymer technology to produce modern glazing solutions, which are detailed in The Glass Guide, a comprehensive brochure that City Glass has introduced for the first time ever.
In addition to their vast range of products, City Glass offers the most extensive range of stock sheet sizes and thicknesses available in the nation. Their edge working services encompass polishing, edging, beveling and drilling. Finished sheets either have arrissed, polished (standard profile) or flat ground finishings. The guide informs prospective buyers and industry professionals about City Glass’s float and architectural glass applications. Glass solutions covered in the guide include; clear glass, patterned glass, tinted glass, mirrors, laminated safety glass, toughened glass, and safety bullet resistant glass. Float glass, or as the proprietary name would have it, CityFloat, is a basic clear glass that is made by pouring molten glass onto a flat tin bed.
This glass can be used in most regular applications and is manufactured according to ISO9001 standards which dictate Quality Management System requirements ensuring that CityFloat is completely safe and reliable. Other patented City Glass products have been produced by leveraging polymer technology to manipulate attributes such as security, light reflection, UV resistance, sound control, decorative properties, building aesthetics and energy efficiency to suit specific construction requirements. Glass is inter-layered with the polymer polyvinyl butyral (PVB) to produce glass products of varying strength and light resistance. Exciting products offered include CityLam which is mainly marketed for buildings in the city that require greater security than other buildings. CityLam has considerable tensile strength and is resistant to burglary.
Polymer inter-layer coheres to the two glass layers preventing shards from falling and causing injury in the event of an accident. The basic CityLam products are clear with three strength options: normal strength, high performance, and high impact. CityLam also has a tinted range with shades such as Aquamarine, Coolblue, Coolgrey, Regal Blue, Coolbronze and Shadowlite. CityLam’s ColourVue range either combines two layers of clear float glass between one or more polymer inter-layers or by using two sheets glass (clear and tinted) with a PVB layer. This offers a wider range of tints and, therefore, a wider selection of applications. For instance, lighter tints are ideal for eliminating solar energy while deeper tints are best for glare control and eliminate a greater amount of heat.
For users who value their privacy, CityLam Translucent is the ultimate solution as it allows light to enter buildings but detailed shapes cannot be seen from outside. In addition to the signature strength of the entire CityLam range, CityLam Translucent laminates filter out noise and stop ultraviolet light from damaging artworks and fabrics. CityLam CoolVue products have been manufactured to block heat from the sun whilst transmitting light which makes them the perfect laminates to use in industrial and roofing glazing as well as shop display windows and curtain walls used in commercial buildings. CityLam Low E Glass increases the insulation value of a window by keeping the heat out in summer and in during the winter months.
By reducing ultraviolet radiation, the Low E Glass range assists in the preservation of textiles used in curtains, carpets, and furniture. The CityLam Solarshield range, on the other hand, reduces glare in buildings and is used in curtain walls and lift interiors. The SolarVue range blocks heat from the sun whilst letting light in and is perfect for glazed partitions and screens. Although glass is commonly viewed as a fragile material, glass structures such as balustrades, sliding doors, shower doors, and balcony enclosures don’t break easily. Panels used for such applications are made by subjecting sheets of CityFloat glass to a rapid sequence of heating and brisk cooling, resulting in CityTough glass which is five times stronger than CityLam and can be used in refrigerators and ovens. CityBRG is a specialised bullet resistant glass made with polycarbonate technology.
This laminate is 250 times stronger than glass sheets of the same thickness. City Glass also manufactures mirrors (CityMirror) which are produced using a palladium substrate, unlike traditional mirrors that are made using copper and lead. These mirrors last longer and are more environmentally friendly than their copper/lead predecessors. City Glass also supplies glazing accessories such as CityPutty and their Glass Guide provides comprehensive glazing and maintenance advice including detailed diagrams illustrating the proper installation of balustrades to ensure that buildings are glazed properly and that installed CityGlass products last for a long time. All in all, the City Glass Symposium was an invaluable opportunity for professionals in the construction industry to learn a thing or two about recent technological advances in the glazing industry. The first lecture in the 3030 series was given by Beta Bricks and a third symposium is to be held towards the end of October. Visit City Glass at 16792 Bessemer Road, Graniteside, Harare
