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With today's increasing focus on the sustainability of human practices, including the design and construction of buildings, Advanced Glazings Ltd. has compiled a list of frequently asked sustainability-related questions regarding the company, its processes and Solera. We hope that it will be of assistance to those who choose to consider sustainability as one of their decision-making criteria. We gratefully thank BNIM Architects of Kansas City Mo. for their foresight and leadership in having driven the issue of sustainable architecture and for the majority of these questions.
Energy Efficiency
(Downstream - building use)
| Q |
How does using Solera affect energy use in the building? |
| A |
Solera is unique in its ability to deliver high levels of light transmittance (up to 75%) along with excellent thermal insulation (R=up to 7.0, U=down to .14) . Additionally, Solera's redistribution of daylight makes it possible to maximize employment of daylight harvesting technology. There is not, to the best of our knowledge another glazing material that offers this level of performance. |
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| Q |
What is the Solera's R-value(U-value)? |
| A |
R= 3, 4, and 5 ( U=0.33, 0.24 and 0.20 Btu/ft2 /hr). (NOTE U= 0.14 or R=7 available in mid-2002) |
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| Q |
Does the R-value decrease over time? |
| A |
No. Solera's design and materials are such that the thermal insulation characteristics can be expected to be delivered for the entire usable life of the product. |
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Human Health
(Downstream - building use)
This section is intended to determine how the product will impact the building occupant's health.
| Q |
How does Solera affect occupant health? |
| A |
Solera is an inert material and as such has no impact on the physical health of occupants. There is, however, a growing body of data that demonstrates the ability of natural light (daylight) to improve sense of well being, rates of learning, productivity and even customer purchasing levels. Additionally, there is an abundance of data that points to the need for natural light to be properly distributed (diffused) in order for its benefits to be fully enjoyed. |
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| Q |
Is there a Material Safety Data Sheet available for Solera? |
| A |
Yes |
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| Q |
Has Solera been tested for its potential effect on IAQ using the ASTM procedure D5116-90 or a comparable testing procedure? |
| A |
No. As glass is the only material component of Solera, which is exposed to the building interior, ASTM D5116-90 does not apply. Glass is an inert material and does not off-gas. Additionally, while not in contact with the building interior, the acrylic used to fabricate the transparent honeycomb insulation and veil is USDA food grade. The silicone seal is fully cured within 7 days of manufacture, after which it is considered an "inert rubber "material that does not off-gas. Solera's silicone seal is contained within the intra-frame cavity of the framing system, vented to the outdoors. |
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| Q |
Does Solera contain/emit Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)? |
| A |
No. |
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| Q |
Does Solera contain asbestos (including blue crocodilite, brown amosite, and white chrysotile asbestos)? |
| A |
No. |
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| Q |
Does the product require adhesives, primers or finish coatings to complete the installation? |
| A |
No. |
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| Q |
Does Solera contain other hazardous chemicals such as formaldehyde (including resorcinol-formaldehyde, pheno-resorcinol-formaldehyde, and urea-formaldehyde)? |
| A |
No. |
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| Q |
Does Solera contain or rely on the use of ozone depleting chemicals such as HCFC, CFC, HFC, or Halon? |
| A |
No. |
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| Q |
Does Solera use any of the EPA's list of 17 industrial Chemicals that are targeted for reduction? |
| A |
| Benzene |
No |
| Cadmium & Compounds |
No |
| Carbon Tetrachloride |
No |
| Chloroform |
No |
| Chromium & Compounds |
No |
| Cyanide & Compounds |
No |
| Lead & Compounds (.005 p.p.m. by weight) |
Yes |
| Mercury & Compounds |
No |
| Methyl Ethyl Ketone |
No |
| Methyl Isobutyl Ketone |
No |
| Methylene Chloride |
No |
| Nickel & Compounds |
No |
| Tetracloroethylene |
No |
| Toluene |
No |
| 1,1,1 Thrichlorethane |
No |
| Trichloroethylene |
No |
| Xylenes |
No |
Our supplier of structural silicone seal material advises that this is the minimum content level achievable with today's technology.
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Performance, Durability, & Maintenance
(Downstream - building use)
| Q |
How does Solera perform its intended function? |
| A |
Solera is a high performance translucent glazing material. Its purpose is to re-distribute incoming daylight so as to reduce glare and increase overall interior lighting levels. It does all this while at the same time providing very high levels of thermal insulation. Solera is constructed using a Transparent Insulation Material (TIM) core that fills the gap between two layers of architectural glass in the same way that conventional insulation fills a wall cavity. Unlike conventional insulation, TIM has the unique ability to transmit high levels of light AND simultaneously insulate. Solera insulates because the cell sizes of the TIM are small enough to prevent convection necessary to transfer heat, and the cell wall material absorbs solar infrared radiation. Because the cell walls are orientated perpendicular to the glazing surface, incoming light is transmitted or reflected in a forward direction minimizing back reflection losses. Solera includes a choice of translucent veil material used in conjunction with the TIM core that provides the opportunity to "dial-in" a wide range of light transmittance values from under 20% to 75%, independent of thermal performance. |
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| Q |
What is the recommended application and installation to best utilize Solera? |
| A |
The recommended application of Solera is for architectural daylighting in quality facilities where high volume and quality of light are desired without compromising thermal performance. Solera is designed to be installed within a wide range of framing systems for curtain wall, sloped overhead, conservatory and skylight applications. While Solera is not to be used everywhere, we recommend a complete re-thinking of the use of vision glass. Why not use vision glass where visual access is needed or desired and use translucent glazing everywhere else that glass is specified? Ideal applications include buildings climates where solar heat gain or heat loss are to be avoided and where direct beam sunlight results in problems for building users. |
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| Q |
What is Solera's expected useful life? |
| A |
We estimate Solera's useful life to be on the order of 60 to 100 years. |
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| Q |
What sort of long-term maintenance does Solera require once installed? |
| A |
Solera requires only washing, on the same schedule as any vision glass. |
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Environmental Hazards
(Upstream - Manufacturing)
| Q |
Are there any known hazards associated with the manufacture of Solera? |
| A |
The Solera in-house manufacturing process does not create hazardous by-products. The primary hazards in the manufacturing process include material handling (specifically glass) minimized by plant procedures. The Transparent Insulation (honeycomb) fabrication process employs a dust collection system to control airborne particles during cutting of the insulation. |
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| Q |
Is the manufacturing process free of the EPA 17 targeted chemicals listed above? |
| A |
Yes. |
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Embodied Energy
(Upstream - Manufacturing)
| Q |
What are the sources of energy draw during the manufacturing process? |
| A |
The biggest in plant draw of energy is for the glass washing apparatus. The honeycomb line is the next largest draw on energy followed by the roll form machine used for manufacturing the spacer. |
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| Q |
How is Solera made? |
| A |
An in-house roll-forming line shapes and notches the steel spacer with a secondary bending stage for specific unit fabrication. Parallel to this line is a transparent insulation production line that fabricates the honeycomb from proprietary acrylic film using a proprietary process. The glazing unit assembly line includes a glass wash with subsequent assembly of the glass, spacer and honeycomb transparent insulation core. The final stage is manual unit assembly with structural silicone seal. |
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| Q |
What is the company's total energy consumption for the manufacture of Solera? |
| A |
Embodied energy calculated for the roll forming line is 0.12 MJ/sq.ft. The calculated embodied energy for the honeycomb process lines is 0.000291 MJ/sq.ft. Embodied energy calculated for the glass wash is 0.06576 MJ/sq.ft. Total embodied energy at Advanced Glazings Ltd. is about .19MJ per square foot. |
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Process Waste
(Upstream - Manufacturing)
| Q |
What are your waste management tactics? |
| A |
Steel spacer is manufactured in house to specified lengths on a custom basis, resulting in less than 5% waste. All metal waste generated is recycled. Any acrylic waste will soon be used in the acrylic extrusion line that will recycle 100% in-plant acrylic waste. Glass is currently supplied in custom cut dimensions and the waste associated with this material stream is so minimal (<0.5%) that it does not currently support a recycling program. |
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| Q |
What is Solera's recycled content per unit of material? |
| A |
The nature of the product category, architectural glazing, is such that re-cycling of post consumer materials is not generally practiced. Glass makers do recycle internal waste as approximately 10% of finished product. Post consumer content of the steel components of the Solera is estimated to be 3%. |
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| Q |
How much solid waste is generated per unit of material during the manufacturing process? |
| A |
Estimated less than .2% |
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| Q |
What does Advanced Glazings Ltd. do with process waste? |
| A |
Production waste (such as acrylic material, packaging material like nylon strapping and glass) currently enters the municipal waste management program. Waste metal is recycled directly. |
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| Q |
What are your water conservancy efforts? |
| A |
The glass wash uses the most water within the production line and has a minimal draw on water as the system uses a closed loop wherein waste water is recycled. |
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| Q |
Describe any programs to reduce the amount of waste created and water used during the manufacturing process? |
| A |
All aspects of processing are aimed at minimal material waste and material recycling where possible, an internal policy of environmental awareness and good business. In-house custom manufacturing of insulation and roll forming are examples of the manufacturing process where material consumption is controlled directly. |
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Resource limitation
(Upstream - Raw material acquisition)
| Q |
What are all of the primary raw materials and secondary raw materials used in Solera? |
| A |
Secondary Materials include architectural glass (92.5% of total), galvanized steel or aluminum spacer (5% of total), acrylic insulation core (1.5% of total), acrylic-coated glass veil (<.5% of total), silicone sealant (<.5% of total), stainless steel capillary tube (<.1% of total) and polyethylene tape (<.1% of total). |
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| Q |
How are recycled materials used in Solera? |
| A |
Solera contains recycled materials as follows; recycled post-consumer content (<5%), recycled industrial waste content (<37%) |
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Resource Extraction
(Upstream - Raw material acquisition)
| Q |
Where do your manufacturing materials come from? |
| A |
Glass & steel comprise 99% of the material content of Solera. Steel and glass are purchased from Dofasco Steel and from various architectural glass manufacturers as necessitated by architectural specifications. |
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| Q |
How are virgin materials extracted? |
| A |
Iron ore is extracted in open pits by blasting and transferred to crushing plants by truck. Iron ore is separated by gravity or magnetic processes and made into pellets or sinters (when combined with limestone & coal). The iron is then smelted into pig iron in a blast furnace. Pig iron is refined in an oxygen furnace with scrap steel into steel. Glass is made from silica sand, dolomite, soda ash & tint. Silica sand is extracted from sand deposit and quartz is quarried. |
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| Q |
What energy is required to extract and process natural resources for Solera? |
| A |
Embodied energy calculations for steel and glass are as published by the New Zealand Building Industry Advisory Council. Embodied Energy of float glass is calculated to be 15.9 MJ/kg and galvanized steel is calculated to be 34.8 MJ/kg. Embodied energy calculations were not available for the other material components. |
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| Q |
What are the pollutions and by-products created during resource extraction? |
| A |
While steel manufacturing tends to consume a fair amount of energy with significant environmental impact, or supplier, Dofasco, has been named the most sustainable company by the Dow Jones Sustainability Group Index for the Basic Materials Sector of the world-wide index. By-products such as coal tars & other chemicals are sold for other industrial uses. Slag is used as a substitute for aggregate & road base construction. As to glass, the manufacturing produces minimal by-products with in-process glass waste recycling. Suppliers report that air emissions contain minimal noxious substances. Acrylic film making produces no air emissions during manufacturing as all off-gassing is re-circulated into the process. |
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Packaging
(Upstream - Raw Material Acquisition, Manufacturing, and Delivery of Product)
| Q |
How do you package Solera for shipment? |
| A |
Glazing units are crated with 100% recycled wood. |
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| Q |
Is the packaging reusable or recyclable? What percentage? |
| A |
Solera's crating material is 100% recyclable. |
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Construction Methods
(Direct - Construction)
| Q |
What are the environmental impacts of constructing, installing or assembling Solera? |
| A |
Solera is custom manufactured and is typically framed using a commercial framing system. There are no evident environmental impacts of the assembly/installation processes. |
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| Q |
How should the material be designed and specified to minimize waste during construction? |
| A |
Selective use of non-rectangular shapes will reduce waste as glass is supplied to us in rectangular form. Ordering procedures require shop drawing be checked to ensure correct materials, dimensions and shapes are submitted for fabrication. These procedures will minimize the occurrence of on-site problems and subsequent construction waste. |
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| Q |
Does Solera cause any hazard to the trade people or require protective equipment or clothing during installation? |
| A |
Solera must be handled as per standard safety procedures for glass handling to guard against breakage and sharp edges. |
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| Q |
Does the material release pollution or toxic substances during installation? |
| A |
No. |
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| Q |
Does the product create scrap material (i.e. from work)? |
| A |
No. |
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| Q |
If Solera requires cleaning before occupancy can it be cleaned without the use of solvent or phosphate based products or protective equipment? |
| A |
Yes. |
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Demolition Waste
(Post-Use - material disposal)
| Q |
What are the post use considerations for Solera? |
| A |
The construction of the Solera unit allows for 99% component recycling at the end of its' lifecycle. Direct re-use of the glazing unit is an option should the product life exceed the building life. |
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| Q |
What happens to Solera when its useful life is over? |
| A |
Removal from the structure and 99% component recycling. |
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| Q |
Can the entire product be reused when its useful life is over? |
| A |
Yes. |
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| Q |
Can the Installed product be disassembled and removed easily for reuse without substantial loss of quality? |
| A |
Yes. |
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| Q |
Can the material components be reused or recycled when the products useful life is over? |
| A |
Yes. |
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| Q |
Should a Solera glazing unit become damaged after installation, is it possible to repair it? |
| A |
Yes. Field repair is possible by a glass installer. The installer removes the unit, cuts the silicone seal to enable removal of the broken lite, replaces the broken lite with glass from the flat glass manufacturer and reseals the unit with structural silicone. |
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Demolition Hazards
(Post-Use - material disposal)
| Q |
Are there any potential hazards? |
| A |
Potential for personal injury does exist from broken glass during installation if standard precautions are not taken. |
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| Q |
Will the finished material or its components become hazardous or toxic at the end of its useful life? |
| A |
No. |
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| Q |
Does the demolition of Solera pose hazard to trade people or require protective equipment or clothing during demolition? |
| A |
Yes. There is the potential for personal injury if standard safety procedures not followed during glass breakage. |
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