EDITOR ’ S CHOICE
A TOUCH OF GLASS
THE BENEFITS OF PRIVACY GLASS
Switchable glass and complete privacy are ours to command at the touch of a button , as Susan Sinden , Commercial Manager of leading glass processor ESG Group Ltd , explains .
One of the most striking glass processing innovations of recent years has been the advent of switchable privacy glass . Laminated glass products such as ESG Switchable™ are created using a technical interlayer through which an electric current can be passed . When the current is switched off , the glass will form an opaque panel , but when the current is switched on , the glass becomes transparent , letting in light and creating a clear view . This can be used anywhere that the current can be applied , in doors , windows , atriums , partitions or balcony panels , with equal success .
Privacy glass is proving highly effective in both commercial and domestic settings . It can be used to zone and define large open plan spaces to provide board rooms , work stations and breakout spaces , or to maximise limited space with carefully sited mezzanines – all at the touch of a button .
One of the most recent uses of secure switchable glass is in self-contained battery-powered front door panels , which do not require a mains power supply . Panels such as ESG ’ s Secure Vue™ are a great option to replace outmoded spy holes . Allowing clear , unobstructed observation of a caller when switched off , they also provide complete privacy when turned on . This is also beneficial in medical and high security settings , where it allows observation without intervention in sensitive and confidential situations .
Undoubtedly , the advances in design and functionality in switchable glass have resulted in there being far more glazing choices to make than simply the size of your windows .
www . esg . glass
Privacy isn ’ t the only property that we can incorporate using interlayers ; glass processors can also add high security , fire resistance or sound attenuation , making switchable glass even more versatile . Switchable glass can be used to shield high value retail items from the view of potential thieves , or VIP passengers from the glare of unwelcome media attention . By switching from clear to opaque at the touch of a button , high security switchable glass provides a new form of defence for security professionals , affording clear sightlines for security teams when switched off , but no view at all for a potential aggressor when switched on .
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