Translucent, light-diffusing glass

Facades Glazings Ceilings Partitions

Roofs Domes Doors

TERMOLUX is a special insulating glass that scatters light and reflects the sun's rays. It is composed of at least two glass panes and a layer of spun glass fibres between them. The fibres of the spun glass lie on top of each other at specific angles to give a high light scatter effect. TERMOLUX is hermetically sealed around the edges by an organic sealant against outside influences. It is therefore impossible to cut or shape TERMOLUX panes.

Application
TERMOLUX is a diffusing and insulating glazing that reflects the sun's rays. Its foremost characteristic is diffusion, an effect which is most intensive when the sun shines. As with all diffusing glasses, workplaces should therefore be arranged in such a way that sunlit panes are not in the centre of the field of vision. A type with 3 mm spun glass is recommended for sports halls, where freedom from glare is wanted. As a roof glazing TERMOLUX protects the interior against excessive solar radiation. Rooflights glazed with TERMOLUX produce, in addition to a completely uniform light diffusion, an excellent in-depth interior illumination due to the additional reflection from the interior ceiling. TERMOLUX creates northlight conditions irrespective of its orientation, and its neutral light prevents shifts in colours. Because of its very good colour rendering index, TERMOLUX is often used in museums and exhibitions, printing works, fashion houses, and also schools and sports halls.

Installation
For the installation of the glazing, the same guidelines and standards apply as for all insulating glasses. For glazing under compression stress, the load must be equally distributed over all four sides, just as a load distributed over length. In the case of dry glazings it is recommended to contact the manufacturer. Special installation prescriptions are applicable to TERMOLUX K-SPECIAL, and are available on request.

Physical properties

Thermical properties
The heat transmission factor U is 3.8 W/m2K for TERMOLUX with 2 x float 4 mm and a 1.5 mm spun glass layer, this being a substantial improvement over simple glazing. TERMOLUX COMBI gives values from 2.2 to 0.7 W/m2K, a considerable improvement over ordinary insulated glazing. With TERMOLUX K-SPECIAL, the U-value increases with the thickness of the capillary layer up to the outstanding value of 1.0 W/m2K.

Total energy transmission
The total energy transmission factor g for TERMOLUX with 2 x float 4 mm and a 1.5 mm spun glass layer is equal to 44 %, while for TERMOLUX-K-SPECIAL with a 12 mm capillary layer the factor is 31 %. These are extremely good values if one considers that for 4 mm float glass alone the factor g is 87 %. By using special combinations, g values under 20 % can be obtained.

Acoustic properties
According to measurements made by the Swiss Materials Testing Laboratory EMPA, the airborne sound insulation factor Rw of TERMOLUX2 x 4 mm with 1.5 mm spun glass fibres is 32 dB, and with 3 mm spun glass it is 34 dB. In TERMOLUX K-SPECIAL with a 16 mm capillary layer it is also 34 dB.

Optical properties
TERMOLUX offers a glare-free and shadow-free diffused light which is pleasant to the eye and is constant irrespective of the angle of incidence. TERMOLUX always gives the same conditions as if the light came from the north, independently of its actual orientation. This gives a feeling of lightness which is not measurable but has an apparent effect far superior to the light transmission factor of 46 % for TERMOLUXfrom 2 x float 4 mm with 1.5 mm spun glass and 27 % with 3 mm spun glass.

Light properties
When falling on or passing through any material or building part, light undergoes a change. This change can be described quantitatively by means of various coefficients, making it possible to precisely characterise any material or building part. The light transmission factorcharacterises the light transmission of a body or a building part, but says nothing about the distribution of light. The half-value angledetermines the direction from which the intensity of the transmitted light is equal to half the intensity at a right angle to the building part, and is therefore suitable for determining the diffusion of light. The very high values of TERMOLUX with 47° and TERMOLUX K-SPECIAL with 38° illustrate the very good light diffusion that results from the spun glass fibres. TERMOLUX is absolutely stable to light and cannot become yellow, since the intermediate layer is made from spun glass fibres. It also offers protection from ultra-violet rays for objects placed behind it.

Spun glass fibre 1,5 mm	Thickness	Weight	Max. dimensions	U value	Lighttrans- mission	Half- value angle	Total energy- trans. factor	Sound- insulation
.	mm	kg / m²	cm	W/m²K			g/F.S.	dB
2 x 3 mm	7 - 8	18	80 x 200	3,9	46	47	46	30
2 x 4 mm	9 - 10	23	120 x 250	3,8*	46*	47*	44*	32*
2 x 6 mm	13 - 14	33	180 x 300	3,6	46	47	42	34
2 x 4 mm  glass-fibers 3 mm	11 - 12	25	120 x 250	3,4	27*	53*	38	34
1 x wire glass 6 - 7 mm  1 x raw glass 5 - 6 mm	13 - 14	33	80 x 380	3,5*	32	38	42	34
2 x wire glass 6 - 7 mm	14 - 15	35	85 x 400	3,4	30	38	42	34

* test results