Glass Options for a Healthy Built Environment

Sponsored by Pilkington North America – NSG Group

Learning Objectives:

  1. Describe material and human considerations in material selection.
  2. Explain differences between antibacterial/antiviral technologies used to maximize occupant health.
  3. Assess how photocatalytic reaction can inactivate bacteria and viruses.
  4. Explain how VOCs impact indoor air quality and describe methods to mitigate in order to improve the built environment.

Credits:

HSW
1 AIA LU/HSW
IACET
0.1 IACET CEU*
AIBD
1 AIBD P-CE
AAA
AAA 1 Structured Learning Hour
AANB
This course can be self-reported to the AANB, as per their CE Guidelines
AAPEI
AAPEI 1 Structured Learning Hour
MAA
MAA 1 Structured Learning Hour
NLAA
This course can be self-reported to the NLAA.
NSAA
This course can be self-reported to the NSAA
NWTAA
NWTAA 1 Structured Learning Hour
OAA
OAA 1 Learning Hour
SAA
SAA 1 Hour of Core Learning
 
This course can be self-reported to the AIBC, as per their CE Guidelines.
As an IACET Accredited Provider, BNP Media offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard.
This course is approved as a Structured Course
This course can be self-reported to the AANB, as per their CE Guidelines
Approved for structured learning
Approved for Core Learning
This course can be self-reported to the NLAA
Course may qualify for Learning Hours with NWTAA
Course eligible for OAA Learning Hours
This course is approved as a core course
This course can be self-reported for Learning Units to the Architectural Institute of British Columbia
This test is no longer available for credit

When evaluating material surfaces in buildings, there are a wide variety of characteristics that should be considered such as durability, haptics, aesthetics, performance, and cleanability. One key factor is the impact on occupant health and safety in terms of air quality, daylighting, and pathogen longevity on surfaces. Glass is an inherently durable and highly sought-after building material for combination of properties like transparency, durability, ease-to-clean, and structural properties. By treating the glass surfaces of a building windows with an antiviral and anti-bacterial coating, the interior quality of the building can be greatly enhanced. The built environment can be improved by inactivating pathogens after contact with an activated coating surface which leads to reduced pathogen exposure risk. These specialized coatings can also promote NOx and VOC reductions which improve indoor air quality. Surface contact risk can also be greatly minimized by improving cleanliness of the interior building surfaces and reducing pathogen presence. By understanding the potential benefits provided by specialty glass applications, the window design can be adjusted to maximize occupant health considerations while still achieving the design criteria.

Glass Options

Photo courtesy of Pilkington North America

 

Pilkington North America – NSG Group The flat glass business of the NSG Group, operating under the Pilkington brand, is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of glass and glazing products for the building and automotive markets, with manufacturing operations in 29 countries on four continents and sales in 130 countries.

 

Originally published in June 2021

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