Pilkington Insulight Activ SPECIAL APPLICATIONS. Insulating glass units incorporating the world s first self-cleaning glass.

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Scot Stafford
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1 Pilkington Insulight Activ SPECIAL APPLICATIONS Pilkington Insulight Activ Insulating glass units incorporating the world s first self-cleaning glass.

So by combining the two products you ll not only be benefiting from the high quality you d expect from A Pilkington insulating glass units, you ll also be getting the most revolutionary and B

2 Pilkington Insulight Activ A winning combination from the name you can trust. Pilkington Insulight and Pilkington Activ are both market leading products from the company at the forefront of glass manufacture. So by combining the two products you ll not only be benefiting from the high quality you d expect from A Pilkington insulating glass units, you ll also be getting the most revolutionary and B innovative glass on the market. Pilkington Insulight. Quality you can depend on. Windows now have the capability to do far more than merely admit daylight into a building. Indeed, they are seen as an essential contributor to energy conservation and comfort. In addition to providing useful solar heat, insulating glass units have the potential to contribute significant energy savings and improve the thermal efficiency of buildings, thereby reducing CO 2 emissions. Cross section of Pilkington Insulight. A Primary seal. B Secondary seal for increased durability. Pilkington Activ A revolution in glass. Self-cleaning glass has been described as an impossible dream. Yet, following an intensive research and development programme by Pilkington pioneers in glass manufacturing, new Pilkington Activ does just that. Pilkington manufactured the first insulating glass unit in 1937, and has been a market leader ever since. Its unique dual-action uses the forces of nature to help keep the glass free from organic dirt, giving you not only the practical benefit of less cleaning, but also Pilkington Insulating Glass clearer, better-looking windows. Units, called Pilkington Insulight, are technically advanced double glazed units. They feature a dual seal between the spacer frame and the two pieces of glass, designed to increase the life of the units. And as you d expect from a Pilkington product, they are expertly constructed and tested stringently for quality. Pilkington Activ is an ordinary glass with a special coating on one side that has a unique dual-action. Once exposed to daylight, the coating chemically reacts in two ways. First, it breaks down any organic dirt deposits and secondly, rain water 'sheets' down the glass to wash the loosened dirt away. So where you see the Pilkington Insulight name you are assured of high quality.

3 How does the self-cleaning glass in Pilkington Insulight Activ work? The sun shines on window Rain water hits windows and sheets down glass Sunlight triggers the Pilkington Activ coating Dirt is washed away by rain Reaction loosens organic dirt What is meant by dual-action? The secret of Pilkington Insulight Activ lies in the special coating on the selfcleaning glass, which works in two stages: Breaking down organic dirt Using a photocatalytic process, the coating reacts with ultra-violet rays from natural daylight to break down and disintegrate organic dirt. Washing dirt away The second part of the process happens when water hits the glass. Because Pilkington Insulight Activ is hydrophilic, instead of forming droplets the moisture spreads evenly over the surface, and as it runs off takes the dirt with it. Compared with conventional glass, the water also dries off very quickly and does not leave unsightly drying spots. Pilkington Insulight Activ market leading benefits. Contains the world s first self-cleaning glass. Breaks down and loosens even heavy soiling during daylight hours. Window is left clean Easily cleaned during dry spells by hosing down or wiping with a soft cloth and warm soapy water. Saves energy by reducing heat loss and allowing you to stay comfortable at lower thermostat settings. Reduces cold spots and downdraughts near windows, improving comfort and increasing usable floor space. Increases inner glass surface temperatures, reducing internal condensation. Provides savings on capital and running costs of heating and/or air conditioning systems. High light transmission. Can be specified with argon gas filling for extra insulation. Provides the opportunity for extensive use of glazing in buildings, through the ability to trade off lower U values with other building elements. Can contain laminated or toughened glass to give increased safety, security and/or acoustic performance. Created and manufactured by the world s leading glass producer Pilkington.

Frequently asked questions about Pilkington Insulight Activ Where can Pilkington Insulight Activ be used? Almost any exterior application, including conservatories, façades and glass roofs.

Pilkington Insulight Activ is designed to reduce the amount of maintenance required. If cleaning is necessary, it will be much less frequent and will be much easier than with conventional glass.

4 Frequently asked questions about Pilkington Insulight Activ Where can Pilkington Insulight Activ be used? Almost any exterior application, including conservatories, façades and glass roofs. Pilkington Insulight Activ is perfect for those inaccessible windows where organic dirt normally collects. It is not suitable for interior use. Will my windows ever need cleaning? Pilkington Insulight Activ is designed to reduce the amount of maintenance required. If cleaning is necessary, it will be much less frequent and will be much easier than with conventional glass. This may occur during long dry spells or if your windows are heavily soiled. How easy is it to clean Pilkington Insulight Activ? Normally a simple hosing down with water will suffice, but you can also use a soft cloth and warm, soapy water. No special cleaners are required and the coating will naturally re-activate after a few days. What is a photocatalytic effect? The name given to the chemical reaction involving UV rays from natural daylight, oxygen and the special coating on Pilkington Insulight Activ that breaks down and loosens organic dirt particles from the glass. What does hydrophilic mean? It literally means attracting water, and is the opposite of hydrophobic (waterrepellent). Basically, it means water spreads evenly over the surface of the glass to form a thin film that washes away and dries off quickly without leaving unsightly drying spots. How long will the self-cleaning coating last? Tests on Pilkington Insulight Activ have shown that the coating will last the lifetime of the window itself. Does Pilkington Insulight Activ work straight away? Pilkington Insulight Activ takes about five days to activate itself after installation, after which it works continually, with dirt being washed away whenever it rains. And although only a small amount of UV radiation is needed to activate the coating, in certain circumstances, like in dry spells or in areas that UV light cannot reach, the windows can be washed off with a soft cloth and warm soapy water.

5 Pilkington Insulight Activ handling and processing guidelines. Pilkington Insulight Activ is a high-value product and, therefore, it is important that its handling and processing is carried out in accordance with good practice. It must be glazed following Pilkington recommendations to obtain maximum benefit. Delivery and Storage The product contains a coated glass and care should, therefore, be taken whilst offloading and during storage to avoid damaging the surface. Coating Detector The self-cleaning coating on Pilkington Insulight Activ can be identified using a hand-held detector on the coated surface, available from your local Pilkington contact. Handling Special care should be taken to protect the glass, especially the edges, from impact damage (knocks, abrasions and excessive local pressure). The self-cleaning coating is hard and not easily damaged so no particular precautions are necessary during the unloading process. Suction cups can be used on the coated surface, but these must be clean, dry and in good condition and must not slide on the surface. Whenever the unit is being manually handled, clean cotton or cloth gloves must be used. If the unit requires some form of identification it must be placed on the non-coated surface. The coated surface must not be marked with adhesive labels or wax crayons as subsequent removal may be difficult. Washing Pilkington Insulight Activ has a hard durable coating applied to the surface during float glass manufacture but, as with any coated glass product, care should be taken while washing to prevent damage to the coating. It is essential to ensure that no metal, e.g. cleaning equipment, comes into contact with the coated surface. The following recommendations are given for machine washing, hand cleaning and spot cleaning. Hand Washing/Spot Cleaning Pilkington Insulight Activ can be cleaned and maintained by hand. However, a mild, non-abrasive detergent and water solution is recommended. Abrasive cleaners must not be used. To wash/clean the coating apply the solution to the glass with a clean, soft cloth, sponge or pad and rinse thoroughly with clean water. Dry the glass by wiping with a soft lint-free cloth. Take care to ensure that no abrasive particles are trapped between the glass and the drying device otherwise coating damage may occur. Commercially available ammonia or alcohol based window cleaners may be used for spot cleaning. However, steel wool or razor blades must not be used on the self-cleaning surface.

Pilkington Insulight Activ handling and processing guidelines. Glazing Where possible a clean dry gasket glazing system or a system using non-setting oil-free glazing compounds should be used.

6 Pilkington Insulight Activ handling and processing guidelines. Glazing Where possible a clean dry gasket glazing system or a system using non-setting oil-free glazing compounds should be used. The gasket should be of high quality that will minimise the leaching out of silicones from its surface. Silicone sealants can exude oil or plasticisers containing silicones on curing, and long afterwards. These materials are very difficult to remove from the glass and coating. They are usually only visible when the glass/coating is wet, and even then they are only noticeable by the different water droplet formation when compared to noncontaminated glass. Where dry gasket glazing systems cannot be applied, materials based on MS polymers should be used. The use of silicone-containing lubricants on gaskets should be avoided. Nevertheless, the Pilkington Activ coating can be expected to break down such oils and lubricants over time. When glazing into frames do not use glazing tapes that contain oil (e.g. silicone and/or paraffin wax). NB: Under no circumstances should linseed oil putty be used with Pilkington Insulight Activ. The insulating glass units are supplied with the self-cleaning surface identified by the Pilkington Activ hologram. The hologram is in the bottom right-hand corner of the unit on the coated surface. When glazed the hologram should be visible. This indicates the self-cleaning surface only and is not a replacement for the legislative safety or quality marks which may be required in accordance with Document N of Building Regulations. Where the glass is adjacent to new lead flashings (e.g. conservatory installations), white carbonate run-off from the lead can stain Pilkington Activ, as it would ordinary float glass. This should be minimised by applying Patination oil or Leadshield to the flashing when it is new. Leadshield is a trademark of British Lead Mills. As with all glass, care should be taken to ensure that alkaline leach-out from concrete, etc. does not occur. It is the window fabricator's responsibility to ensure that the recommendations above are adhered to for each installation. When Pilkington Insulight Activ is glazed into a building, care must be taken during any further construction work to avoid staining or damage. The coating must be protected from site contamination such as welding, rusty deposits, cement, plaster products or adhesives. After building work is completed the glass should be cleaned as soon as possible by rinsing with water to remove all traces of dust, abrasives, etc. which may have accumulated during construction. Then, either spray on, or apply by a saturated cloth, a cleaning solution (a mild detergent and water solution is recommended) onto the coated surface. Gently rub the wetted coated surface with a clean, lint-free towel or cloth. Rinse with water* and wipe nearly dry with a dry, clean, lint-free towel or cloth. Any moisture remaining on the surface will evaporate to leave a clean surface.

7 The use of a squeegee on the coated surface is not recommended. If it is absolutely necessary to use a squeegee then particular care must be taken to prevent any metal parts from contacting the coating or dirt particles becoming trapped under the blade and dragged across the coating. *If the water quality is very hard (i.e. greater than 180ppm combined content of calcium carbonate,caco 3 and magnesium carbonate, MgCO 3 ) then rinsing water should be softened through a domestic water softener or through the addition of a couple of drops of detergent (dishwashing detergent suffices) to a litre of water. Transport and Storage of Pilkington Insulight Activ During transportation the coated surface can also be covered with standard plastic wrap if additional protection is required. Care should be taken that the edges of the glass should not be damaged during transport, storage and installation. Damaged glass should not be glazed. Glass should be stored in dry conditions and out of direct sunlight, stacked upright and fully supported in a manner which prevents the glass from sagging. It should be stood on edge on strips of wood, felt or other relatively soft material. Repeat Orders, Colour Deviation Production tolerances can cause slight colour deviations between different batches. These are minimal within a production run. In the case where glass for a project will have to be supplied over a longer period this has to be indicated to the manufacturer to ensure that the colour deviations are minimised. Surface Treatment Lead, colour overlay and/or Georgian bars can generally be applied to the coated surface. However, Pilkington Insulight Activ will only retain its self-cleaning behaviour on the surface not covered by the lead, coloured overlay or Georgian bars. The recommendations in the Glazing section need to be followed concerning the use of silicones. Recycling Pilkington Insulight Activ can be recycled as float glass. Nevertheless, all country regulations should be followed for the disposal of the glass. A range for every requirement Pilkington Insulight also offers a whole family of different variants, each one utilising a product from the specialist Pilkington glass range and each can be combined with Pilkington Activ to help provide a complete solution whatever the requirements. Detailed below is the complete Pilkington Insulight range. Pilkington Insulight Activ - self- cleaning. Pilkington Insulight Therm - thermal insulation. Pilkington Insulight Sun - solar control. Pilkington Insulight Phon - sound insulation. Pilkington Insulight Protect - safety and security. Pilkington Insulight Decor - decorative glass. The information contained in this document provides general guidance as to best practice with regard to the handling, processing and glazing of Pilkington Insulight Activ. It does not, however, constitute any representation or warranty with respect to the product, its performance or its suitability for any application. Pilkington plc hereby disclaim all liability howsoever arising from any error on or omission from this publication and for all consequences of relying on it.

8 Pilkington plc Prescot Road St Helens WA10 3TT United Kingdom Telephone Fax / /02

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