Sunshade Blind Systems uses Pilkington glazing

An adult education centre in Essex is benefiting from a blind system incorporating Pilkington Activ Neutral self-cleaning glazing.

Sunshade Blind Systems has used Pilkington glass products to develop an IGU (insulated glass unit) that utilises specially designed blinds between a pane of Pilkington Activ Neutral glazing and a pane of Pilkington K Glass.

The renovation of the South Ockendon Adult Education Centre incorporates 130m of the adapted self-cleaning glass in this first phase of its modernisation programme.

Sunshade Blind Systems uses a mechanism which positions the venetian blind between the two panes of glass, to offer the same benefits of a blind but without it getting damaged by dust or human contact.

The South elevation, where the new IGUs have been installed, allowed in a lot of heat and room temperatures were often uncomfortable.

After trialing several types of glass to find a solution to the raised temperatures, the team at Sunshade Blind Systems chose Pilkington Activ Neutral to alleviate the problem.

Due to the glazing's solar control properties, the internal temperature of the building can now be controlled effectively, reducing the need for air-conditioning during the summer months and lessening the lifecycle costs of the building.

Pilkington Activ Neutral is a self cleaning solar control glass that uses daylight and rainwater to breakdown and wash away organic dirt from exterior surfaces, making it suitable for hard to clean areas.

Garry Smith, technical advisory service manager, Pilkington UK said, "The refurbishment project at the South Ockendon Adult Education Centre was a challenge that required Pilkington to use its knowledge of solar, thermal and self cleaning glass properties".

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