Privacy Glass Glazing Instructions

Glass Storage

Improper glass storage techniques may result in damage to glass components, glass surfaces, coatings or glass breakage. Glass shipments should be scheduled as to minimize storage time at the project site. Glass crates should be stored in such a manner that will prevent them from tipping. A 5 - 7 degree lean against two broad sturdy uprights capable of withstanding crate weight is recommended. Glass should be stored indoors when possible and not be subjected to rain, water, or direct sunlight. In order to prevent condensation and subsequent glass staining while in storage, the temperature of the stored glass must remain above the dew point temperature of the air. If out door storage is unavoidable, a protective canopy should be constructed with a waterproof, light blocking material. It must be installed in such a way as to allow air circulation around the tops and sides of the cases. Stored glass and interleaving materials must be kept dry.

Glass Handling

Care must be taken during handling and glazing to ensure that glass damage does not occur. The glass should be unpacked from the front of the case only. Never remove glass units by sliding them out from the side of the case. Do not allow the glass edges to contact the frame or any hard surfaces during installation. The glass must never be allowed to rest on any uncushioned surfaces. Rolling blocks must be used if units will be rotated or "cartwheeled" on their corners. Damaged glass edges can ultimately result in delayed glass breakage as the units encounter in service thermal and mechanical stresses. LTI expressly assumes no responsibility for glass breakage.

Caution: Do not lift, rest, or otherwise handle Privacy Glass by the conduit connector, conduit, or exposed wires as this may result wires as this may results in unrepairable damage. Broken conduit or busbar wire connections are not covered by warranty. LTI inspects and tests each privacy glass unit for proper connections and electrical switching before shipment.

Framing System

The framing system must be designed to provide structural support to the glass and essentially allow the glass to "float" within the frame. The frame must not exert any loads or point pressures on the glass at any time. When loaded, the deflection of the framing members across the individual glass spans must not exceed the length of that span divided by 175 or ¾ inch (19 mm) whichever is less.

Since the holes will have to be installed into the frame for the electrical connections. It is extremely important that the glaziers and the electricians coordinate the installation process. The Privacy Glass conduit connector must not have any pressures applied to it, especially at the frame-conduit interface. It is critical that the center lines for the frame hole(s) line up with the center line of the Privacy Glass conduit connector. We recommend over sizing the hole to prevent lateral pressure on the connector. Failure to follow this recommendation could result in unrepairable damage to the electrical connection.

Glass Support and Clearances

All glass plies must be supported by two setting blocks. The blocks should have a Shore A Durometer hardness of 85 +/- 5 and be silicone compatible. They should not be 0.1 inch long for each square foot (27 mm per square meter) of glass area, but no less than 4 inches (102 mm) in length. The preferred location for setting blocks is at quarter points. The conduit or conduit connector must not be used to support the glass.

Inadequate clearances can cause glass breakage as a result of glass to frame contact. LTI recommends a minimum face clearance of 1/8 inch (3 mm), minimum edge clearance of ¼ inch (6 mm) and minimum glass bite of ½ inch (12 mm). If the glazing system requires edge blocks or anti-walk blocks, an 1/8 inch (3 mm) clearance between the edge of the glass and the block is recommended. Uniform face clearances should be maintained by installing a resilient cushioning material between the framework and the glass components. Glass bite must be sufficient to hold the glass in place under maximum loading conditions. Minimum glass bite is also necessary to hide the unswitchable clear perimeter bands associated with Privacy Glass.

Weep System

The edges of Privacy Glass must not be exposed to standing water. This situation can cause premature failure in laminated and insulated glass units. LTI requires either impervious weather seals or an adequate weep system to prevent this occurrence. The glazing system manufacturer or designer is ultimately responsible for the design of the weep system and its proper performance.

General Electrical Information

The glazing installation must be coordinated with the electrical installation. The electrical installation for Privacy Glass must be provided by a qualified electrician to a grounded 120 VAC (220 VAC for international customers) electrical system. The installation must conform to National Electrical Code (NEC) requirements as well as any local building codes. From the fuse box the wiring must pass through a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) to a light switch and through the power conditioner. Each conditioner can power up to 100 square feet (9.29 square meters) of glazing. Multiple conditioners may be ganged together to provide operation from a single switch. Failure to incorporate the power conditioner into the electrical circuit will void any warranty. Three-way type switches are permitted with Privacy Glass, however dimmer switches cannot be used. Privacy Glass has been recognized by Underwriters Laboratory.

Maintenance and Cleaning

Once the glass is installed the glazing contractor should make provisions to ensure that glass surfaces are protected from possible damage caused by the construction practices of other trades.

Special care must be taken during the initial cleaning, cleaning during the construction period, or when glass surfaces are severely soiled in order to prevent glass damage caused by abrasive contaminates. The glass surfaces must first be flushed with clean water to remove as many contaminates as possible. With the glass surfaces still heavily wetted, carefully work a squeegee from top to bottom removing excess water. Caution must be taken to ensure that any remaining abrasive materials do not become trapped between the glass surface and the rubber squeegee, otherwise the glass surfaces may become scratched. The glass should then be cleaned with a clean, soft, grit free cloth and a mild, non-abrasive, non-alkaline cleaning solution and rinsed immediately with clean water. Excess water should be removed from glass surfaces with a squeegee.

For routine cleaning, use a conventional window washing solution or mild soap and water. Uniformly spray the cleaning solution or apply it with a clean, soft, grit free applicator and rinse thoroughly. The glass surface should then be either wiped dry with a clean, grit free cloth or squeegeed dry. Do not allow any metal or hard parts of the cleaning equipment to contact the glass surfaces.