Origins
Single glazed glass panels were primarily developed to surround terraces and balconies in warmer climates. They served the purpose of a weatherproof wall that offered no hindrances to the view outside and could effectively be used all thru year except when it became too cold.
The idea of just sliding each panel to one side of the opening and rotating it to ninety degrees to get folded and rest against the sidewall earned it the term of a curtain.
Restaurants and Cafes started wondering if they could replace their windows with frameless glass panels for the obvious advantage of offering a larger view of the street to the guests and the convenience of opening the “windows “ for letting in more air. On removing the entire wall and having glass curtains instead, the latter could work as doors.
Larger establishments could use the slide-and-turn panels for partitioning of area as per requirements. Using etched or tinted glass could further enhance the décor of the place.
Golf clubs and hotels with covered passages could sense the benefits of surrounding the area and maximize year-round potential. Glass curtains can be fixed inside the curved structure. So, these can be installed along the circular curves of a terrace or balcony.
Today
Of late, Britain has been introduced to the idea of glass curtains. Though single-glazed toughened glass panels are perfectly suited for creating partitions, as well for commercial applications, they are not very befitting for being used as patio doors of houses as they fail to provide the desired levels of thermal insulation.
Yet, there are many applications of glass curtains for homeowners and we’ll examine a few here.
1. Substituting a wall or patio doors with glass curtains to get an enlarged view and improved access.
Bi-folding doors facilitate a wider view and may be folded back to the sidewall of walls for a larger access. The design and type of doorframe contributes to the size of the view. For instance, cheap plastic frames come with a very wide frame for getting increased strength. Better quality plastic frames are reinforced with metal but are definitely wider than wooden variety, though the latter are wider than aluminum ones, which are generally confined to 60mm.
Slim-line doors, the latest variety introduced, have the narrowest frames at 20mm. These are designed on the slide-and turn motion of glass curtains.
2. Achieving great views with individual panels for versatile access.
Spain developed double slim-line double glazed glass curtains for the markets of U.K. The panels may be piled up at one side of the opening or could be arranged across the opening, thereby having an opening between the two panels. The opening can be adjusted as per requirements. It may be broad enough for passing thru or small enough to confine a toddler indoors or a prevent a pet from entering in.
Perhaps one additional benefit of having installed such a system enables one to have a different sense of pleasure. Though bi folding was introduced about a decade ago, it started gaining popularity over the last two or three years, indicating a low rate of growth. The available new system is likely to be installed in about 200 properties during the current year.
3. Wanting the ultimate frame-free system.
Double glazed glass curtains conforming to thermal specifications are available, but the test reports confirming their suitability for being used as external doors is still awaited, though they are similar to slim profile double-glazed variety but are frameless.
It’s obligatory for the manufacturer to get certification from authorities concerned before householders start patronizing them, lest there be contravention of building byelaws.
Posts
