For this reason, and because of the many practical advantages it offers, glass is now often chosen, not only for interiors but for building facades too.
This is a material that offers many practical benefits that sit well with specifiers working commercial and residential architecture, such as thermal insulation, solar control, acoustics, fire protection, safety and security.Internally, one of the biggest challenges is lack of natural light; particularly when there are lots of rooms within rooms which leads to the flow of light being halted, leaving the interior dark and uninspiring. Research suggests that the more natural light there is, the greater the wellbeing of the building’s occupants. The use of glass therefore enables natural light to flow and a high-end look to be achieved, while acoustics and privacy levels can also be managed effectively.
The cost effectiveness of glass is another advantage due to its durability and timeless impression, so won’t need to be frequently replaced. Letting natural light through will also save on energy bills, making glass a very cost-effective resource too.
Providing a fast and safe way to install glass balustrades, CRL’s TAPER-LOC® system offers flexibility and control for accurate fitting, while making replacing scratched or broken panels a relatively simple task too. Available for toughened laminated and monolithic glass between 12 and 25,52 mm and in a wide choice of finishes, TAPER-LOC® is a dry-glazed railing system that reduces fitting time significantly as it is a unique design that uses precision tension to secure the glass in the aluminium base shoe without the use of cement. Using CRL’s exclusive TLK12 installation and removal tool, the Tapers simply slide horizontally in the base shoe before being compressed, where it expands and locks into place. It also enables installation to be completed from the safe side of the balustrade from start to finish. Tested to meet the strictest building code requirements such as BS6180:2011 and AbP, the system uses a horizontal design, allowing it to be adjusted, dismantled and re-set within minutes.
