Regulations and safety in architectural glass: what's changing with the push for energy upgrades
The transition to an increasingly efficient and sustainable world has also fully involved the construction sector. In fact, European regulations are constantly being updated and national policies are pushing for energy upgrading of buildings in the shortest possible time; this trend also has obvious repercussions on building materials, which must themselves be sustainable. A general framework in which architectural glass takes on a key role: not a simple aesthetic element, but a fundamental technical component that must contribute to the improvement of energy performance, while also keeping safety aspects unchanged.
The regulatory framework for glass in construction
To meet the new requirements for energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, it is necessary to refer to the regulatory framework governing the use of glass in construction. At the European level, the technical standards of reference are the UNI EN 1279 for insulating glass units, EN 12150 and EN 14449 for tempered and laminated safety glass, and UNI 7697:2021 which defines safety criteria for glazing applications. With regard specifically to energy upgrading, architectural glass on the one hand must meet thermal insulation requirements, and on the other hand must ensure the safety of those who occupy the spaces and durability over time: the focus is therefore no longer solely on design and aesthetics, but on the ability of the glass to contribute concretely to the energy performance of the building. And this must be very clear to glass professionals as well!
New design requirements: efficiency, insulation and specialized machining for glass
In fact, having to refer to the above regulations results in increasingly detailed and specific requests from clients in terms of Thermal transmittance, noise abatement and protection against accidental breakage. It therefore becomes essential to know how to deal with low-emissivity or solar control glass! In this increasingly demanding and punctual scenario, the choice of the right glass and the grinding and beveling operations to which it should be subjected before its actual installation cannot be left to chance but must take place already at the design stage, carefully evaluating the climatic conditions to which the glass will be subjected and the specific construction requirements.
Another key factor not to be forgotten is safety. Glass, in addition to meeting the requirements of energy efficiency and sustainability, must be able to provide protection against accidental impacts, thermal, sound and noise insulation, and break-in attempts. To meet these requirements, the following are often used. tempered and laminated glass sheets combined with each other: in fact, this is the contemporary trend being followed in architectural designs, especially with regard to public buildings and/or high-traffic subjects.
Adelio Lattuada's role in building glass processing
In this context of regulatory evolution, sustainability and attention to safety, it is essential to rely on glass processing technologies capable of ensuring precision, reliability and consistent quality. The glass processing machines developed by Adelio Lattuada - such as Grinding machines, chamfering machines, washing machines, horizontal drills and corner machines - respond exactly to these needs. Thanks to advanced automation, intelligent software and modular solutions, machines made in Lattuada enable accurate and high-performance processing, helping to achieve glass compliance with the requirements imposed by the latest standards.
In conclusion, it seems clear that energy upgrading is not only about building systems and materials but also fully involves the processes and work done previously. Designing with awareness today means integrating thermal performance, safety requirements and architectural design into a single high-performance and sustainable solution. To do this, you can rely on Lattuada's glass solutions.
Discover them now and contact us for more information.
