Non-typical uses for acoustic glass: from libraries to animal shelters
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Acoustic glass is often used for windows. But what are some less typical applications? Explore 5 examples.
How times have changed. For centuries, even millennia, buildings were noisy by default.
A window was a single sheet of glass – good for keeping out the rain, not so good for keeping out noise. If you wanted to soundproof your home, you had to get creative with rugs, carpets and wall panels.
Fast forward to the 21st century and we're spoiled for choice. Buildings of all shapes and sizes can be soundproofed with acoustic foam, glass wool, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), suspended baffles and high-quality
acoustic glass.
Soundproofing makes for better buildings. Being able to control the amount of sound coming in (and out) of a building can make it a more pleasant place to be. That applies whether it's a building with lots of daily footfall or one where concentration and quiet are the order of the day.
Ask the person on the street what acoustic glass is used for and they'll probably say "windows". But did you know it can be used in a whole host of other applications, too?
In this article, we look at five creative and unusual uses of acoustic glass. But first of all: what is it, actually?
What is acoustic glass?
Acoustic glass – sometimes marketed as soundproof or noise-proof glass – is a type of glass designed to absorb sounds and make a building quieter.
It's a type of laminated glass, made from two sheets of glass with a plastic interlayer. This interlayer serves double duty, absorbing sound and adding toughness to the glass unit.
It does this without any noticeable change to the glass's appearance. This means you don't have to sacrifice aesthetics in pursuit of superior noise control.
If you're investing in acoustic glass, be aware that you need to combine your glazing with an appropriate framing system.
1. Libraries
You might think that acoustic glass is only needed in noisy places like train stations and schools. But in a quiet environment like a library, sound still needs to be managed.
After all, footsteps or chatter is more disruptive when you're trying to study than when you're waiting for a train. In busy areas, many people have learned to tune the hubbub out.
In libraries, however, concentration is king. And even in these fortresses of quietude, silence can't be guaranteed. Staff and users interact. People come and go. Acoustic glass helps stop this from becoming an issue for library users.
Libraries are an interesting case study in how old and new buildings present different acoustic challenges. Old libraries tend to be echoey affairs with high ceilings, hard floors and high arching glass. New libraries, on the other hand, are more "deadened", with sounds absorbed by carpeting and curtains.
Both can benefit from acoustic glass, but the precise application will vary. The same goes for museums, labs and other places of study.
2. Glass floors
Walk-on glass is a modern miracle. Whether you're on a glass-floored balcony, a glass-bottomed boat or
crossing the 632-metre-long glass bridge in Moc Chau, Vietnam, walkable glass technology gives you an experience you won't forget in a hurry.
This is only possible because of laminated glass. Anything less puts people's safety at risk. But in all these applications, noise is a factor, too.
No matter the setting, footsteps can be disruptive – but in the kind of luxury setting where walk-on glass has been installed, loud clattering footsteps are a no-no.
This is another context where acoustic glass comes into its own – deadening unwanted noise with no sacrifice to safety or clarity.
3. Animal shelters
Animal shelters are places of sanctuary. Yet, often, they're chaotic, noisy environments with the sounds of animals bouncing off concrete floors and metal roofs. The stress this creates can literally make animals ill or worsen the illnesses they already have.
It doesn't have to be like this. Acoustic glass can make animal shelters far more welcoming and pleasant places for both animals and humans. Meanwhile, acoustic glass partitions mean cats and dogs can coexist without disturbing each other.
Like any building, animal shelters can be soundproofed in different ways. Some sites use acoustic wall panels and foam insulation. But acoustic glass has one key benefit: it's easy to clean, especially compared to wall panels.
Acoustic glass can be sprayed and wiped down with ease, making it ideal for all kinds of spaces designed for animals.
4 Smart glass
Smart glass is a remarkable innovation. At the touch of a button on a smart home system, it can change from transparent to opaque. Many varieties can also be dimmed, giving you full control over the amount of light coming through the glass.
Its prime function is to give you privacy on demand, whether on a luxury jet, a car sunroof, a privacy screen in a hospital or a dimmable partition in an office.
But it also gives you greater control over acoustics. Whether it's installed in a domestic or commercial setting, its laminated construction provides some level of soundproofing as well as control over visibility.
5. Aquariums
Aquariums are finely constructed pieces of equipment. And for good reason: they need to provide a safe environment for fish that's also attractive, strong and easy to maintain.
An aquarium isn't just a decoration. It's a home. And like any home, many aquarium owners want control over the sounds coming into – and from – the tank.
Acoustic glass can give fish a quiet life by reducing the sound transmitted through the glass. But owners get the quiet life, too, with the glass reducing the sound of the air pump.
Introducing TG AG
At ToughGlaze, we have our own state-of-the-art acoustic glass product. TG AG is a type of laminated glass that can be used for traditional
acoustic glazing and more unusual use cases.
It's robust, endlessly customisable, Kitemark-certified, made-to-measure and compliant with all relevant British standards. Interested? Then
get in touch today for a quick, competitive quote.
