The glistening floors of malls, office buildings, and museums often catch one's eye before anything else. Glass has become an integral design element in contemporary architecture, allowing natural light to permeate internal spaces while lending a sleek, modern aesthetic. Commercial walkways featuring glass flooring and balustrades have especially gained popularity for their ability to create visual interest and connect spaces, all while meeting safety standards.
Here we will cover the pros of glass flooring, the types of glass suitable for heavy foot traffic areas, and additional considerations when planning glass walkways.
The glass used in commercial walkways needs to be durable and strong enough to handle foot traffic. The two main options are:
This type has an interlayer of plastic fused between multiple sheets of glass under heat and pressure. The interlayer keeps the glass bonded even if it cracks or breaks, preventing any shards from falling. This safety feature makes laminated glass ideal for overheads or floors.
In this type, the glass undergoes a special heating-cooling process that compresses the surface and boosts strength substantially. Tempered glass is around 5 times stronger than standard annealed glass. It can effectively handle wear and tear in high-traffic areas. Tempered glass is safer because it breaks into small, blunt pieces instead of sharp shards.
Both laminated and tempered glass varieties provide sufficient durability for commercial walkways. Certain manufacturers also offer decorative options like colour tints or artistic prints within the glass.
Here are 12 compelling reasons to install glass walkways/flooring in your commercial space:
Glass floors bring sunlight to poorly lit corners, creating brighter spaces and a welcoming atmosphere for customers.
The sleek, modern look of glass flooring delivers an upscale appearance. Strategically placed walkways over displays or waiting areas double up as conversation starters.
The smooth, dust-proof surface also makes glass floors much simpler to clean and maintain. All it takes is an occasional wet wipe-down to restore the sparkling transparency.
While most glass floors are colourless for light permeability, varied interlayer tints from subtle to vibrant are possible, too. This allows customisation as per interior design schemes.
Glass waste from construction or later replacements can be fully recycled. This makes glass walkways an optimal eco-friendly building material.
The glass used in transparent floors is specially designed to protect the merchandise from getting damaged or fading due to harmful ultraviolet rays. This means that you can safely display your products without worrying about any possible damage caused by sunlight.
Glass resists water absorption and corrosion, retaining transparency over time. Walkways can endure wet cleaning, minor spills, etc., without issues.
Stringent codes for structural stability, fire safety, wind/ seismic loading, etc., ensure the safety of occupants and the structure. Safety glass and railing provide additional protection.
When glass is installed correctly, it can withstand extreme temperatures, moisture, and pollutants without getting damaged. And the best part is that maintaining it over the years will hardly cost you anything.
Glass is a material that can hold electric currents without any risks. This means that it's safe to walk on walkways that have electrical wiring or fixtures underneath.
Tough glass floors can endure heavy foot traffic for over 30 years, saving you money in the long run.
Some supplementary advantages include:
Glass retains mechanical strength and transparency despite temperature fluctuations.
It does not degrade or discolour upon exposure to air, moisture or common acids.
Light permeability enhances the apparent room size.
Compared to stone/metal alternatives, glass imparts less structural load.
Transparent barriers optimise sunlight penetration to reduce artificial lighting costs.
Glass flooring is an architectural element that provides functionality, safety, resilience, and allure all under one platform. By mitigating recurring expenses and boosting sales, it also has tremendous long-term profit potential. Its versatile attributes are guaranteed to leave a lasting impression. You can discuss your requirements with AIS Glasxperts to find the perfect solution.
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