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Advertising supplement provided Solutia Inc. and Arch Aluminum & Glass Co.

Multi-functional glazing material

The benefits of laminated glass with a polyvinyl butyral (PVB) interlayer are extensive, and it is being used more and more in glazing applications across the U.S. By combining tinted glass, silk-screened patterns and colored PVB interlayers, a wide array of laminated glass configurations can also be used to meet specific styling needs of a project.

Laminated glass with a PVB interlayer is the only glass that provides durability, high-performance and multi-functional benefits while at the same time preserving the aesthetic appearance of the glass. It is an effective sound control product whose other benefits include:

• Safety — The toughness and resiliency of laminated glass with a PVB interlayer makes it an excellent safety glass. In vertical or sloped applications, it can resist penetration from impact and if the glass is broken, fragments will adhere to the PVB.
• Security — For applications where security is a primary concern, laminated glass with a PVB interlayer offers greater protection for people and property over other glass products. The standard two-ply construction helps protect against common threats such as vandalism, forced entry using a variety of hand-held weapons and common smash-and-grab thefts. In multi-ply configurations, laminated glass can even resist bullets, heavy objects, or small explosions. In most cases, it takes repeated blows to the same spot to penetrate the glass.
• Hurricane, Earthquake and Bomb Blast — Laminated glass with a PVB interlayer can provide protection from injury and property damage during manmade or natural disasters. By keeping the glass intact within the frame, large shards of flying glass are prevented, thereby reducing the risk of personal injury and property damage.
• Solar Energy Performance — The PVB interlayer in laminated glass helps reduce solar energy transmittance to reduce cooling loads.
• Ultraviolet Screening — The ultraviolet (UV) filtering performance of the PVB interlayer in laminated glass helps protect valuable furnishings, displays or merchandise from the fading effects of UV radiation.
• Aesthetics — Colored PVB interlayers can be combined to produce thousands of transparent and translucent color options to help architects and designers create the perfect tone and intensity for any application.

Hurricane Charley was the first arrival in the worst hurricane season Florida has ever seen. This three-story corporate office building was gutted by Hurricane Charley, which tore through the exterior windows hurling shards of glass throughout the office space and the area below.