Guía Completa de Vidrios y Cristales

Complete Guide to Glass and Glazing

Glass is the most important component of a window, as it occupies between 70% and 85% of its surface. Choosing the right glass is essential to achieve the desired thermal, acoustic and safety comfort.

Tipos de Vidrio según su Fabricación

Vidrio Float (Monolítico)

Basic flat glass manufactured by the float method on molten tin. It is the basis of all other types of glass. Transparent, uniform and without optical distortion.

Espesores: 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 19 mm
Use: Base para vidrio templado, laminado, y acristalamientos
Limitación: Al romperse, genera fragmentos cortantes peligrosos

Tempered Glass

Float glass subjected to a heating process at 620°C and sudden cooling. This creates internal stresses that make it 5 veces más resistente than untreated glass. When broken, it fragments into small, rounded, non-cutting pieces.

Property	Value
Flexural strength	120-200 N/mm² (vs 40 N/mm² del float)
Thermal shock resistance	200°C de diferencia (vs 40°C del float)
Fragmentación	Trozos pequeños y redondeados
Clasificación	Vidrio de seguridad según EN 12150

Applications: Mamparas de baño, puertas de cristal, mesas, balconeras, escaparates.

Importante: Tempered glass CANNOT be cut or drilled after tempering. All measurements and machining must be done before the process.

Laminated Glass

Composed of two or more sheets of glass joined by one or more layers of PVB (polyvinyl butyral) or EVA. In case of breakage, the fragments remain adhered to the intermediate sheet, maintaining the integrity of the glass.

Composition	Espesor Total	Uso Típico
3+3 (0.38 PVB)	6,38 mm	Interiores, mobiliario
4+4 (0.76 PVB)	8,76 mm	Ventanas, puertas
5+5 (0.76 PVB)	10,76 mm	Fachadas, cubiertas
6+6 (1.52 PVB)	13,52 mm	Barandillas de vidrio
8+8 (1.52 PVB)	17,52 mm	Barandillas exteriores
10+10 (1.52 PVB)	21,52 mm	Suelos de vidrio, alta seguridad

Laminado acústico: With special acoustic PVB, it reduces noise by up to an additional 5 dB compared to standard laminate.

Vidrio Laminado-Templado

Combines the advantages of both processes: maximum mechanical resistance of tempering with the retention of fragments of the laminate. It is the safest option and is used in railings, skylights and high-demand applications.

Tipos de Vidrio según su Función

Vidrio de Control Solar

It incorporates metallic layers (usually silver) that reflect infrared solar radiation, reducing the heat entering the building without significantly affecting the transmission of visible light.

Solar factor (g): 0,20 a 0,50 (cuanto menor, más protección solar)
Transmisión luminosa: 40% a 70%
Ideal for: Fachadas orientadas al sur y oeste en climas mediterráneos

Vidrio Bajo Emisivo (Low-E)

It has an invisible metallic layer that reflects heat from the interior back into the home, reducing energy loss in winter.

Emisividad: 0,01 a 0,10 (vs 0,89 del vidrio normal)
Mejora del valor U: Reduce la transmitancia del vidrio aislante en un 30-50%
Ideal for: Climas fríos y zonas con calefacción intensiva

Vidrio Acústico

Laminated glass with special acoustic PVB that absorbs sound waves. It is used in combination with insulating glass for maximum acoustic attenuation.

Reducción acústica: Hasta 52 dB en combinaciones óptimas
Ideal for: Viviendas cerca de carreteras, aeropuertos, zonas urbanas ruidosas

Vidrio Decorativo

Vidrio lacado: Oven painted on the back. Available in any RAL color. Use as wall covering, kitchen fronts, furniture
Vidrio serigrafiado: With motifs printed using ceramic screen printing and fixed to the oven. Dots, lines, custom designs
Vidrio espejo: Con capa reflectante de plata o aluminio. Espejos de baño, decoración
Vidrio grabado al ácido: Superficie translúcida satinada. Privacidad sin perder luminosidad

Doble Acristalamiento (Vidrio Aislante)

Double glazing consists of two or three sheets of glass separated by a chamber of air or gas (argon or krypton) hermetically sealed. It is the standard system for modern windows.

Composiciones Habituales

Composition	Valor Ug	Uso
4/16/4 (aire)	2,7 W/m²K	Básico
4/16/4 Low-E (argón)	1.1 W/m²K	Estándar eficiente
4/16/4/16/4 Low-E (argón)	0,7 W/m²K	Triple vidrio premium
6+6/16/4+4 acústico	1.1 W/m²K	Seguridad + acústico
6 solar/16/4 Low-E (argón)	1,0 W/m²K	Control solar + térmico