Glass Box made from DuPont™ SentryGlas^® enables stunning views of French Alps

Geneva, Switzerland, MARCH 2014. DuPont™ SentryGlas^® ionoplast interlayer has played a pivotal role in helping to create a new, 2 metre by 2 metre Glass Viewing Box for visitors to the Aiguille du Midi ski resort in France. The Glass Box, which is perched on the uppermost terrace of the resort, 3842 metres up the exposed face of Mont-Blanc, allows adventurers to step out into the sky and enjoy breathtaking views of the French Alps below.

 

The site owner and operator, Compagnie du Mont-Blanc (CMB), decided to create the Glass Box in order to provide visitors with a stunning visual experience. The project, named “Un Pas Dans Le Vide” (“A Step into the Void”), represents a world first in terms of the altitude of the Box, the materials and techniques used in its construction, and the extreme weather conditions that the Box is exposed to. First, the specification for this specific application required the glass to withstand very low temperatures down to -20°C, as well as wind speeds up to 200km/h. In addition, in order to provide clear, stunning views at all times, the laminated glass must also provide very high transparency and withstand any signs of delamination over a long life, as well as providing excellent post-glass breakage properties – all of which SentryGlas^® was able to provide. For safety reasons, CMB inspects the Glass Box at regular intervals for any signs of delamination and visitors are not permitted to enter the Glass Box if the temperature falls below -20°C.

 

Opened to the public since 21^st December 2013, the Glass Box has a unique structural design. Strength of the Box’s construc­tion comes from laminated glass, a multi-layered sandwich of glass and clear adhesive interlayer. The laminated glass is assembled using unobtrusive framing. The walls of the Box comprise of three, 12mm thick laminated glass panels comprising two layers of 1.52mm (60mil) thick SentryGlas^® laminate. Stiff, tough, clear interlayer adds safety and strength to the glass floor. The crystal-clear, see-through floor is also made from 12mm thick laminated glass panels with 1.52mm SentryGlas^® interlayer. The glass structure is supported at the rear and top of the Box by steel feet/girders.

 

The end user and glass façade manufacturer, Laubeuf, selected SentryGlas^® due to a number of factors, including its improved safety (i.e. good post-glass breakage properties), high performance even in harsh weather conditions, and reduced weight. SentryGlas^® offers better post-breakage behaviour, performs better in exterior climate conditions and is stronger and stiffer than other laminates currently available on the market. SentryGlas^® also enabled a significant reduction in thickness of the glass panels compared to PVB. This reduced in glass thickness meant that the Glass Box was lighter and therefore easier to handle/manipulate compared to PVB. Cold temperature resistance, very high transparency of the glass and edge stability were also important factors that persuaded Laubeuf to specify SentryGlas^®.

 

Laubeuf (part of EIFFAGE), was responsible for conducting all the required tests on the finished product, including additional tests to qualify the finished product for France’s national construction body CSTB. Jan Huisman, Head of the Engineering Office at Laubeuf commented: “We have performed extended tests on the Glass Box to demonstrate the properties of the structure and have found that SentryGlas^® was absolutely the correct product that matched our very stringent technical, safety and aesthetic requirements on this project.”

 

Laurent Berger, Site Director at Aiguille du Midi, commented: “We are extremely pleased with the success of this project and the benefits that SentryGlas has provided. The Box now provides visitors with an amazing visual experience and to witness the stunning views of the French Alps from the uppermost terrace of the resort.”

 

DuPont Glass Laminating Solutions provides materials, services and innovations to makers and specifiers of laminated glass. It helps create a better world by improving home protection and automotive safety, and enabling design of stronger, more energy-efficient buildings that let in more natural light.

 

DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit www.dupont.com.

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