"Windows made from Pittsburgh Corning's Premiere Series Thickset® Glass Block and installed with our KWiK'N EZ® Silicone System were tested by an independent laboratory and proved to withstand hurricane conditions," explains Jon Chase, Vice President, Glass Block, Pittsburgh Corning Corporation. The windows are approved for use without shutters under the stringent new requirements of the South Florida Building Code. The new requirements were developed after Hurricane Andrew caused millions of dollars in damages in 1992.
"Pittsburgh Corning is very happy with the results of the flying debris and wind pressure tests and the code approval," Chase says. "The window didn't have a single crack and no blocks were dislodged, in spite of being hit by an eight-foot two-by-four at 34 miles an hour." The window also was not harmed by a series of tests simulating the effects of high winds and severe changes in air pressure.
Another study looked at how well Pittsburgh Corning Glass Block walls and panels came through the massive 1994 Los Angeles-area earthquake. A noted expert in earthquake and wind building design examined buildings in Northridge, California, the epicenter of the quake, and in nearby Santa Monica, a city with many buildings containing glass block. "In every location surveyed, glass block installed in accordance with the Uniform Building Code and Pittsburgh Corning specifications survived the earthquake," Chase says.
While most people never experience such extreme conditions, anyone can benefit from the qualities that enable Pittsburgh Corning Glass Block to withstand the worst that Mother Nature can do. Glass block works just as well to protect homeowners against normal weather-related wear and tear, accidental breakage, vandalism and forced entry. It is available in a wide selection of sizes, shapes and patterns, suitable for either exterior or interior applications and for both new home construction or remodeling projects. And because glass block doesn't chip, peel, crack, rust or warp, it requires minimal maintenance and can last indefinitely if installed properly.
Correct installation is easy with Pittsburgh Corning's KWiK'N EZ® Silicone System, VeriTru® spacers and mortar system, or preassembled panels of Pittsburgh Corning Glass Block. The company offers a video illustrating the installation process and a toll-free telephone hotline to answer any questions. People who aren't "do-it-yourselfers" can obtain help with installation by finding a local Pittsburgh Corning Products distributor under "Glass Block" in the Yellow Pages.
For a copy of Pittsburgh Corning's A Touch of Glass brochure, featuring over 40 photographs and application ideas, send a check or money order for $2.95 to Pittsburgh Corning Glass Block, P.O. Box 3900, Peoria, IL 61612. Or call 1-800-624-2120, ext. 1600, to use your Visa or Master Card. (NAPSI)
