Pilkington Activ™ "Self cleaning and energy efficient"

Window Wise can now offer Pilkington Activ™ to customers in the Pulborough and Sussex area. This unique product represents the next generation of conservatory roof glass. This self cleaning glass is also highly energy efficient, giving Window Wise customers the opportunity to save money on their fuel bills and reduce their carbon footprint.

What is Pilkington Activ™ Known as Pilkington Activ™ this glass combines dual-action self-cleaning properties with solar control performance for a cooler internal environment. Specially designed for the optimum roof unit, Pilkington Activ™ is new and revolutionary and perfect for use in conservatories. It uses daylight and rainwater to break down and wash away organic dirt from exterior surfaces, making it ideal for hard to reach places that are difficult to clean. The Pilkington Activ Blue™ option has a unique blue tint that helps keep internal temperatures cooler whilst still maintaining excellent light transmittance. For optimum self-cleaning and thermal performance we combine Pilkington Activ™ with Pilkington K Glass, already well known for its energy efficient properties.

Pilkington Activ™ Features and Benefits A conservatory featuring Pilkington Activ™ is the optimum glazing for your conservatory. Below is a list of some of the benefits: The Pilkington Activ Blue™ option offers excellent aesthetics and optimum performance. Excellent solar control performance combined with good light transmission. Uses daylight and rainwater to break down and wash away organic dirt from the exterior of the glass. Works even on cloudy days and during the night. Pilkington Activ™ coating lasts the lifetime of the glass. Easily cleaned during dry spells by hosing down. Low exterior reflection improves aesthetics of the conservatory. Easily stocked and fabricated into Insulating Glass. Units in annealed and toughened forms, ensuring speedy delivery. Available in 4mm, 6mm and 10mm thicknesses. Can be combined with low E glass for example. Pilkington K Glass™ for the ultimate roof unit. Pilkington Activ™ Options Pilkington Activ Blue™, an attractive blue tinted glass that combines self-cleaning with solar control, perfect for conservatory roofs. Pilkington Activ Neutral™, a neural coloured glass ideal for conservatory roofs and verticals. The coating gives a slightly darker appearance which helps reduce transmission of light and heat from the sun. How Pilkington Activ™ Works - Frequently Asked Questions What do you mean by 'dual-action'? The secret of Pilkington Activâ„¢ lies in its special coating, which works in two stages: Breaking down organic dirt Firstly, the coating reacts with ultra-violet (UV) rays from natural daylight to break down organic dirt (see figures 1& 2). Organic dirt generally comes from plants and animals e.g. bird droppings, pollen or tree sap, while inorganic dirt comes from other, non-living sources e.g. cement or plaster. Washing dirt away The second part of the process happens when water hits the glass. Rainwater runs down the glass to wash the loosened dirt (both organic and inorganic) away. Loose inorganic dirt will only be removed by water (see figure 3). Compared with conventional glass, the water dries very quickly, reducing unsightly streaks or marks. How long does the self-cleaning operation take? Pilkington Activâ„¢ works continuously, with dirt being washed away whenever it rains. Does Pilkington Activâ„¢ work straight away? After fitting, the coating on the glass takes about five days to activate itself fully. Will this process work even when the glass is very dirty? The coating will eventually break down quite heavy deposits of organic dirt. However, if the surface is so dirty that UV light cannot reach the glass, the self-cleaning action will become steadily less effective. In such cases, clean the glass with warm soapy water and a soft cloth, and in a few days the glass will have re-activated. What happens if it does not rain for some time? Normally, rainfall will be enough to keep your windows clean. In dry spells though, your windows can be washed with a soft cloth and warm soapy water or hosed down gently. What about cloudy days and at night? Pilkington Activ™ needs only a small amount of UV radiation to keep the coating activated – so it works even on overcast days. Figure 1 Coating is activated by UV light After installation the special coating needs 5 to 7 days of exposure to daylight to activate fully. Figure 2 Organic dirt is broken down The coating breaks down organic dirt and by doing so, reduces the adherence of inorganic dirt. Figure 3 Rain washes dirt away Water droplets spread out to form a 'sheet', dirt particles on the surface are picked up by water and washed off the glass - a remarkable difference you can actually see.