In recent years there has been a growing requirement in areas experiencing extremes of temperature for a glass type which offers good control of solar heat-gain during the summer and similar good control of heat loss during the winter.

This trend was first observed in the US where much of the country experiences a very large annual temperature range and where air-conditioning and heating systems are necessary for year-round environmental and comfort control. There was also a need for good light transmission characteristics to provide adequate winter daylight.

In response to these requirements, American glass producers used magnetic sputtering technology to develop a range of low-emissivity (Low-E) coatings which combined good light transmission with excellent solar control and thermal insulation properties. This gave rise to the so-called "Sun-Belt" multi-functional Low-E glass types in which the reflective coating is always located on the second surface position, that is, the outer pane of a 24 mm insulated unit and in which the inner pane is always normal (non-coated) clear glass.

Emirates Glass introduced sputter coating technology to the UAE in 1996 and immediately launched the Emicool Sun range of multi-functional Low-E glass. Emicool Sun now comprises a substantial part of the overall Emicool range of solar control and thermal insulation glass products.

Emicool Sun Low-E glass brings many benefits to the design and functional efficiency of buildings in typical Gulf climatic conditions. These include aesthetics, performance, availability and support.

* Aesthetics: Emicool Sun Low-E coatings can be applied to clear, as well as 11 various tinted float glass substrates. The coating material itself is silver-based (soft coating) and, as a result, the colour of the glass is substantially enhanced. Furthermore, Emicool Sun Low-E coatings are available in a range of light transmissions (by altering the density of the metal deposition) from 35 per cent up to 62 per cent and are designated by the pre-fix NN - for example, NN-35, NN-41, NN-46, NN-51 and NN-62, each having a higher light transmission (LT) factor. The combination of five light transmissions and 12 glass substrates is a formidable range of colours and reflectance, which will satisfy most architectural aesthetic requirements.

* Performance: Emicool Sun is a state-of-the-art soft coated Low-E glass which means that very low summer U-values are available (down to 1.80 W/sq m/deg C) with excellent shading coefficients in the NN-35, NN-41 and NN-46 coating options. These products surpass the minimum requirements set out in Dubai Municipality Administration Decision 77/2001 regarding thermal insulation properties of window glass.

* Availability: Emicool Sun multi-functional low-E glass is equal in quality and performance to similar European and American products, but is made locally in Dubai and is therefore available fully fabricated as 24 mm insulated glass without any of the delays and inconvenience of imported glass.

* Support: Emirates Glass' technical advisory service, operating from Dubai, is always available at very short notice, to give professional advice on Emicool Sun which has been used to excellent effect by Archon Architects for the Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort.

Le Meridien uses Emicool Sun NN-46 on Versalux Blue, which gives a very striking blue reflectance and contrasts beautifully with the grey and white solid wall cladding.

From inside, the outward visibility is superb even at night while, at the same time, the Emicool Sun gives excellent protection from direct solar energy and an excellent summer U-value of 1.9 W/sq m/deg C.

Emirates Glass says it is proud to be a local supplier of world-class quality products for the glazing of many prestigious projects throughout the Middle East and India.