Glass Block Blogger

Solar Wall Tubes Contribute to Daylighting and LEED
New York, New Jersey, Boston, Philadelphia

Solar Wall Tubes are an effective way to achieve Daylighting in a commercial building using multi-wythe wall construction. The Solar Wall Tubes replace standard masonry units with aesthetically pleasing glass blocks.

Daylighting has become very important in architectural design. Daylighting, according to the Daylighting Collaborative, is the practice of using natural light to illuminate building spaces. The result is a positive effect on mood, atmosphere, and productivity.

Solar Wall Tube Thermal Performance

In addition to the positive human effect, using glass blocks can also contribute to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) through increased light transmission.

Solar Wall Tubes mirror-like finish magnifies and reflects the light and solves many design issues related to single or double glass block installations. They allow the architectural look of single or double glass blocks on both sides of a thick wall, while providing a visually aesthetic look in the hollow area between the glass blocks. They are thermally broken and thus provide improved thermal performance.

You can refer to the Pittsburgh Corning Glass Block Solar Wall Tubes Brochure to find the U-values and R-values of the Solar Wall Tubes from Pittsburgh Corning.

Solar Wall Tube Installation

The Glass Block Solar Wall Tubes are available in 8″ and 16″ modules in various depths to meet wall thickness requirements. They come with a variety of privacy levels.

The sturdiness of the metal tube prevents any loading from above the opening being transferred to the glass block. The tubes are assembled in two pieces with a non thermal-conducting material connecting them and wrapped with a rubberized asphalting material. The stainless steel tubes are non-corrosive and provide long-term durability. Installation in a stack bond CMU walls requires specific considerations.

Installation and design assistance is available through Eastern Glass Block.

Give us a call for further information. We would be pleased to answer any questions. We have over 20 years of experience designing and installing commercial and residential Glass Block nationwide and would love to hear from you.