Stroomversnelling.nl
Youri Creutzberg is the director of BENGglas, a supplier of high-quality vacuum glazing. Although the company has only been in business for a few years, it is by no means a newcomer. BENGglas grew out of Giga-Glas, a wholesaler that has more than earned its stripes in the construction industry. Youri Creutzberg: “De Rotterdam, for example, is a project we’re quite proud of. We supplied the parapet for that project. The Cooltoren and the Zalmhaventorens are also great projects.”
We spoke with Youri about the company and the BENGglas product.
Is BENGglas part of Giga-Glas?
“Giga-Glas was founded by my parents about thirty years ago. It’s a wholesaler of safety glass. Think of products like noise barriers along highways, or the glass used in bus shelters, balustrades, and parapets. So we have a long history in glass, but it was always safety glass, never clear glass. In June 2020, we officially launched our vacuum glazing line. We import it under the brand name BENGglas. We do this exclusively for the Benelux, a small part of Germany, and Ireland. We decided to set up a separate limited liability company (BV) for this, but BENGglas is, in fact, also a family business.”
What attracted you to vacuum glazing?
“If you look at an average, uninsulated cavity wall, you’re talking about an Rc value of 0.4. If it contains single-pane glass, the Rc value is even lower, so that’s really a weak link. That’s why a significant improvement is possible with well-insulated glass. With triple-pane glass, for example, you’re looking at a U-value of 0.8. But the downside—especially in renovations—is that you have to replace the window frames. That’s neither circular nor cost-effective. Vacuum glazing is a great solution in this case, because at 8.3 millimeters, it’s very thin, so it always fits into the existing window frames. In addition, the U-value is only 0.4. Vacuum glazing also has a longer lifespan, so in that sense it’s more sustainable, and the sound insulation is also very good. All in all, it’s a revolutionary new step forward in the field of glass and insulation.”
Can you achieve a significant improvement in energy efficiency ratings by replacing single-pane glass with BENGglas?
“Just yesterday, I spoke with a housing authority about a complex where this was indeed the case. But we’re talking about homes with single-pane glass and a large window area. In such cases, it’s possible that this relatively simple measure alone could turn your energy rating back to green.”
What is BENGglas’s reason for joining Stroomversnelling?
“We’re trying to create and seek out partnerships to see where we can strengthen each other and come up with innovative solutions to the problems that are currently slowing down the energy transition.”
“We’re also in contact with the Insulation Coalition, an organization that’s actively seeking innovative products and solutions in the market to accelerate the energy transition. In that context, for example, we want to conduct before-and-after measurements at residential complexes and apartment buildings equipped with double glazing and vacuum glazing to gain a better understanding of performance differences in practice. We’ve also recently been in contact with Saxion University about setting up a research project.”
Your website features a few examples of vacuum glazing in historic buildings
“We focus on both renovation and new construction. For us, renovation doesn’t just mean working with housing cooperatives. We also have many contacts with maintenance companies. And through glass suppliers, glaziers, and painters, we also serve the private sector.”
“With historic buildings, you’re not allowed to modify the window frames, so vacuum glazing is a great solution. The authentic look is preserved, but you do achieve a significant improvement in U-value, from 5.8 to 0.4. As a result, vacuum glazing is increasingly being specified for historic buildings. BENGglas can even be manufactured as heritage glass. To do this, you use BENGglas as the base and, so to speak, bond a third layer of drawn glass onto it. There is a downside, however: the glass becomes heavier and thicker, and this solution is quite expensive. It’s an innovative product, but not always practical.”
“We are now seeing that municipalities are becoming somewhat more flexible in their regulations, and for buildings they manage themselves, they sometimes also allow BENGglas instead of heritage glass.”
“And speaking of municipalities: we’re also seeing that more and more municipal sustainability advisory services—such as those in Amsterdam, The Hague, Nijmegen, and Den Bosch—are including vacuum glazing in their recommendations to residents. It’s a positive development we’re truly proud of.”
Source: Stroomversnelling.nl
View the original article
