The Bertram and Judith Kohl Building

Viracon VE Series Glazing

VE Series by Viracon

Viracon is one of the leading architectural glazing suppliers. The VE1-2M series was one of the first widely used products in low-e insulating glass units, with a high visible light transmittance and a shading coefficient of 0.45. Low-e coating technology continues to advance. We recommend looking carefully at a product's light-to-solar gain (LSG) factor, particularly for ASHRAE climate zones 1, 2, 3, and 4. The higher the LSG value, the more efficient the glazing unit at rejecting solar energy, while allowing the visible spectrum to pass through. Designers should use care in selecting the appropriate color, outside reflectivity, inside reflectivity, and visible light transmittance. Do not rely solely on small glass samples to determine appropriateness for an application. The human eye is not able to distinguish differences in tint when the glass covers the entire field of vision. Viracon's color selection site can be found here: http://www.viracon.com/index.php?option=com_viracon&view=colors Other major competitors include PPG, Guardian, and Old Castle.

Beka Radiant Cooling and Heating Capillary Mats

Plaster-Embedded by Beka

WRL is a strong proponent of radiant cooling and heating, due to efficient heat transfer, impact on radiant temperature, and quiet operation. Systems can be developed using aluminum radiant panel systems, pre-manufactured composite systems, and plaster-embedded capillary mat systems. The Beka system is the predominant manufacturer of capillary mats, also known as the Karo system. The system originated in Germany and has only recently made an entrance to the US market. A plaster-embedded application allows panel systems to be coupled to thermal mass, creating a higher effective cooling/heating capacity than a free-standing system. Design teams have often faced challenges implementing this technology, due to a lack case studies and pricing history in the United States. Representation in the United States is not extensive. Significantly more application information can be found at: http://www.beka-klima.de/en/ Radiant technology requires an integrated design approach for application: space cooling loads need to be kept below 30 Btu/h-sf through careful control of building enclosure and lighting heat gains.