DNA is defined as the fundamental and distinctive characteristics or qualities of something, especially when regarded as unchangeable. When you think about the “DNA” of your skylights, one of the most important qualities is safety. We’ve put together a few of the most important elements of overall safety that must be considered.
- Weathering Issues – Weather conditions like snow, sleet, and hail can wreak havoc on any part of a building’s structure. It only makes sense that skylights are prone to damage as well. Using high-tech building processes can make the basic skylight structure of tempered glass in a frame much more resistant to damage due to weather. Instead of aluminum or PVC frames, which was common in the past, Vtech Skylights use a framing process called RIM (reaction injection molding.) This combination of high-tech materials creates a frame that is durable yet somewhat flexible too. This framing material bonds with the tempered glass to create a skylight that is much safer when it comes to weathering.
- Leaking Issues – A skylight that leaks not only leads to a mess in your building, but it can be a serious safety issue. Vtech has gone the extra mile to help prevent leaking. Our testing process has included testing with heavy water loads as well as heating and cooling the glass structure to make sure that our skylights will stand up to anything that could be thrown at them in “real life” situations. The goal is to keep your skylights from leaking so that you’re never faced with the dangers of leaks in your building.
- Falls – Skylight fall protection is a vital part of its overall safety. OSHA considers skylights to be just like a hole and thus they must be protected. Anyone who needs to access the skylight for repairs, or when working on the roof should be protected from fall dangers. Vtech skylights exceed the standards put into place by OSHA 29 CFR and ASTM Draft E06.51.25. Plus, Vtech has taken safety even further by testing against standards that aren’t even required. Our website provides more information so you can learn more about their fall protection standards and see what we’re doing to protect anyone who works around skylights.
- Materials Failures – Like any other product on the market, a skylight will eventually crack under some level of pressure. This is called material failure. While basic skylights can only take so much weight or pressure, Vtech skylights are designed to stand up to anything that could be “thrown” at them–figuratively and literally. The Vtech materials may eventually break if they were exposed to ridiculously heavy weights or unexpected pressures. However, you’ll be impressed by what they CAN take. Plus, they are designed to break safely too. If the worst-case scenario does occur, you’ll find the results are not nearly as bad as it could be.
Much like human life, skylights are a much more complex creation than one would think at first glance. Because of technological advances to the “DNA” of skylights, they are safer, longer-lasting, and more effective than ever before. If you have any additional questions or concerns regarding skylight safety, or you want information about installing skylights in your building, contact us.