Two things actively shape the development process for shower enclosures:
1. How the shower enclosure behaves if a person falls
2. How the glass behaves if it breaks
Feel safe. With products from DUSCHOLUX.
Secure fastening according to DIN EN 14428.
As soon as the product development department deals with a new shower enclosure, DIN EN 14428 is the guideline for the development. The German Industrial Standard DIN EN 14428 defines the qualitative and safety-relevant product requirements. Specifically, we will deal with the sub-area “5.6 Stability”, which explains the behaviour of the shower enclosure in the event a person collides with it.
We devote a great deal of attention to testing the glass as well as any framing that may be present. This ensures that the product does not fall over in the event of a collision between man and shower enclosure. So that the situation can be simulated, every product development is subjected to a what is known as a pendulum impact test before the start of series production.
This pendulum impact is performed under real conditions. A 45 kilogram pendulum is struck against the shower enclosure in a defined sequence. The forces acting on the bonded or framed glass show whether the product can withstand this load.
After this procedure, the bonding or framing is examined for possible cracks and material changes. If there are no complaints, the test is considered passed and the product is safe.
The force simulated with the pendulum swing corresponds to the following scenario for a better understanding:
If the well-known actor Ralf Moeller (Gladiator / 142 kg) were to lose his balance whilst washing his feet and fall against the shower enclosure, it will withstand the forces acting on it without shattering.
Standarddized Pendulum Impact: Energy of 135 joules
Energy = ½ × Mass × (V speed in m/s)2
135 joules = ½ × 142 kg × (1.38 m/s)2
Glass as a high-quality and transparent material.
ESG (tempered safety glass)
First presented to the world public in 1927, the idea behind tempered safety glass is still as ingenious as it was nearly 100 years ago. Since glass in its natural form produces dangerously sharp fragments during shattering, the glass surface is “quenched” with cold air during the production process. The resulting temperature difference between the outer skin and the core remains in the glass as internal tension. These new forces are called pre-stressing and improve the material properties noticeably. For example, the bending, impact and shock resistance is increased, but the fracture pattern also changes positively. If the pane breaks, the pre-stressing escapes in milliseconds and produces thousands of small fragments. In contrast to large, pointed glass fragments, these are harmless to humans and make it clear why ESG is used for shower walls.
VSG (laminated safety glass)
Around 1950, the combination of two ESG discs and a non-breaking, tough elastic film found its way into the automotive industry. The advantages of the pre-stressed panes were known, only the problem of the thousand small fragments had to be solved. At least for windscreens, it became more and more necessary to find a new glass solution that would break down into harmless pieces under the effect of force, but still absorb the forces that occur. The solution was a sandwich composite consisting of two ESG panes and a film glued in between. Thus the two ESG panes shatter as desired, but are held together by the bonded film. This creates the spider's web, which is known far and wide. We are now also using this laminated safety glass for our Air Colours walk-in solutions, which are available in four different colours thanks to the integrated and coloured films.