SILVERSTAR BIRDprotectThe product line for bird collision deterrent glass

«At last, there isa glass thatI can see aswell.»

«No excuses: There is a birdcollision deterrent glassfor every application area.»

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Glass as a material offers almost unlimited application pos-sibilities, whether in private homes, commercial premises orhigh-rise buildings. Glass allows the realisation of modern andtimeless facades, balcony glazing, conservatories and muchmore – the design options are almost unlimited. The com-fortable living ambiance with light and bright interior spacesmeets high standards in terms of heat insulation, solar andacoustic protection. The structural characteristics also de-monstrate an impressive range of properties: glass is mallea-ble and strong; it offers countless finishing possibilities and isalso weather-resistant and easy to clean.

Alongside the many benefits that glass has to offer for man-kind, windows, facades, walkways and acoustic insulationwalls pose a risk for wild birds. However well-adapted theirvisual acuity to their natural surroundings might be, they havegreat difficulty discerning glass obstructions. On the onehand, because glass is transparent and birds see enticing in-door plants and landscapes behind it. On the other hand, be-cause it reflects the surroundings with the result that the birdswant to fly to the trees and sky mirrored in it.

Environmental organisations highlight continously to pay at-tention to these two unfortunate phenomena. Glas Trösch hascontacted the Swiss Ornithological Institute Sempach in orderto develop the SILVERSTAR BIRDprotect product line.

No matter whether the glass requirements are non-reflectiveor clear, irrespective of the thermal insulation, light transmis-sion or sun protection coating – Glas Trösch has the right glassto guard against bird collisions for every project and challenge.

SILVERSTAR BIRDprotect –in collaboration with theSwiss Ornithological Institute

Recommended by the Swiss Ornithological Institute

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Birds have long been the undisputed masters of the air. Obsta-cles were always visible and birds are able to avoid them ad-roitly. However, evolution has not equipped them to cope withhazards such as glass walls. Here collisions with glass stemfrom two different causes, for which Glas Trösch offers solu-tions.

Perception of a bird

The most common cause of collisions is glass transparency. Abird looks through a glass frontage and sees a tree, the sky oran appealing landscape. It heads straight for it, colliding withthe pane of glass in the process. The more transparent andlarger the glass frontage, the greater the danger.

Transmission

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The second cause is reflection. Depending on the windowpane type, the lighting and the building interior, the environ-ment is reflected to a greater or lesser extent. If the reflectedimage is of a park, the bird is deceived into thinking that it isan attractive environment. It flies straight towards it, unawarethat it is only the reflected image.

Reflection

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Collision hazards for birds

As explained in this brochure, both the reflection as well asthe through view of the environment behind the glass presentproblems for birds in equal measures.There are countless situations in everyday life where panes ofglass in the architecture pose an increased collision risk forbirds. Some of these are depicted in the illustration below.

In order to counteract the risk of a bird colliding with the glass,SILVERSTAR BIRDprotect offers suitable bird collision deter-rent solutions for every building measure.

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Balcony glazing

Collision risk due to clear through vision

Corner glazing

Collision risk due to clear through vision

Transparent shelter

Collision risk due to clear through vision

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Conservatory

Collision risk due to clear through vision and/orreflection

Noise insulation wall / bus stop

Collision risk due to clear through vision

Glass facade

Collision risk due to reflection

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Aesthetics and through vision at the same time

SILVERSTAR BIRDprotect is more visible to birds. Glas Tröschoffers a print-optimised new design which achieves the opti-mum effect against bird impact. Thanks to its structure anddesign, the ORTHO pattern breaks up the reflection / trans-parency that poses a danger to birds allowing them to betterperceive the glass as a hazard. The design can be applied irre-spective of the installation situation of the insulating glass aswell as on heat insulation and solar protection coatings.

According to the Swiss Ornithological Institute Sempach, ef-fective bird protection can only be achieved through visiblestructures on the glass. At Glas Trösch, this is possible throughaesthetic colours and designs.

The SILVERSTAR BIRDprotect motifs are evaluated beforehandby the Swiss Ornithological Institute in Sempach.

Palm of hand rule and print coverage

Because many birds are used to flying between dense bran-ches, they identify even small gaps as an opportunity to flythrough. According to the Swiss Ornithological Institute Sem-pach in order to fulfil the criteria for a highly effective bird pro-tection, the gaps between the printed areas should not be lar-ger than the palm of a hand. SILVERSTAR BIRDprotect satisfiesthis criterion.This palm of hand rule can be seen in the designs of variousbuildings, for example in the Goldau Animal Park (CH), on thenew Swiss Ornithological Institute Sempach (CH), on variousnoise protection walls and balcony glazings.

For an individual design, it is also necessary to ensure a printcoverage of 15%. This value is recommended by the Swiss Or-nithological Institute Sempach. The Swiss Ornithological Ins-titute Sempach and your Glas-Trösch partner companies willbe pleased to advise with information relating to the creationof your own design.

The Glas Trösch solutionSILVERSTAR BIRDprotect

The palm of hand rule states that the unprinted surface bet-ween the motifs should not be larger than the area of a palm, asfor example here on the ORTHO.010 design from SILVERSTARBIRDprotect.

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One standard, many possibilities – SILVERSTAR BIRDprotect

With this product, Glas Trösch offers a design rated as effecti-ve by the Swiss Ornithological Institute Sempach. Thanks to theflexible printing process, individual design options are possible.In consultation with the different specialists, and subject to com-pliance with the palm of hand rule as well as the print coverage,customers can realise their own unmistakeable style and satisfythe requirements of bird protection.

One example of individual design for SILVERSTAR BIRDprotectis provided by the visitor centre of the Swiss Ornithological In-stitute in Sempach (CH).

Residential areas are home to 300 or more species of birds persquare kilometer. The majority of the some 30 species occur-ring are involved in collisions. The aerial photograph of Meis-terschwanden AG (CH) shows that there are many bird territo-ries in a typical Swiss residential area.

Building nesters such asthe black redstart.

Thrushes and warblers,such as the blackcap.

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Finches and tits,such as the blue tit.

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Source: Archiv Vogelwarte

Bird territories

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«Thank you for buildingwith SILVERSTAR BIRDprotectfrom Glas Trösch.»

www.glastroesch.com

GT|20160

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