Glass surfaces larger than 20 square metres are to be banned in future, according to the new Nature Conservation Act of the German state of Hesse (HeNatG). GW-News spoke to Hans-Joachim Arnold of Arnold Glas, the company that was the first to develop and market bird protection glass.
GW-News: Mr Arnold, your company invented bird protection glass years ago. What do you say to the certain governments' push to limit the size of glass in order to prevent bird strikes?
Hans-Joachim Arnold: Banning glass for bird protection makes no sense. However, such bills show that the issue of bird protection is becoming more and more important. The fact that laws are being passed on this is in itself to be welcomed, as the current legal situation leads to much uncertainty: When in doubt, such as in the specific case of the German state of Hesse, everyone refers to the general prohibition of killing and injury in § 44 of the German Federal Nature Conservation Act, and in the specific implementation, each nature conservation authority sets its own requirements. But the regulations in the Hessian draft law are unsuitable.
GW-News: Why exactly?
To limit the size of glass because of the bird protection issue is not appropriate. On the one hand, bird collisions also occur on smaller glass surfaces, and on the other hand, glazed surfaces contribute to the well-being of the occupants. Natural daylight is important to the human organism and has been proven to promote health. Linking the issue of bird protection to the size of the glass does not correspond to the state of the art.
GW-News: When I hear about such legislative proposals, I ask myself why politicians do not involve the glass industry? What do you think about that?
The draft has now been introduced in the first reading in the Hessian parliament and referred to the responsible committee; the hearing of experts and associations is planned as part of the subsequent process. The German Federal Flat Glass Association (BF), together with the German Window and Facade Association (VFF) as well as other associations, immediately spoke out. In addition, the BF with its Bird Protection Glass Working Group will also make specific proposals for legal regulations. What really surprises me in this context is that for 25 years we have been offering solutions for bird protection that are used all over the world and that politicians here in Germany seem to be unaware of.
Isolar
GW-News: Wouldn't it make more sense to include such bird protection glass in tenders for appropriate buildings and large glass facades?
Absolutely! However, all aspects should be taken into account: On the one hand, daylight results in an increased sense of well-being for the occupants. Visually almost invisible glass coatings reduce bird strikes and at the same time allow a high degree of natural daylight. In addition, there are no restrictions on design freedom for architects and building owners.
GW-News: How do other countries, for example the USA, handle it?
In the various states of the USA there are legal regulations to reduce bird collisions on glass facades. This means that in certain facade areas, only glazing that reduces bird strikes is allowed.
GW-News: How long has your company been offering bird protection glass and which products are on the market today?
We started developing the first transparent bird-friendly glass about 25 years ago. We have already recognised the relevance of sustainable issues back then and thus Ornilux mikado was the first such product on the market. Today, in an improved version, this is the solution for many projects worldwide.
Ornilux design print stands for visible markings with ceramic surface printing. The latter variant is probably the most widespread type of bird-friendly glazing with the greatest architectural limitations.
Limiting glass size based on bird protection issues is not appropriate. On the one hand, bird collisions also occur on smaller glass surfaces, and on the other hand, glazed surfaces contribute to the well-being of the occupants.
Glaswerke Arnold
GW-News: Are you still developing bird protection glass further, or what are you currently working on?
Matthias Rehberger / GW
Birds worth protecting – at BAU 2023 in Munich.
Of course we have and will continue to adapt our products to the demands of the market. One example of this is Ornilux mikado one. Here, the transparent coating, which is usually applied to position 2, has been further developed for the outside surface. This means that we can also comply with building regulations that require bird protection on the outermost pane surface (i.e. position 1).
GW-News: Will there be fully transparent bird protection glass in the future? Is that even possible?
This is clearly the direction of development - which is why it is not appropriate for the Hessian bill to ban transparent glass. After 25 years of experience with this topic, we are convinced that transparent, bird-friendly glazing, as it is currently offered, is a good solution.
GW-News: How much experience with bird-friendly glazing has Arnold Glas gained in the meantime?
In the past 25 years we have handled about 100 tests with different laboratories worldwide. Tens of thousands of flight tunnel tests with tens of thousands of birds (not one was killed...) have been carried out.
In addition, we have received positive feedback from all building owners where a total of more than 100,000 square metres of transparent, bird-friendly glass of the type Ornilux mikado has been installed.
We therefore not only have successful product tests to our name, but can also show that our product has practically proven itself many times over.
