Environmental Protective Glazing 

Environmental protective glazing (EPG) provides the ideal isothermal conditions for valuable or fragile glass, with the stained glass framed in bronze and fitted as secondary glazing on the inside of the church. It incorporates ventilation to allow a chimney effect in the interspace between the primary and secondary glazing. New primary glazing is installed into the existing glazing grooves of the stone and can be in several forms or materials. We currently favour 6.4mm laminated glass for its durability, relatively low cost and the UV filter.

Examples- Chalmers Church Edinburgh 69B Morningside Road, Edinburgh, EH10 4AZ. It is a Grade B listed building. Tripartite window by Ballantine.

Example first image- Polmont Old Parish church, Falkirk FK2 0QJ

Externally ventilated

Externally ventilated glazed protection - Lexan XLD polycarbonate

Lexan XLD Polycarbonate provides excellent protection against most elements, including wind and rain.  It has the added benefit of being a UV filter for pieces of glass bonded with UV reactive adhesives such as epoxy resin or other polymers. If it is fitted in small sheets (under 1200mm tall).The polycarbonate can be easily replaced, without changing the fixings. An air gap will be created by cutting the polycarbonate just shy of the stonework. It is light-weight, so will cause minimum pressure on the stonework. it is far less reflective than the whole sheet systems employed in the late 20th century.

Example - Clarke Memorial Church, Bath Street, Largs KA30 8BL. This Grade A listed building dates from 1890 by architect William Kerr associated with Thomas Graham Abercrombie of Paisley. It holds an impressive collection of stained glass.

Wire Guards

Traditional Wire Guards in black powder coated 316 grade stainless steel provide a non-reflective and effective form of protection against flying stones or roosting birds. They do not protect against air gun pellets, wind or rain and can spoil the appearance of lightly painted delicately stained glass when viewed from inside the building. They do not prevent from the deterioration of the stained-glass window due to environmental conditions.

Example - St Mary’s church is on Hozier Street in Coatbridge. This building dates back to 1891 and the architects were the renowned Pugin and Pugin firm. It is a Grade B listed building.