Option 1: Anti-dirt coating for walk-on glass makes glass dry faster

It is very easy to apply a Ritec coating to the glass.

This is an anti-dirt coating that ensures water runs off the glass more quickly. The advantage of this coating is that the glass remains completely transparent. The Ritec coating does not provide anti-slip properties, meaning it makes the glass rougher. So what does Ritec do?

In short, Ritec ensures that:

• slippery dirt does not stick;
• glass dries faster.

Dry glass has a PVT value well above the required 36 (sufficient anti-slip). But beware: even with a Ritec coating, wet glass is not anti-slip.

How does Ritec work?

Glass appears smooth, but it isn't. When examined under a microscope, it's visible that glass has a rough surface, allowing dirt, salt, and limescale to easily adhere and stain the glass. Applying a Ritec Clearshield coating applies a protective layer of polymers to the glass. These polymers adhere strongly to the glass and form strong bonds with each other. This not only makes the glass smoother and easier to clean, but also stronger.

How Ritec anti-slip coating works
An advantage of the coating is that it forms a real bond with the glass. This makes it very strong and wear-resistant, even when walked on.

Explanation of anti-slip values ​​HSE and PTV

A disadvantage of the coating is that it doesn't improve the slipperiness of glass. For both untreated glass and glass with the Ritec coating, the average slip risk (HSE Slip Risk) value is 23, which is average.

For dry glass, the value of Ritec treated glass is better than standard glass, but as long as the glass is wet, the risk of slipping is high.

Option 2: Sandblasting or etched glass

It's also possible to sandblast or etch the glass. This gives an anti-slip factor of 50, slightly less than the third option (frit dot pattern), but well above the required 36 for good non-slip glass.
This is a relatively inexpensive solution. It makes (part of) the glass opaque. The light output remains almost the same, although the light is more diffused. This can be implemented in various ways.

• In a pattern
  By applying a pattern, as shown in the image below, part of the glass remains clear and you can still see through it.
• The entire glass surface
  If you sandblast or etch the entire surface, you get frosted glass, which is opaque. This also provides more privacy.

Option 3: Frit dot pattern

The third and most expensive solution is applying a ceramic pattern, also called a frit dot pattern. This involves applying 8mm dots of rough material to the glass using a laser. This can be done in an even dot pattern, but also, for example, in the shape of a logo. This is an attractive, but very expensive method. The brightness is reduced by approximately 40% compared to solution 1, while the light incidence remains the same. The anti-slip rating of 60 is the highest of all solutions.

Which glass should I use?

Glass standards vary by country and application. Dutch Roof Design is happy to advise you on the type of glass that best suits your needs.. Learn more about the different glass specifications.