Building Industry is one of the major outlets of Fibre Glass in developed countries. Out of the total production of Fibre Glass, about 15% goes to building construction with the share as high as 44% in Japan and 25% in USA. Brick and stone masonry,concrete and reinforced concrete, wood,steel,ceramics and glass are the traditional materials used for buildings and all of them still retain their role mainly due to their mechanical properties and cost effectiveness.

The changing technological perceptions have however,exposed some of their limitations. Brick and stone masonry is labour intensive, heavy and prone to earthquake and vibration damages. Concrete, particularly, reinforced concrete is prone to corrosion of steel and spalling of concrete both affected by water, seawater and other chemicals. Durable wood has become scarce and costly, and cost of wooden components forms about 30% of the cost of a building. Ceramics and glass still have their roles to play in building but they are brittle and susceptible to fracture. Natural finishing materials like granite and marbles have their supremacy but due to their scarcity and cost, ceramics and glass are making way into the market. All these traditional materials have the common limitation that their manufacturing processes are time consuming and labour intensive which are not conducive to the needs of modern construction practices.

Materials that are of high mechanical properties and light in weight and that are suitable and efficient for fast production methods are required. Likewise, new materials to replace scarce materials like wood are also required and the solution to the need of the hour is Fibre Glass. Fibre Glass offer a versatile alternative to these traditional materials. Some of the areas where they can be effectively used to replace conventional materials are highlighted here.

TRANSLUCENT ROOFING SHEETS
Fibre Glass moulding sheets form a major outlet for Fibre Glass in India and are used along with asbestos, aluminium or galvanized corrugated sheets for lighting. They are not brittle like glass and can be durable if well made compared to other sheets used for lighting like acrylic or polycarbonates.

CLADDING AND PARTITION PANELS
Brick and concrete masonry can be replaced with lightweight Fibre Glass partition and cladding panels. They can be made sound proof and heat insulating. They can also be premoulded in required shapes and profiles making them of consistent quality and cost effective and the total construction time can be reduced. The drastic reduction in weight reduces the self-weight of high rise buildings resulting in cost reduction and better earthquake resistance. They can be self-coloured if necessary, avoding the cost of painting.

ROOF CONSTRUCTION
Fibre Glass roofs are much lighter than concrete roofs and can be fabricated in different shapes, ornamental designs and with different degree of light transmission and colour intensity. Premoulded modular units can be economical for covering larges span areas. The roofs can be flat or sloping with grid beam,stiffened or sandwich panels and dome shaped or of folded plate construction.

PREFABRICATED HOUSES AND PUBLIC BUILDINGS
Although the concept of prefabricated buildings has not caught up in India, there is tremendous potential to make such units ranging from small cabins, kiosks, site offices, portable pavilions, exhibition halls, cold storages, green houses, bathroom units, housing units, etc., Fibre Glass can be used separately or in combination with steel or aluminium.

DOORS, WINDOWS AND WALL PANELING
Fibre Glass are good substitutes for wood. In some aspects like termite resistance, mouldability, colouring and even durability they are better than most timbers. At the material level, Fibre Glass may be costlier than wood, but at a finished product level, they can be cheaper than wood because of the savings in production cost, painting, polishing, etc.,
Fibre Glass can even be made with wood grain texture recreated on the surface to appear more realistic than in melamine coated plywood products. Fibre Glass Institute, Chennai is shortly coming up with a voluntary code of practice for the industries to manufacture and market these products.

INTERIOR DECORATION AND FURNITURE
Fibre Glass are ideal materials for interior decoration and for making furniture particularly when they are custom built. Plastic moulded furniture has made inroads into these applications. However, the durability, strength rigidity and mouldability of Fibre Glass make them better materials than ordinary plastics.

WATER TANKS, SWIMMING POOLS, SANITARY WARE
The excellent resistance to water makes Fibre Glass the ideal choice for water tanks and polymer concrete for sanitary ware. Prefabricated sectional water tanks of very large capacity can be made of compression moulded SMC. Similarly modular type Fibre Glass sections can be built and assembled to make swimming pools of different sizes, ponds, fountains, artificial waterfalls, etc. Bathroom showers enclosures and trays are other products of this category.

FIBRE GLASS FORMWORK FOR CONCRETE
Fibre Glass moulds can be used for casting concrete structures like round columns, waffle floors ornamental products and other concrete products of complex shapes. They are cheaper, lighter and reusuable and the subsequent plastering of concrete is less time consuming or even unnecessary. Fibre Glass permanent formworks can be left with concrete structures, which can give bettter finish and durable surfaces.