Glass is heavy, fragile, and unforgiving. It needs support, protection, and a good seal at every stage, from the fabrication shop to the finished building.
Combi-Fab, part of Brand Felt Group, has supplied the construction industry since 1994. Window and glass companies such as Engineered Assemblies have worked with us for years, and they count on us for the right material every time.
Consistent product quality, competitive pricing, and outstanding customer service. We have had a great experience working with Combi-Fab and would highly recommend them.
In this article, we'll walk through six products we supply to the windows, glass and construction industries, and the problems each one solves.
Setting blocks and spacers
The problem: Glass in a window frame needs something solid to sit on. The frame also has to keep the air out. If rainwater gets in, it needs a way to drain out.
The solution: Setting blocks and spacers sit under the glass and support it. We supply them in two materials:
- 80 Duro SBR
- 80–85 Duro SCR. SCR stands for silicone-compatible rubber. Despite the name, it's an EPDM, not a silicone.
Some of our setting blocks are shaped to block air while allowing rainwater to drain outward, away from the building. The engineer decides which material to use. We supply it to their specifications.
Cork and foam pads
The problem: Glass is easily damaged while it's being moved or stored. Traditional padding often requires adhesive to stick to the glass, leaving marks and scratches behind.
The solution: Cork and foam pads protect glass during transportation and storage. Cork cling foam pads are a specialty product from our brand, Combi-Fab. These pads are made by laminating fine grain cork with cling foam, which is a closed-cell PVC foam.
The cork provides a smooth, durable surface with insulation and pressure resistance, while the cling foam allows the pad to temporarily stick to glass, steel, and some plastics without leaving an adhesive mark.
Glass-to-metal spacers
The problem: Glass railings and glass staircases are common in commercial buildings. The glass is held in place by metal fittings. If glass touches metal directly, it can break under pressure.
The solution: A spacer between the glass and the metal. The right material depends on how heavy the glass is:
- Light glass (about 1/2"): SCE41 soft sponge neoprene blend
- Medium glass: cork and rubber
- Heavy glass (about 1"): 80 duro rubber
The heavier the glass, the firmer the spacer needs to be.
About cork and rubber: This material is a bonded sheet of cork and rubber. It comes with an SBR, neoprene, EPDM or nitrile binder. Neoprene is by far the most popular, making up 80–90% of demand.
About SCE41 die cuts: We supply SCE41 die-cut pieces with adhesive on one side or both sides. SCE41 is a versatile, black, closed-cell sponge neoprene blend. It is used for a variety of sealing, gasketing, and insulating applications. The soft structure is made by uniform gaseous pockets throughout the material – offering a lightweight, flexible, and resilient foam.
Foam mounting tape
The problem: A shower door has two jobs. It must keep water inside the enclosure, and the glass must not touch the frame, which is usually aluminum.
The solution: Foam mounting tape. It helps keep water inside the shower. Its thin foam layer also sits between the glass and the frame, so the two never touch. It is a double-coated, high-performance tape. It conforms to uneven surfaces easily and has all-around flexibility.
It's made from either 4lbs or 6lbs density, white, closed cell crosslinked polyethylene foam. It has synthetic rubber adhesive on both sides.
Norton V2200 structural glazing tape
The problem: High-rise buildings often use curtain walls, which are large glass panels set in metal frames. During fabrication, the glass must stay exactly in place while the unit is assembled.
The solution: Norton V2200 structural glazing tape. About 98% of the V2200 we supply goes to high-rise curtain wall work.
Here's how fabricators typically use it:
- Build the metal frame.
- Run the double-sided tape around the full perimeter of the frame.
- Set the glass onto the tape, so nothing moves.
- Apply liquid structural silicone.
- Lift the finished unit into place on the building.
The exact order can vary from one window to the next.
Casement window gaskets
The problem: A casement window opens with a crank. The gears in the crank mechanism need room to move. But the window still has to keep the air out.
The solution: A gasket fitted around the crank mechanism. It lets the gears move freely while sealing out air. We die-cut these gaskets from cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) foam, in a range of sizes.
A note on XLPE foam density:
- 1/16" thick: we use 4 lb/ft³ foam. At this thickness, 2 lb/ft³ foam tears too easily in production, so we make the thin gauge heavier.
- 1/8", 3/16" and 1/4" thick: the standard is 2 lb/ft³, with 4 lb/ft³ available on request.
The final choice is based on the engineer’s specification.
How we choose the right material
Every new inquiry starts with a few questions:
- Where will it be used?
- What's the application?
- How much load will it carry?
The answers make a big difference. A pad under office furniture can be light. A pad under heavy machinery needs 80 duro heavy-duty rubber, not sponge, so it doesn't compress.
If your engineer has a spec, we supply exactly what they ask for. Experienced engineers often name the exact grade and density.
If you're reordering, we won't ask again. Repeat customers buying the same item can skip the questions.
If you have a sample we don't stock, we'll offer the closest equivalent for you to trial. Once your project approves it, we'll supply it.
Tell us what you need, and we'll help you find the right material.
