In line with the growing interest in the environment, technology that protect birds from fatal collisions with glass building facades  is now being offered in the region by Emirates Glass.

The UAE-based processor of flat architectural glass, which is a subsidiary of Dubai Investments, has signed an agreement with Canada-based Feather Friendly Technologies to be an authorised dealer of Feather Friendly Bird Collision Technology across the UAE and the GCC region.

The products, constructed of bird-friendly materials, meet specified design standards and are intended to reduce bird strikes.

Feather Friendly Technologies ... designed to prevent bird collision.

The partnership highlights the rising awareness and need for sustainable bird-friendly glass in architecture that provides architects a newly tested and safe glass choice for building facades providing good balance between transparency and reflectivity, says a senior official of Emirates Glass.

“With modern building facades evolving at a rapid pace and with glass continuing to make up more and more of the external building envelope, it is likely that the number of birds affected by the glass collision problem – leading to fatal impacts – is on the rise and this technology is a solution. Our partnership with Feather Friendly Technologies is not only aimed at providing a solution but is also at reiterating the company’s support towards larger environmental issues like climate change through its products,” says Rizwanulla Khan, Executive President of Emirates Glass.

Over the past decade, there has been a surge of interest in protecting the environment by protecting birds from fatal collisions with man-made structures, and this issue has been addressed by Feather Friendly Bird Deterrent Technology, which is designed to protect birds while enhancing the building’s design.

Paul Groleau, Vice President, Feather Friendly Technologies, elaborates: “This technology comprises an enhanced pattern that’s more visible to birds than it is to humans, which helps to prevent these collisions and ensures maximum transparency, while maintaining the aesthetical appeal of glass in architecture. It’s a huge leap forward for long-term conservation as well as our biodiversity and saving migratory birds whose numbers are declining dramatically.”

Feather Friendly Bird Collision Technology is described as an easy-to-use and unobtrusive window application that is barely noticeable to humans but highly effective in allowing birds to ‘see’ the windows, allowing them to avoid deadly collisions. The technology is also endorsed by leading bird conservation organisations, the company says.

Emirates Glass says it is adding the bird-friendly products to its Emicool range, effectively supplementing emerging building standards designed to prevent bird collisions.