Decorative Division Discusses Technical, Marketing and Membership Initiatives

The Glass Association of North America's (GANA) Decorative Division was busy at work on a number of projects yesterday afternoon during the group's Fall Conference meeting in Dallas. The division has grown quickly in its two-year history and members are working to develop a number of informational and educational documents and resources.

The division's technical committee, chaired by Greg Saroka of Goldray Industries Ltd., met first. Task groups are working on a number of projects including a LEED position paper on decorative glass; a glossary of decorative glass terms and definitions; guidelines on product cleaning and handling; and also updating some existing GANA documents, including section six of the Tempering Division's Engineering Standards Manual, which covers the Specification for fired-On Ceramic Enamel decorative Architectural Flat Glass. A task group has completed its review and the manual is now updated to reflect its revisions.

The decorative division's marketing committee also held its meeting yesterday. The group has recently completed an online survey of architects, designers and installers about their experiences with decorative glass. Cathie Saroka of Goldray Industries compiled the findings and shared some of the results during the meeting. Some of the highlights included:

• There is a positive correlation between awareness of and use of decorative glass;
• Decorative glass is viewed as an expensive option rather than viable;
• The respondents like the aesthetics and function of decorative glass, and are looking for more technical information about it so they can feel more comfortable using and specifying it;
• There is an overwhelming need for information and education including technical information, specification information on products, where to get it, etc.

Cathie Saroka will also be assuming the responsibilities of serving as the group's membership committee chair. One suggestion she had for the group was that they not only be a resource to new member companies, but all member companies. This could include further informational enhancements to the group's website, such as the possibility of a message board.

The Decorative Division will next meet during Glass Week, which is scheduled to take place February 12-15, 2009 at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.

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