The Challenge

Architectural glass installed during a major construction project may remain exposed for months—or even years—before final handover.

During that time, the glass must withstand construction dust, airborne debris, water, mineral deposits, environmental pollutants, and the risk of surface scratching. These conditions can lead to intensive cleaning, restoration work, glass replacement, and costly disputes during the final snagging inspection.

Elvira Residences presented a meaningful real-world challenge: large quantities of IGUs and glass balustrades were installed throughout an active construction environment while work continued around them.

The Diamon-Fusion® Solution

The project used DFI’s Clear-Fusion Pro (CFPro) chemical formulation to apply the Diamon-Fusion® protective treatment to the IGUs and glass balustrades.

Diamon-Fusion® creates an ultra-thin, optically clear, hydrophobic barrier that chemically bonds to the glass. The protective treatment helps repel water and environmental contaminants while protecting the glass against staining, corrosion, and surface damage.

The balustrade glass received Diamon-Fusion® protection on both sides, providing additional protection for surfaces exposed throughout construction and later to everyday environmental conditions.

Real-World Performance During a Two-Year Construction Period

When the project was inspected at the end of June 2026, Elvira Residences had been under construction for approximately two years and remained an active jobsite.

Although the glass was installed in phases—and full glazing and balustrade installation was likely completed in 2026—no cleaning cycles were reportedly conducted on the protected glass after installation.

Despite continued exposure to construction dust, debris, water, and environmental contaminants, the glass remained visually clear and retained its hydrophobic performance. Water continued to bead and run off the surface rather than remain and contribute to staining or mineral buildup.

As DFI representative Marco Palazzolo observed during the inspection:

“They still look like day one.”

The results provide compelling evidence of Diamon-Fusion® performance under actual construction-site conditions—not simply under controlled laboratory testing or immediately following application.

The Project Impact

Maintaining cleaner, better-protected glass throughout an extended construction schedule can provide important benefits to developers, glass processors, façade contractors, and aluminum fabricators.

These benefits may include:

• Less intensive cleaning before handover
• Reduced risk of permanent staining or corrosion
• Fewer surface-related concerns during snagging inspections
• Reduced potential for rework or glass replacement
• Faster and more efficient project handover
• Long-term protection of the building’s architectural appearance

At Elvira Residences, the performance observed during the project’s two-year construction period demonstrates the value Diamon-Fusion® can bring to large-scale architectural glass installations—even before the development reaches final completion.

Project at a Glance

• Elvira at Dubai Hills Estate
• Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Developer: Emaar
• Project Start: 2024
• Project Status at Inspection: Active construction
• Protected Glass: Approximately 34,000 m² / 366,000 sq. ft.
• Applications: Insulated glass units and double-sided glass balustrades
• Application Product: CFpro by Diamon-Fusion®
• Field Inspection: June 2026
• Reported Cleaning Cycles: None following glass installation
• Protection: Diamon-Fusion® nanotechnology