Window Glass Types: 9 types of glass

Source-ULR: https://www.doubleglazingnetwork.com/blog/window-glass-types/

When choosing a new window, many people think about the style of the window frame, the
colour, and the hardware to match. What people don’t usually think about is the type of
window glass.

There are various windows glass types to choose from, and all come with their own unique
properties.

In this article, we will be taking a look at the types of window glass available, so that you can
make an informed decision on the glass that will be most suitable for your home.

#1 Float Glass

Float glass is glass at its most basic form. It is a sheet of glass that is yet to be treated or cut,
and is named after the process of turning molten glass into large panels – whereby molten glass
is floated on top of molten tin, which creates a smooth but thin glass panel.

This form of glass has no colour and is low-cost, but it isn’t particularly strong.

There are a number of processes that float glass can go through in order to create a more high-
quality pane.

This includes annealed glass, where the glass is strengthened, but when it breaks, it can leave
sharp shards of glass, therefore annealed glass can then go through its own set of processes to
become even stronger, turning it into tempered glass or even heat strengthened glass.

#2 Laminated Safety Glass

For the security conscious, or those who need stronger glass, laminated safety glass is a
common option.
Created by fusing two panes around a layer of polyvinyl butyral using a high level of heat and
pressure fusion, in order to create a strong panel of glass.

This type of glass is often used in vehicles where flying objects could cause the glass to break.
With this glass type, it minimises any potential damage to the occupant.

#3 Obscured Glass

Obscured glass helps to ensure privacy by making it harder to see through. This type of glass is
commonly used for bathroom windows.

The glass can have patterns imprinted to help protect privacy, though some people believe that
it isn’t necessarily enough. Usually only shadows should be able to be seen through the glass.

#4 Tinted Glass

For the really privacy conscious, tinted glass can act as a bit of an upgrade from obscured glass.
It can be tinted to cover what’s happening through the glass.

Tinted glass is when colour is added to the glass, usually for aesthetic purposes.

But it can also be used to reduce the amount of sunlight that comes through, or in some cases,
even to help protect from UV rays.

#5 Tempered Glass

When we talked about annealed glass earlier (under ‘float glass’), tempered glass is an upgrade
on top of that.

Tempered glass offers four times the strength of annealed glass.

It is commonly used as a way of being strong glass, but still remaining breakable in an
emergency.
#6 Insulated Glass

Insulated glass is one of the more common types of glass you might find in a home, often called
double glazing or triple glazing.

There are usually two or three panes of glass, along with argon gas being in the spaces
between. Condensation is prevented from forming within the panes of glass by using a
desiccant component – but this doesn’t stop condensation forming on the outside.

For a standard window in a house, whereby energy efficiency is also an important factor,
insulated glass is a good choice.

#7 Mirrored Glass

Quite self-explanatory, mirrored glass provides a mirrored effect.

A metal coating is placed on one side of a pane of glass and then sealed with a protective
sealant.

It’s not common for this type of glass to be used on exterior windows (though some do), it’s
more common for use on walls and furniture as a decorative option.

#8 Low-E Glass

If thermal radiation is a consideration, low emissivity (Low-E) glass could be the right choice.

A special coating is applied to the glass to reflect thermal radiation.

This can help to provide benefits in summer and winter, as it will help to reflect heat away from
the house in the summer, whilst reflecting the heat trying to escape the house in the winter
back in.

This type of glass does come at a cost, but it can lead to lower energy bills as a result of its
ability to reflect thermal radiation.
#9 Wired Glass

Commonly mistaken for being a type of security glass, wire glass actually isn’t often used for
any security purpose. It actually acts as a fire-resistant glass.

The wires act to hold the glass in place when under high levels of heat, whilst also preventing
shards of glass from breaking out when a hosepipe is being used against it.

Wired glass is not common on homes in the UK, but is commonly used on social or commercial
properties, particularly schools and hospitals.

No matter which type of glass you’re looking to have installed in your new windows, we can
help you find a local company. Use our online tool to find a window company near you
WINDOW GLASS TYPES: 9 TYPES OF GLASS

SOURCE: HTTPS://WWW.DAYLIGHTGLAZING.CO.UK/BLOG/WINDOW-GLASS-TYPES-9-TYPES-
OF-GLASS/

LAMINATED SAFETY GLASS

 Laminated safety glass is the best option for security purpose and considered as one
of the strongest glass.
 In order to create strong panel of glass, a layer of polyvinyl butyric is created by
fusing two panes using a high level of heat and pressure.
 Laminated glass is also used in car windshields as it will provide maximum protection
in the face of an accident. It can also be used as a structural glass and used in the
construction of glass railings, glass floors, skylights, roofs, sunspaces, curtain walls,
glass facades, etc.

OBSCURED GLASS
  Obscure glass is textured glass designed to separate spaces and “obscure” visibility
between the spaces. Such glass is used to provide privacy while still allowing light to
flow into a space, and is often found in homes and offices.
 Most commonly used in bathrooms as well as in offices, it provides you with privacy
but at the same time, still allows natural light to flood into your home.
TINTED GLASS

 Tinting changes the color of the window and can increase visual privacy. The primary
uses for tinted glass are reducing glare from the bright outdoors and reducing the
amount of solar energy transmitted through the glass.
 The advantages are of tinted glass are they are energy efficient, used for sun
protection, increase privacy and security and last but not the least they have low
maintenance.
FLOAT GLASS

 Float glass owes its unique name to the process by which it is manufactured wherein
the molten glass is introduced into a bath of molten tin, causing the glass to float
freely.
 Float glass is used for smaller windows in domestic housing. Glass is used for
windows for both aesthetic and functional purposes, allowing the occupants to see
out and at the same time allowing light in.
 Its main qualities are transparency and hardness. The glass is distinguished from
other materials by various characteristics: it is not porous or absorbent, it is great
 insulator, has low expansion and thermal conductivity, it supports pressures from
5.800 to 10.800 kg per cm2.
TEMPERED GLASS

 Tempered glass is about four times stronger than “ordinary,” or annealed, glass. And
unlike annealed glass, which can shatter into jagged shards when broken, tempered
glass fractures into small, relatively harmless pieces. As a result, tempered glass is
used in those environments where human safety is an issue.
 Tempered glass is used for its safety and strength in a variety of applications,
including passenger vehicle windows, shower doors, aquariums,
architectural glass doors and tables, refrigerator trays, mobile phone screen
protectors, bulletproof glass components, diving masks, and plates and cookware.

MIRRORED GLASS
  It is glass that has been treated with a metallic substance and offers mirror-like
properties. The phrase mirrored glass can apply to products made specifically to
serve as mirrors as well as glass that is reflective but made for architectural or
decorative purposes, such as facades or table tops.
Typical applications include:
 Observation applications (supermarkets, security zones, conference rooms with
cameras)
 Exterior and interior design, particularly for display integration
WIRED GLASS

 Wired glass typically has a grid size of around 12.5mm and is used as a low-cost fire
resistant glass in which the wire holds the glass in place if high temperature causes it
to break. It can also be used for security reasons, or in areas where impact is likely
and it is commonly found in doors and windows.
 It is used in partitions and windows of, public buildings, schools, hotels, and
institutions. Usually, wired glass is used in windows of routes to the fire escape, this
helps in increasing the time required for evacuation people in a situation of fire or
other emergencies.
LOW-E GLASS

 Low-E glass refers to glass with a low-emissivity coating. It reduces heat gain or loss
by reflecting long-wave infrared energy (heat) and therefore, decreases the U-value
and solar heat gain, and in doing so, improves the energy efficiency of the glazing.
 Low E Windows Reduce Energy Costs. Low E applied to windows helps block infrared
light from penetrating the glass from the outside.
 Low E Windows Reduce Destructive UV Rays. These coatings help reduce ultraviolet
(UV) light.
 Low E Windows Do Not Block All Natural Light.
INSULATED GLASS
  Insulating Glass Units (IGUs) are designed to provide thermal insulation for building
envelopes. They are used to reduce building heat loss and heat gain depending on
the climate and IGU combination.
 Insulated glass is one of the common types of glass often called double glazing or
triple glazing.
 There are usually two or three panes of glass, along with argon gas being in the
spaces between. Condensation is prevented from forming within the panes of glass
by using a desiccant component – but this doesn’t stop condensation forming on the
outside.
 Insulating Glass Units retain much more heat in a room during winter reducing heat
loss and saving energy.
The Benefits of IGUs:

 Reduce heat loss.

 Save energy.
 Reduce condensation.
 Increase comfort.
 Reduce noise.
 Reduce heat gain.
 Reduce glare.
 Reduce fading.