What Do I Need to Know to Select the Right Type of Window Glass?

Window glass is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Property owners and builders have a variety of window glass options to choose from, depending on the intended purpose of the window, its location, and desired features.

A good window allows sunlight, lines of sight and ventilation into the home while enhancing your home’s aesthetic and keeping your property and its contents safe.

Before making your decision, it’s important to consider several factors. These include the amount of natural light desired for the space, the window’s location, the climate of your area, the overall design of the building, and the specific type of window you envision for your needs.

Annealed, Tempered, and Laminated Glass

Glass can be manufactured in various ways, each method affecting its properties, particularly its safety when broken. Three significant types of glass include annealed, tempered, and laminated glass.

• Annealed glass is a traditional type of glass that cools slowly, making it prone to breaking into large, sharp, and unpredictable shards, which is why it’s not suitable as safety glass.
• Tempered glass, on the other hand, undergoes a process of compression to strengthen it. When tempered glass breaks, it shatters into very small, dull shards, making it widely used as safety glass.
• Laminated glass is also considered safety glass. It consists of an inner layer of plastic, such as polyvinyl butyral (PVB), sandwiched between two layers of glass. Upon impact, the glass adheres to the plastic interlayer, reducing the risk of injuries from shattered glass.

Types of Glass Windows

Low-emissivity (Low-E) Glass: is glass that has been treated with a transparent coating to reduce the amount of light entering through it. This coating reflects the sun’s rays, thereby lowering solar heat gain inside a building and decreasing energy expenses.

Insulated Glass Units (IGUs): are windows featuring two or more panes separated by a spacer and sealed hermetically. The gap between the panes is typically filled with air or an insulating gas such as krypton or argon. IGUs are favored for their effectiveness in minimizing energy transfer between indoor and outdoor environments, enhancing thermal insulation. Double pane windows are a widely recognized type of insulated glass unit.

Obscured Window Glass: obscure glass for windows encompasses any glass that allows light transmission while obscuring visibility, making it ideal for bathroom windows. Opaque glass, frosted, etched, or coated varieties fall under this category, providing privacy in spaces like bathrooms, offices, or street-facing rooms while allowing natural light to enter. It effectively shields occupants and property from outside view, ensuring both privacy and ample daylight.

Impact Resistant Glass or Hurricane Glass: are crafted using impact-resistant or hurricane glass, specifically designed to withstand strong winds and flying debris during storms. This type of laminated glass minimizes the risk associated with shattered windows by adhering broken pieces to an inner layer, enhancing safety and reducing potential damage.