Architectural glass products used in commercial construction applications often incorporatemultiple lites of glass with different colors, thicknesses, strength, coatings and other surface andedge treatments. The Glass Association of North America (GANA) recommends the followingterminology and practices for describing the construction of architectural glass products to beused in windows, doors, skylights, window walls and curtain walls:
Monolithic Glass: a single lite of glass including laminated glass as defined below
Laminated Glass: an assembly of two or more plies of glass bonded together with an interlayermaterial
Insulating Glass: two or more lites of glass separated by a spacer(s) material incorporating adrying agent (desiccant) and hermetically sealed around the perimeter with one or more sealants.
Glass Surface Orientation / Designation: the numerical identification of a specific glass surface relative to the exterior surface of the assembly. The first surface is the exterior surface with each consecutive glass surface identified in order from exterior to interior with the last (highest number) surface being on the interior of the assembly.
The following pages provide detailed descriptions and illustrations of a number of monolithic, laminated and insulating glass constructions:
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www.glasswebsite.com Monolithic Uncoated Glass
1. Glass thickness in inches and/or millimeters
2. Glass substrate (Clear, Green, Gray, Bronze, Blue, etc.)
3. Glass strength (annealed, heat-strengthened or fully tempered)
4. Edge treatment if any (seamed, flat ground, polished, etc.)
¼ in. (6 mm) Green
Fully Tempered Glass
1 1 2 2
Surfaces
Example: ¼ in. (6 mm) Green fully tempered glass
GANA ID 01-1107
2 Monolithic Coated Glass
1. Glass thickness in inches and/or millimeters
2. Glass substrate (Clear, Green, Gray, Bronze, Blue, etc.)
3. Glass strength (annealed, heat-strengthened or fully tempered)
4. Manufacturer's name, coating designation & type
5. Coated surface location (glass surface number as defined in Glass Surfaces Designation)
6. Type of opacifier (if applicable for spandrel glass)
7. Edge treatment if any (seamed, flat ground, polished, etc.)
¼ in. (6 mm) Clear Heat-
Strengthened Glass with
Solar-Control Coating and
Polyester Opacifier #2
Surface
1 1 2 2
Surfaces
Example: ¼ in. (6 mm) Green heat-strengthened glass with (insert Company Name, coatingdesignation & type) coating #2 surface and polyester sheet opacifier #2 surface
GANA ID 01-1107
3 Monolithic Opaque Spandrel Glass
1. Glass thickness in inches and/or millimeters
2. Glass substrate (Clear – typically spandrel coatings are applied to clear glass)
3. Glass strength (heat-strengthened or fully tempered glass is required for these products)
4. Manufacturer’s name, coating designation & type (ceramic frit, silicone)
5. Coated surface – ceramic frit and silicone products are designed to be on the number two surface for monolithic glass
6. Edge treatment if any (seamed, flat ground, polished, etc.)
¼ in. (6 mm) Clear Heat-
Strengthened Glass with
Ceramic Frit or Silicone
Coating #2 Surface
1 1 2 2
Surfaces
Example: ¼ in. (6 mm) Clear heat-strengthened glass with (insert Company Name, coatingcolor) ceramic frit coating #2 surface
GANA ID 01-1107
4 Monolithic Decorative Screen Printed Glass
1. Glass thickness in inches and/or millimeters
2. Glass substrate (Clear, Green, Gray, Blue, etc.)
3. Glass strength (heat-strengthened or fully tempered is typically required)
4. Decorative pattern description
5. Manufacturer’s name, coating designation & type (ceramic frit, silicone) pattern, pattern
color and distribution if applicable
5. Coated surface – ceramic frit and silicone products are designed to be on the number two surface for monolithic glass
6. Edge treatment if any (seamed, flat ground, polished, etc.)
¼ in. (6 mm) Clear Heat-
Strengthened Glass with ½
in. (12 mm) Horizontal
White Ceramic Frit or
Silicone Lines 1 in. (25
mm) on Center #2 Surface
1 1 2 2
Surfaces
Example 1: ¼ in. (6 mm) Clear heat-strengthened glass with (insert Company Name) ½ in.(12 mm) horizontal White ceramic frit lines 1 in. (25 mm) on center on the #2 surface
Example 2: ¼ in. (6 mm) Clear heat-strengthened glass with (insert Company Name) 1/8 in.(3 mm) ceramic frit dot pattern, black, on ¼ in. (6 mm) center, 50% coverage, on the #2surface. Flat polished edges.
GANA ID 01-1107
5 Monolithic Laminated Glass
1. Overall assembly thickness in inches and/or millimeters
2. Outer lite thickness and substrate (Clear, Green, Gray, Bronze, Blue, etc.)
3. Outer lite strength (annealed, heat-strengthened or fully tempered)
4. Interlayer thickness, type and color
6. Inner lite thickness and substrate (Clear, Green, Gray, Bronze, Blue, etc.)
7. Inner lite strength (annealed, heat-strengthened or fully tempered)
8. Edge treatment if any (seamed, flat ground, polished, etc.)
1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4
¼ in. (6 mm) Clear Heat-Strengthened
Outer Lite
¼ in. (6 mm) Clear Heat-Strengthened
Outer Lite
¼ in. (6 mm) Clear Heat-Strengthened
Inner Lite
¼ in. (6 mm) Clear Heat-Strengthened
Inner Lite
0.060 in. (1.52 mm) Interlayer 0.060 in. (1.52 mm) Interlayer
Surfaces
Example: 9/16 in. (14 mm) Clear laminated glass with a ¼ in. (6 mm) Clear heat-strengthened outer lite, .060 in. (1.52 mm) (insert interlayer type and color) interlayer, ¼ in.(6 mm) Clear heat-strengthened inner lite
Note: The description process can be continued in the order above for multi-lite laminatedglass constructions.
GANA ID 01-1107
6 Uncoated Insulating Glass Unit
1. Overall insulating glass unit thickness in inches and/or millimeters
2 Outboard (exterior) lite thickness in inches and/or millimeters
3. Outboard lite substrate color (Clear, Green, Gray, Bronze, Blue, etc.)
4. Outboard lite strength (annealed, heat-strengthened or fully tempered)
5. Spacer width in inches and/or millimeters and spacer material color/finish/description
6. Type of primary seal (polyisobutylene, etc.)
7. Type of secondary seal (silicone, polysulfide, polyurethane, etc.)
8. Inboard (interior) lite thickness in inches and/or millimeters
9. Inboard lite substrate color (typically Clear glass)
10. Inboard lite strength (annealed, heat-strengthened or fully tempered)
1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4
¼ in. (6 mm) Green Heat-Strengthened
Outboard Lite
¼ in. (6 mm) Green Heat-Strengthened
Outboard Lite
¼ in. (6 mm) Clear Annealed
Inboard Lite
¼ in. (6 mm) Clear Annealed
Inboard Lite
½ in. (12 mm) Spacer & Sealant System
Surfaces
Example: 1 in. (25 mm) insulating glass unit with a ¼ in. (6 mm) Green heat-strengthenedoutboard lite, ½ in. (12 mm) (insert type and color) spacer, (insert type) primary seal, (insert type) secondary seal and a ¼ in. (6 mm) Clear annealed inboard lite.
GANA ID 01-1107
7 Coated Insulating Glass Unit
1. Overall insulating glass unit thickness in inches and/or millimeters
2 Outboard (exterior) lite thickness in inches and/or millimeters
3. Outboard lite substrate color (Clear, Green, Gray, Bronze, Blue, etc.)
4. Outboard lite strength (annealed, heat-strengthened or fully tempered)
5. Manufacturer's name, coating designation & type (low-emissivity, solar-control, other)
and coated surface i.e. #2 surface (counting from the outside in)
6. Spacer width in inches and/or millimeters and spacer material color/finish/description
7. Type of primary seal (polyisobutylene, etc.)
8. Type of secondary seal (silicone, polysulfide, polyurethane, etc.)
9. Inboard (interior) lite thickness in inches and/or millimeters
10. Inboard lite substrate color (typically Clear glass)
11. Inboard lite strength (annealed, heat-strengthened or fully tempered)
*NOTE: Architectural glass manufacturers offer a number of performance enhancing coatings that can be applied to variousglass surfaces in an insulating glass unit. Manufacturers should be consulted regarding coated surface requirements. The examples below provide guidelines for description of units with coatings on various surfaces.
1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4
¼ in. (6 mm) Green Heat-Strengthened
Outboard Lite with Low-emissivity Coating #2
Surface
¼ in. (6 mm) Green Heat-Strengthened
Outboard Lite with Low-emissivity Coating #2
Surface
¼ in. (6 mm) Clear Annealed
Inboard Lite
¼ in. (6 mm) Clear Annealed
Inboard Lite
½ in. (12 mm) Spacer & Sealant System
Surfaces
Example 1 – Insulating Unit with Coating on the #2 surface: 1 in. (25 mm) insulating glass unit with a ¼ in. (6 mm) Green heat-strengthened outboard lite, with a (insert Company Name & coating designation) low-emissivity coating #2 surface, ½ in. (12 mm) (insert type and color) spacer, (insert type) primary seal, (insert type) secondary seal and a ¼ mm (6 mm) Clear annealed inboard lite.
NOTE: For insulating glass units containing more than air, simply insert the type of gas after the words "spacer gap containing…" following the dimension. For example, "…1/2 in. (12 mm) spacer gap containing argon…"
GANA ID 01-1107
8 Coated Insulating Glass Unit
1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4
¼ in. (6 mm) Green Heat-Strengthened
Outboard Lite
¼ in. (6 mm) Green Heat-Strengthened
Outboard Lite
¼ in. (6 mm) Clear Heat-Strengthened
Inboard Lite with Low-emissivity Coating #3 Surface
¼ in. (6 mm) Clear Heat-Strengthened
Inboard Lite with Low-emissivity Coating #3
Surface
½ in. (12 mm) Spacer & Sealant System Surfaces
Example 2 – Insulating Unit with Coating on the #3 surface: 1 in. (25 mm) insulating glass unit with a ¼ in. (6 mm) Green heat-strengthened outboard lite, ½ in. (12 mm) (insert type and color) spacer, (insert type) primary seal, (insert type) secondary seal, and a ¼ in. (6 mm) Clear heat-strengthened inboard lite with (insert Company Name & coating designation) low-emissivity coating #3 surface.
GANA ID 01-1107
9 Coated Insulating Glass Unit
1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4
¼ in. (6 mm) Green Heat-Strengthened
Outboard Lite with Solar-Control Coating #2
Surface
¼ in. (6 mm) Green Heat-Strengthened
Outboard Lite with Solar-Control Coating #2
Surface
¼ in. (6 mm) Clear Heat-Strengthened
Inboard Lite with Low-emissivity Coating #3
Surface
¼ in. (6 mm) Clear Heat-Strengthened
Inboard Lite with Low-emissivity Coating #3
Surface
½ in. (12 mm) Spacer & Sealant System
Surfaces
Example 3 – Insulating Unit with Coating on the #2 and #3 surfaces: 1 in. (25 mm) insulating glass unit with a ¼ in. (6 mm) Green heat-strengthened outboard lite, with (insert Company Name & coating designation) solar-control coating #2 surface, ½ in. (12 mm) (insert type and color) spacer, (insert type) primary seal, (insert type) secondary seal, and a ¼ in. (6 mm) Clear heat-strengthened inboard lite with (insert Company Name & coating designation) low-emissivity coating #3 surface.
GANA ID 01-1107
10 Coated Insulating Glass Unit with Laminated Lite
1. Overall insulating glass unit thickness in inches and/or millimeters
2 Outboard (exterior) lite thickness in inches and/or millimeters
3. Outboard lite substrate color (Clear, Green, Gray, Bronze, Blue, etc.)
4. Outboard lite strength (annealed, heat-strengthened or fully tempered)
5. Manufacturers name, coating designation & type (low-emissivity, solar-control or other) coating and coated surface i.e. #2 surface (counting from the outside in)
6. Spacer width in inches and/or millimeters and spacer material color/finish/description
7. Type of primary seal (polyisobutylene, etc.)
8. Type of secondary seal (silicone, polysulfide, polyurethane, etc.)
9. Inboard (interior) laminated lite overall thickness and make-up
10. Outer lite thickness and substrate color (Clear, Green, Gray, Bronze, Blue, etc.)
11. Outer lite glass strength (annealed, heat-strengthened or fully tempered)
12. Interlayer thickness, type and color
13. Inner lite thickness and substrate color (Clear, Green, Gray, Bronze, Blue, etc.)
14. Inner lite glass strength (annealed, heat-strengthened or fully tempered)
1 1 2 2 3 4 5 6
½ in. (12 mm) Spacer & Sealant System ½ in. (12 mm) Spacer & Sealant System
5/16 in. (8 mm) Clear Laminated Inboard Lite
1/8 in. (3 mm) Clear Annealed Outer Lite –
0.060 in. (1.52 mm) Interlayer – 1/8 in. (3
mm) Clear Annealed Inner Lite
5/16 in. (8 mm) Clear Laminated Inboard Lite
1/8 in. (3 mm) Clear Annealed Outer Lite –
0.060 in. (1.52 mm) Interlayer – 1/8 in. (3
mm) Clear Annealed Inner Lite
¼ in. (6 mm) Green Heat-Strengthened
Outboard Lite with Low-emissivity Coating #2
Surface
¼ in. (6 mm) Green Heat-Strengthened
Outboard Lite with Low-emissivity Coating #2
Surface
Surfaces
Example – Insulating Unit with Coating on the #2 surface: 1-1/16 in. (27 mm) insulating glass unit with a ¼ in. (6 mm) Green heat-strengthened outboard lite, with (insert Company Name & coating designation) low-emissivity coating #2 surface, ½ in. (12 mm) (insert type and color) spacer, (insert type) primary seal, (insert type) secondary seal, and a 5/16 in. (8 mm) laminated inboard lite with 1/8 in. (3 mm) Clear annealed outer lite, .060 in. (1.52 mm) (insert type) interlayer, and 1/8 in. (3 mm) annealed inner lite.
NOTE: Product applications may also require laminated glass constructions for the outboard lite or both the outboard and inboard lites. The same detailed description process would apply.
GANA ID 01-1107
11
GANA ID 01-1107
12
Consult Your Glass Manufacturer / Fabricator
Many factors can affect the specific details of a glass construction for a particular application. Design and application factors that affect architectural glass construction requirements include but are not limited to:
- Safety glazing requirements
- Protective glazing requirements
- Thermal performance requirements (U-factor, Solar Heat Gain & Condensation Resistance)
- Building code requirements
- Thermal stresses
- Project design loads (wind, snow)
- Framing edge support
- Structural silicone glazing systems
- Material compatibility
- Coating edge deletion
- Spandrel glass viewing conditions
Since it is not the intent to address all design considerations or product assemblies in this informational bulletin, design professionals and specifiers should consult with glass manufacturer/fabricator regarding intended applications and requirements before completing project specifications. Additional information regarding architectural flat glass substrates is provided in the International Glazing Database maintained by the Windows and Daylighting Group at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (http://windows.lbl.gov).
For information on additional reference resources including the GANA Glazing Manual, Laminated Glazing Reference Manual and other Glass Informational Bulletins visit GANA
website: www.glasswebsite.com.
The Glass Association of North America (GANA) has produced this Glass Informational Bulletin solely to provide general information as to the recommended way to describe the components of architectural glass constructions. The Bulletin does not purport to state that any one particular type of glass construction process or procedure should be used in all applications or even in any specific application. The user of this Bulletin has the responsibility to ensure that architectural glass constructions meet building code and other specific project requirements, GANA disclaims any responsibility for any specific results related to the use of this Bulletin, for any errors or omissions contained in the Bulletin, and for any liability for loss or damage of any kind arising out of the use of this Bulletin.
This bulletin was developed and approved by the GANA Insulating Division – Technical Committee and approved by theInsulating Division membership and GANA Board of Directors. This is the original version of the document as approved and published in November 2007.
