Types of Glasses

Glass is extensively used in building construction such as in doors and windows for architectural features and interior decorations. It is used as a physical barrier between exterior and interior without obstructing visibility. Foamed or cellular glass is used for vapor proof insulation and span form glass fibers are used as acoustic and thermal insulation. This article gives you valuable info on specification of glass, thickness of glass according to sizes, types of glasses according to quality and visibility.      

Specification of Glass

Glass should be free from specks, bubbles, distortions and flaws of every kind and be properly cut to fit rebates so that there is a uniform space of 1.6 mm around glass panes between the edge of glass and rebates.

Thickness of Glass

S. No	Area of Glass Panes	Thickness of Glass Panes  mm	Weight Kg./Sq. m.
1.	1 Sq. feet (9 Sq. Decimeter)	2	5.49
2.	Exceeding 1Sq. feet up to 4 Sq. feet (37 Sq. decimeter)	2.5	6.40
3.	Exceeding 4 Sq. feet up to 6 Sq. feet (55 Sq. decimeter)	3	7.5
4.	Exceeding 6 Sq. feet up to 9 sq. feet (84 Sq. decimeter)	4	10
5.	Exceeding 9 Sq. feet (84 Sq. Decimeter)	Plate Glass	13.5
6.	Door shutters	Toughened glass 12	-------

Quality and Use of Glass

Sheet Glass

It is available in thickness from 2 mm to 6 mm. It is used in mirrors, glazing of windows, framing purposes, strips for flooring and green house glazing etc. The sheet glass is not considered good for aesthetic quality.

Float Glass

The glass is available in thickness ranging from 2mm to 12 mm and is free from bubbles, knots and scratches etc. It is either clear or tinted and comes in large sizes and thickness. The glass is of uniform thickness without any waves or distortions having excellent optical clarity and aesthetic quality. It is used in door window pans and glazing.

Tinted Glass

It is heat absorbing glass, which can reduce heat load by 12% and results in energy saving in a building. The tinted glass absorbs 30 to 40 % of solar radiation while clear float glass absorbs 15%. It reduces the quantity of heat flowing into the building and results into energy saving.

Tinted glass is available in bronze, dark grey and auto green shades. The glass is used in door and window pans and is glazed to save energy. It is utilized in important and air conditioned buildings.

Figured Glass

Figured and rolled glass is engraved with artistic patterns on one side of the glass and is produced by roll out methods. It allows light to pass through but blocks visibility and add a decorative touch. These are widely used for houses, general buildings, furniture and interior decoration.

Wired Glass

It has excellent fire resistant ability. The wire mess used in wired glass is made of steel wires 0.46 to 0.56 mm in diameter. The wire mess holds broken glass pieces from fall.  It is used in openings susceptible to fire spreading.

Heat Reflective Glass

The glass is manufactured by coating clear glass or tinted glass with a metal oxide film which enables glass to reflect light and retains its transparent nature as well i.e. one can see through the glass. The glass is used in outer walls, door and window panes and glazing to saves energy.  It is utilized in air conditioned buildings.

Processed Glass

Processed glass is available as toughened or tempered glass, laminated safety glass or double glazed insulated units in market. All three types of processed glass are custom made and can not be cut or altered after production. It is used in walls, shops, sky scrapers to resist wind pressure.

Toughened or Tempered Glass

Toughened glass is made by heating float glass and has three times more resistance to wind pressure than ordinary float glass has. These glasses are widely used as wind screens, windows of automobiles, commercial buildings, curtain walls, shops doors etc. Tempered glasses are used in frameless doors such as entrance door of hotels, show rooms and offices etc.

Laminate Safety Glass

This glass is made by sandwiching an inter layer of tough elastic film between two sheets of glass and bonding them together using heat and pressure. These glasses are commonly used as wind screen in automobiles, railway coaches, in multi storey buildings where safety is prerequisite, aquariums, built proof glass etc.

Double Glazed Insulated Glass

This glass enhances aesthetic appearance of building. It is used in curtain walls of double glazed insulated glass units having tinted or heat reflective glass and these are quite common in modern sky scrapers. It reduces overall dead weight of building, allows faster construction and requires less maintenance. Tinted float glass has low visibility.    

Visibility of Glass

Transparent Glass

It is available in different thicknesses and properties. The thickness is available in 3 mm, 4 mm, 6 mm, and 10 mm. According to the nature of glass, it is available in toughened glass, laminated and solar reflective glass.

Translucent Glass

It allows the light but gives limited vision.

Opaque Glass

This glass does not let the light through but can be used as a hard decorative surface, resistant to scuffing and scratching. It also gives a high glass uniform finish.