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10 Types of Glass for Construction

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Like most building materials, glass comes in several varieties and styles. There are types of glass made for security, aesthetics, privacy, and insulation purposes, and they all differ a bit. Changes in their manufacturing processes can result in increased strength, color changes, and even safer ways of breaking. And each of these types of glass has at least one unique practical use.

This guide on the different types of glass will explain the attributes of glass, as well as the most common glass types, are made along with their common uses.

Three properties of glass

The different varieties of glass all have their own attributes and uses. However, there are essentially three properties of glass that are most important in determining their uses.

• Strength: Whether it’s impact resistance or weight-bearing, the strength of the glass goes a long way toward determining its practical uses. Thick glass that resists impacts is a good choice for storefront glass, display cases, or tall windows. Glass with high weight-bearing capacities can be used for aquariums, suspended walkways, and other uses. Thinner, weaker glass can be used for laminating with other panes to save money. 
• Transparency: A sheet of glass’s transparency may also determine its best use. Clear glass can be a good choice for windows, doors, or glass cases. Glass obscured with frost, structural irregularities, window film, and tinted hues may be helpful for privacy situations like shower glass and neighbor-facing windows. Tinted glass can also prevent the free passage of the sun’s UV rays.
• U Value: U Value explains how well a sheet of glass will prevent heated or cooled air from passing through. While the specific uses of low U Value glass are limited, high U Value is most helpful for use in windows and doors.

8 Types of Glass

As a material, glass varieties abound. For example, glass panels used for vehicle windows are different from the glass used in hospital room doors. Despite the wide range of glass types, there are some basic types that are more common than others. The following will explain the most common types and their uses.

1. Float Glass

Float glass is a type of glass panel made from floating molten glass over a bed of molten tin. The tin is a flat surface that is denser than the glass, providing a perfectly flat glass surface. As the glass cools, it hardens and is cut to shape.

At its most basic level, float glass is a popular choice for window glass. However, it’s also the base form of glass that manufacturers modify to make other types of glass, so it’s always in high demand. 

2. Annealed Glass

Annealed glass is essentially float glass that has gone through the annealing process. This process involves slowly cooling float glass with blasts of cold air on one side. This prevents imperfections and internal stresses, allowing for extremely clear glass. It’s ideal for cutting and shaping.

Like float glass, annealed glass is used for glass windows. It can also be used to form other types of glass, such as laminated or tempered glass.

5. Tempered Glass

Tempered glass, also known as toughened glass, is designed to be strong and also break into smaller, safer pieces than float or annealed glass. Manufacturers start with a basic float or annealed glass, heat it to roughly 1200 degrees Fahrenheit, and then cool the surface quickly while allowing the interior of the pane to cool slowly. This creates internal tension and external compression, improving the sheet’s strength up to four times. 

This heating and cooling process changes the way the glass break. When a pane of toughened glass breaks, it shatters into small pieces, creating much safer conditions than float or annealed glass’s large, sharp shards. However, it cannot be cut or drilled after cooling so the manufacturing process is more complicated than float glass.

Tempered glass is a popular choice for mobile devices, automobile windows, shower doors, and large windows in tall buildings. Not only do these applications require strength, but should they break, the small pieces are much safer for vehicle occupants, pedestrians below, or folks in the bathroom. 

6. Laminated Glass

Laminated glass is a type of glass made from two or more sheets of annealed glass with a thin layer of translucent material between them. This translucent layer, typically made from polyvinyl butyral, holds the glass in place should the panes break. The double layers and the film also make these panels much stronger and less likely to break. For this reason, laminated glass is also commonly known as safety glass. 

Laminated glass is the most common type of glass found in doors, windows near walkways, or windows that need additional security. Generally, glass panes that are more than 9 square feet in total area, or windows frequently exposed to tornadoes or hurricanes are typically made from laminated glass as well.

7. Heat-Strengthened Glass

Heat-strengthened glass is similar to tempered glass, with a heating and cooling process used to increase the glass’s strength. However, heat-strengthened glass is cooled more slowly, reducing the amount of tension within the glass. This makes the glass up to twice as strong as float or annealed glass but it maintains a similar break pattern, meaning they break into larger shards of glass that typically stay in the frame. Heat-strengthened glass is popular in high-temperature environments where thermal stresses may affect float or annealed glass. 

Like most building materials, glass comes in several varieties and styles. There are types of glass made for security, aesthetics, privacy, and insulation purposes, and they all differ a bit. Changes in their manufacturing processes can result in increased strength, color changes, and even safer ways of breaking. And each of these types of glass has at least one unique practical use.

This guide on the different types of glass will explain the attributes of glass, as well as the most common glass types, are made along with their common uses.

Three properties of glass

The different varieties of glass all have their own attributes and uses. However, there are essentially three properties of glass that are most important in determining their uses.

• Strength: Whether it’s impact resistance or weight-bearing, the strength of the glass goes a long way toward determining its practical uses. Thick glass that resists impacts is a good choice for storefront glass, display cases, or tall windows. Glass with high weight-bearing capacities can be used for aquariums, suspended walkways, and other uses. Thinner, weaker glass can be used for laminating with other panes to save money. 
• Transparency: A sheet of glass’s transparency may also determine its best use. Clear glass can be a good choice for windows, doors, or glass cases. Glass obscured with frost, structural irregularities, window film, and tinted hues may be helpful for privacy situations like shower glass and neighbor-facing windows. Tinted glass can also prevent the free passage of the sun’s UV rays.
• U Value: U Value explains how well a sheet of glass will prevent heated or cooled air from passing through. While the specific uses of low U Value glass are limited, high U Value is most helpful for use in windows and doors.

8 Types of Glass

As a material, glass varieties abound. For example, glass panels used for vehicle windows are different from the glass used in hospital room doors. Despite the wide range of glass types, there are some basic types that are more common than others. The following will explain the most common types and their uses.

1. Float Glass

Float glass is a type of glass panel made from floating molten glass over a bed of molten tin. The tin is a flat surface that is denser than the glass, providing a perfectly flat glass surface. As the glass cools, it hardens and is cut to shape.

At its most basic level, float glass is a popular choice for window glass. However, it’s also the base form of glass that manufacturers modify to make other types of glass, so it’s always in high demand. 

2. Annealed Glass

Annealed glass is essentially float glass that has gone through the annealing process. This process involves slowly cooling float glass with blasts of cold air on one side. This prevents imperfections and internal stresses, allowing for extremely clear glass. It’s ideal for cutting and shaping.

Like float glass, annealed glass is used for glass windows. It can also be used to form other types of glass, such as laminated or tempered glass.

5. Tempered Glass

Tempered glass, also known as toughened glass, is designed to be strong and also break into smaller, safer pieces than float or annealed glass. Manufacturers start with a basic float or annealed glass, heat it to roughly 1200 degrees Fahrenheit, and then cool the surface quickly while allowing the interior of the pane to cool slowly. This creates internal tension and external compression, improving the sheet’s strength up to four times. 

This heating and cooling process changes the way the glass break. When a pane of toughened glass breaks, it shatters into small pieces, creating much safer conditions than float or annealed glass’s large, sharp shards. However, it cannot be cut or drilled after cooling so the manufacturing process is more complicated than float glass.

Tempered glass is a popular choice for mobile devices, automobile windows, shower doors, and large windows in tall buildings. Not only do these applications require strength, but should they break, the small pieces are much safer for vehicle occupants, pedestrians below, or folks in the bathroom. 

6. Laminated Glass

Laminated glass is a type of glass made from two or more sheets of annealed glass with a thin layer of translucent material between them. This translucent layer, typically made from polyvinyl butyral, holds the glass in place should the panes break. The double layers and the film also make these panels much stronger and less likely to break. For this reason, laminated glass is also commonly known as safety glass. 

Laminated glass is the most common type of glass found in doors, windows near walkways, or windows that need additional security. Generally, glass panes that are more than 9 square feet in total area, or windows frequently exposed to tornadoes or hurricanes are typically made from laminated glass as well.

7. Heat-Strengthened Glass

Heat-strengthened glass is similar to tempered glass, with a heating and cooling process used to increase the glass’s strength. However, heat-strengthened glass is cooled more slowly, reducing the amount of tension within the glass. This makes the glass up to twice as strong as float or annealed glass but it maintains a similar break pattern, meaning they break into larger shards of glass that typically stay in the frame. Heat-strengthened glass is popular in high-temperature environments where thermal stresses may affect float or annealed glass. 

8. Wired Glass

Wired glass is an older type of glass used to promote safety in schools, hospitals, and other commercial environments. The metal mesh, or wires, inside the glass prevent the pane from breaking and falling, keeping most of the glass in the frame and maintaining the door’s fire resistance. Should the glass be exposed to high temperatures during a fire, wired glass holds the shards in the frame to prevent the fire from spreading as quickly.

The most common uses for wired glass include school and hospital doors and windows, specifically for use in fire doors. 

9. Insulated Glass

Insulated glass is a type of glass that inhibits the transfer of heat through a window or door. Rather than the glass itself being insulated, it’s actually a system of two or more panes of glass, a spacer between them, an inert gas between the panes, and a frame to hold it all together. The space between the two panes of glass prevents heat from traveling along a thermal bridge, trapping it on one side of the glass. On hot days, it keeps the heat outside. On cold days, it keeps the heat inside.

Insulated glass is commonly used in windows or doors, or any opening where heat loss is a probable and undesirable outcome. Typically, these windows use annealed or laminated glass panes. 

10. Mirrored Glass

Mirrored glass is a type of coated glass used to reflect images and light. It starts as sheets of float glass, but the manufacturer coats one side with a metal material. The float glass is perfectly clear, while the metal (typically silver or aluminum) film reflects the image back to the person. To adhere the metal to the glass, the manufacturer boils the metal of choice and places the sheet of float glass on top. As the metal atoms cool, they adhere to the sheet of glass, providing a permanent bond.

The most common use for mirrored glass is aesthetics, such as hanging a mirror in a bathroom for shaving or make-up. Also, wall-mounted mirrors, as well as those in motor vehicles, all utilize this type of glass. 

Final Thoughts

Those are just a few of the most popular types of glass on the market (there are even more). However, the types discussed cover the most common uses of manufactured glass. Each type of glass has its own strengths and weaknesses, making them each ideal for certain situations. Whether it’s to maintain comfortable temperatures in living spaces or to resist tornadoes and hurricanes, there’s a specific type of glass for the job. 

MT Copeland offers video-based online classes that give you a foundation in construction fundamentals with real-world applications. Classes include professionally produced videos taught by practicing craftspeople, and supplementary downloads like quizzes, blueprints, and other materials to help you master the skills.

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Introduction

It is important to understand the types of glass for structural applications that improve the appearance of buildings and reduce construction costs. Glass has become an important technical material in building construction, including windowpanes, wall and ceiling glazing, flooring, roof lighting, and decorative purposes. Glass is a supercooled liquid, not a true solid. It is amorphous and transparent or translucent. It’s not a single connection. The basic raw material for producing high quality glass is silicic acid, which naturally occurs as SiO2 (quartz). It is made by fusing a mixture of several basic oxides of silicon dioxide, silicon, boron, or phosphorus with soda ash, potash, lime, or magnesia, along with waste glass called cullet.

Glass

Glass is usually a transparent or translucent material that has no crystalline structure, yet behaves like a solid. Common glass is generally made of a silicate (such as silicon oxide, or quartz) combined with other substances and melting the minerals at temperatures around 1700 degrees Celsius. Other materials that can be added to produce different colours or properties include minerals like cobalt or sulphur, etc.

Silica is the main constituent of glass. But it is to be added with sodium potassium carbonate to bring down melting point. To make it durable lime or lead oxide is also added. Manganese oxide is added to nullify the adverse effects of unwanted iron present in the impure silica. The raw materials are ground and sieved. They are mixed in specific proportion and melted in furnace. Then glass items are manufactured by blowing, flat drawing, rolling and pressing.

Important Properties of Glass

The property of glass is that it can absorbs, refracts or transmits light. It can be made transparent or translucent.

1. It absorbs, refracts or transmits light. It can be made transparent or translucent.
2. It can take excellent polish.
3. It is an excellent electrical insulator.
4. It is strong and brittle.
5. It can be blown, drawn or pressed.
6. It is not affected by atmosphere.
7. It has excellent resistance to chemicals.
8. It is available in various beautiful colours.
9. With the advancement in technology, it is possible to make glass lighter than cork or stronger than steel.
10. Glass panes can be cleaned easily.

Types of Glass

The glass may be broadly classified as:

1. Soda-lime glass
2. Potash lime glass
3. Potash lead glass
4. Borosilicate glass
5. Common glass and
6. Special glasses

Soda Lime Glass:

Soda lime glass is a common and cheapest of all glass types. It is prepared by mixing of sodium silicate and calcium silicate at a very low temperature. It is also referred as soft glass. In the fusion condition it can be blown or welded easily. It is colourless. The major disadvantage of using these types of glass is that it is brittle & breaks easily. It cracks when subjected to sudden changes of temperature.

Soda glass is used for the manufacture of window glass, mirrors, common glassware and for the laboratory tubes and apparatus. It is easily attacked by chemicals.

Fig-1: Soda-Lime glass for Window and mirror

Potash Lime Glass:

It is obtained by fusing potassium carbonate (potassium silicate) & limestone (calcium silicate). It is also known as hard glass. It fuses at high temperature. It is used in the manufacture of glass articles which have to withstand high temperatures. It is more resistant to the action of acids.

Potash Lead Glass:

It is mainly a mixture of potassium silicate and lead silicate. It possesses bright lustre and great refractive power. It is used in the manufacture of artificial gems, electric bulbs, lenses, prisms etc.

Fig-2: Potash Lead Glass

Borosilicate Glass

Borosilicate glass is also known as Pyrex glass. It is obtained from the fusion of silica, borax, lime and feldspar. Borosilicate glass contains 70-80% silicon dioxide, 7-13% boron oxide, and small amounts of potassium oxide and aluminum oxide. With the addition of boron, borosilicate glass exhibits excellent resistance to thermal and electrical shocks. They can withstand a temperature difference of 165 ° C without breaking. Unlike soda glass, borosilicate glass has a low coefficient of thermal expansion and can withstand thermal stress. Borosilicate glass is more durable and scratch resistant than soda lime glass. It also has excellent chemical resistance.

Borosilicate glass has wide range of application from making laboratory equipment to cookware, scientific lenses for microscopes, and telescopes. Some of application of borosilicate glass is shown in the figure 4.

Fig-3: Multiple application of Borosilicate Glass

Common Glass:

In the field of engineering, common glass is a mixture of sodium silicate, calcium silicate and iron silicate. It is brown, green or yellow in colour. It is mainly used in the manufacture of medicine bottles.

Sl.No.Types of GlassRaw Materials1.Soda-Lime GlassChalk, Soda ash, and Clean Sand2.Potash Lime GlassChalk, Potassium carbonate (K2 CO3), and Clean Sand3.Potash-Lead GlassLitharge or Lead Sesquioxide (Pb3O4), and Pure Sand4.Common GlassChalk, Salt cake (Na2SO4), Coke, and Ordinary SandTable: 1. Raw Materials for Making Glass

Special Glasses:

Properties of glasses can be suitably altered by changing basic ingredients and adding few more ingredients. It has now emerged as versatile material to meet many special requirement in engineering. The following is the list of some of the special glass:

• Fiberglass
• Foam glass
• Bullet proof glass
• Structural glass
• Glass black
• Wired glass
• Perforated glass.

Fiberglass

Fiberglass constitutes of very thin fibers of glasses possessing high tensile strength. The thinner the fiber, the higher the strength. It is soft to touch and does not absorb water. It is also fireproof, vermin proof, and resistance to acid. Glass fibers have become an important building material for plastic resins and even concrete.

Glass reinforcement plastic is commonly known as fiberglass. It is used in manufacturing shockproof helmets, car bodies, boats, thermal insulators, etc.

Glass Blocks

These are manufactured from pressed glass by fusing two or more sheets in such a way that a partial vacuum is created inside the blocks. Subsequently, these blocks are annealed to induce structural properties. The edges are coated with a grit-bearing plastic material so as to ensure effective bonding with mortar. There blocks are used in masonry construction for permitting transmission of light without being transparent.

The glass blocks are usually available in sizes of 15 cm X 15 cm, 20 cm X 20 cm, and 30 cm X 30 cm, having a thickness of about 10 cm. These blocks are not made to carry superimposed load but posses strength to bear their own weight up to a maximum height of 6 m. They are also capable of resisting the effect of lateral wind pressure. These blocks provide good insulation against cold, heat, and noise.

Fig-4: Glass block of various sizes/ Picture courtesy: IndiaMart

Structure Glass

These glasses are in the form of glasscrete or ferrogless which are set in cement concrete and reinforced with steel frames. These bricks can be used as light structure members. They are extensively used for pavement lights, partitions walls, stairs, lantern lights, etc.

Wired glass

These are ordinary plate glasses of 5 mm to 6 mm thickness in which wire netting is embedded. The mesh may be hexagonal or square. If the glass breaks, the glass pieces are held in position. Steel wires being a good conductor of heat, these glasses are more resistant to heat.

These are used for roofs, sky-lights, fire-resisting doors, and windows, etc.

Fig-5: Wired Glass

Bulletproof Glass

These varieties of laminated glass are made by pressing together several layers of glass and vinyl-resin plastic in alternate manner. The outer layers of plate glass are thinner than the inner layers. During manufacture, special care is taken for heating and cooling of layers. The thickness of such glass varied from 20 mm to 75 mm or more. These are useful in vehicles and other automobiles for security considerations.

Summery

It is important to understand the types of glass for structural applications that improve the appearance of buildings and reduce construction costs. Glass has become an important technical material in building construction, including windowpanes, wall and ceiling glazing, flooring, roof lighting, and decorative purposes.
.

References: –

• S.S. Bhavikatti (2010), Basic Civil Engineering, New Age International (P) Limited,
• G. C. Sahu & Joygopal Jena (2015), Building Materials and Construction, McGrew Hill Education (India) Private Limited
• Types of Glass. In Believers in Glass. httpshttps://www.believersinglass.com/TypeOfGlass.php
• Glass. (2022, September 16). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass