Identified by BS 6262 part 4 and defined as glazed sections of a door, wall or other part of a building most likely to be subject to accidental human impact.

Glass which must have passed an impact test (BS 6206: 1981) and either must not break or must break safely.

Enamelling the surface of a sheet of glass, either partially or completely, by means of a silk-screen and thermal toughening. See SGG SERALIT EVOLUTION.

Glass with a photocatalytic and hydrophilic coating. The coating harnesses the dual-action of UV light and rain (or water) to break down organic dirt and reduce the adherence of mineral material. The glass stays cleaner for longer and is easier to clean.
See SGG BIOCLEAN.

See Location blocks.

The solar factor (total transmittance) of a glass relative to that of 3mm clear float glass (0.87) and is used as a performance comparison. The lower the shading coefficient number, the lower the amount of solar heat transmitted. The short wave shading coefficient is the direct transmittance (T) of the glass as a factor of the solar factor or total transmittance (g or TT) of 3mm clear float glass.

See "Shading coefficient".

The perimeter of the opening that admits daylight.

The actual size of the opening that admits daylight.

Where the edges of double-glazed units are unframed and exposed to direct sunlight, they are sealed with silicone for UV resistance.

A process used in the manufacture of mirrors, whereby a silver coating is applied to one surface of the glass. See SGG MIRALITE EVOLUTION.

An imposed load exerted onto a structure or element of a structure by formation of snow.

Coated glass to reflect and/or absorb solar energy to prevent excessive heat gain. See SGG COOL-LITE.

The percentage of total solar radiant heat energy transmitted through glazing (the sum of energy transmitted directly and energy absorbed and re-emitted to the interior). 

Solar radiant heat, transmitted or reemitted by glazing into a building, contributing to the build-up of heat.

A laboratory measure of the sound insulating properties of a material or building element in a stated frequency band.

Generally an aluminium bar along all edges of a double-glazed unit, filled with desiccant, which separates the two panes of glass and creates a cavity.

Small fragments of glass that are ejected from the surface of a laminated glass sheet when the opposite surface is impacted.

Glass cladding panels used in non vision areas of a façade, commonly in curtain walling. They generally comprise an enamelled or opacified glass to conceal building structure elements such as the edge of floor slabs.

The collective term for the transmittance, absorptance and reflectance properties of glass of solar radiant heat and light energy.

An advanced metallic coating is applied to the glass "off-line" or after the float glass manufacturing process, by a technique called magnetically enhanced cathodic sputtering under vacuum conditions.

Reference for standard stock sizes of glass.

The edges of the double-glazed unit are not flush. One pane is larger and overlaps the other, to enable their use in roof glazing for example.

Manufactured glass products are available in standard sheet sizes: jumbos (PLF), lehr end sizes (LES) and standard stock sizes (SSS).

Glass acting as a structural support to other parts of the building structure, for example glass fins. It can also refer to glass that is fixed by means of bolted connectors where the glass is not acting as a structural element.

An external glazing system where the glass is bonded to a carrier frame without mechanical retention.