A Quick Guide to Common Types of Commercial Glass

Glasscadia
Jul 28
4 min read

Commercial glass isn’t one material doing one job. A single business might use half a dozen different types of glass throughout their space: thicker, insulated glass for their storefront; thinner panes for interior partitions; glass for display cases; and safety glass for secure areas, just to name a few.

Whether you’re renovating your space or building a brand new one, it’s important to understand the different kinds of glass and the terms used to describe them so that you can make informed choices and ask the right kinds of questions when planning out your next project.

Tempered Glass

If you need a glass that’s relatively safe if broken, tempered glass ought to be your first choice. While tempered glass is treated to be significantly stronger than standard glass, when it does break, it fractures into small, dull pieces instead of large, dangerous shards.

Because of these properties, safety glass is often required by code in many commercial applications near walkways and entrances. Some examples include storefront doors, glass partitions at eye level, and standard display cases.

Laminated Glass

Laminated glass is another type of safety glass that is made from two glass panes with a plastic interlayer bonded in between. While laminated glass doesn’t break as cleanly or dull as tempered glass might, the plastic holds the shards together, creating cracks that look like webs that flare out from where the break began. As long as that plastic layer remains intact, the broken glass remains, more or less, in one piece.

As such, laminated glass is often a strong choice for storefronts in high-traffic or security-conscious locations, as well as with skylights and glass railings (as a side note, it’s also the kind of glass windshields are made from). As a bonus, the interlayer can also dampen sound and insulate from UV rays, making it a popular choice for spaces near busy streets, noisy foot traffic, and a lot of sunlight.

Insulated Glass Units (IGUs)

IGUs use two or more panes of glass with a sealed, gas-filled gap between them to manage interior and exterior temperature differences. This is the standard choice for exterior storefront windows, especially paired with modern low-E coatings and made with one of the two kinds of glass above, depending on safety and security needs.

If your business is dealing with high heating or cooling costs, checking the seals around your windows and doors as well as considering upgrading your IGUs is often where that problem gets solved.

Single-Pane Glass

To contrast with IGUs, single-pane glass is exactly what it sounds like: a glass application that uses only one pane, making it useful for interior applications where there’s no internal/external temperature changes to manage. This glass is often used as office partitions, display cases, and room dividers.

Since you’re working with a single pane, it’s often lighter, faster to install, and meaningfully cheaper than an IGU for jobs where an IGU’s insulation isn’t necessary.

Low-E, Tinted, and Reflective Glass

Low-E (also known as low-emissivity) coatings as well as tinted or reflective finishes help manage glare and heat on exterior-facing glass. Combined, these properties help with temperature comfort, managing brightness, and keeping your energy costs down.

Tinted and reflective glass can also be used when planning out your storefront’s branding and curb appeal. This kind of glass can have tones such as grays, bronzes, and blues that can contrast or match nicely with your storefront’s paint and trim, adding to a sleek, modern look that also enjoys the benefits of energy efficiency.

Decorative, Frosted, and Textured Glass

On the interior side, frosted and textured glass are common choices when you need privacy in spaces like offices and conference rooms without sacrificing light being able to pass through. These finishes can also make use of etched or applied branding elements, allowing you to reinforce your business’s identity without relying on paint or other kinds of signage.

While it’s impossible to combine the properties of this kind of glass with tinted and reflective glass in a single pane (what makes glass physically frosted makes it impossible to be reflective and vice versa), it is possible to layer glass of one type with a film of another, for instance, tinted glass with a frosted film that’s applied to the interior side.

How to Choose the Right Commercial Glass for Your Space

While the examples above only scratch the surface, the following factors are worth your consideration:

Will this glass be used for the interior or exterior? Exterior applications almost always call for an IGU as well as being tempered or laminated. Interior applications have a bit more flexibility, depending on if they’re simply decorative or used to keep an area safe in case of any potential accidents.
What are the safety or building code requirements? Glass near walkways, entrances, or at certain heights often have tempered or laminated property requirements, regardless of preference. Be sure to check your state and municipal codes to the most up-to-date details regarding this.
What are your energy performance needs? If temperature control and utility costs are a factor, exterior IGUs with low-E coatings are an investment worth having to keep your space comfortable and cost-effective.
What’s your budget and timeline? Single-pane and standard tempered glass are generally faster and cheaper than specialty or insulated options. However, depending on safety and code requirements, single-pane options might not be available so plan accordingly.
What are your aesthetic or branding goals? Tinted, reflective, frosted, or decorative finishes can reinforce brand recognition and give your business the look you’re wanting without the need of a full renovation or expensive signage.