Choosing commercial glass is a lot like choosing the right tool for a job: the type you pick shapes the safety, comfort, energy use and look of a space. The choice is rarely about a single “best” glass, but about matching the right product to the job in front of you. This guide runs through the main types of glass used in commercial buildings, where each one fits, the safety and security grades worth knowing, the energy side, and how to keep glass in good shape. You can see the full range on our commercial glass services page, and the sections below explain what sits behind those options.
The main types of commercial glass
Most commercial work draws on a handful of glass types, each with its own properties:
| Type of glass | Typical uses |
|---|---|
| Soda-lime | Standard windows, bottles and jars. The everyday workhorse. |
| Borosilicate | Laboratory glassware and cookware, where thermal shock resistance matters. |
| Tempered | Shower doors, glass doors, tabletops and any spot needing safety glass. |
| Laminated | Skylights, storefronts and vehicle glass, where it must hold together and add security. |
| Low-iron | High-clarity facades and display cases where colour-true transparency is the point. |
Soda-lime glass
Soda-lime is the most common glass, made from silica, sodium oxide and calcium oxide. It is economical, easy to manufacture and shapes readily, which is why it turns up in everything from windows to bottles and jars. It offers reasonable strength and chemical resistance for general use, and you can read the technical background on soda-lime glass if you want the chemistry. For most plain glazing, this is the starting point.
Borosilicate glass
Borosilicate glass, made with silica and boron trioxide, resists thermal shock and chemical corrosion far better than ordinary glass, so it copes with sudden temperature changes that would crack a standard pane. That is why it shows up in laboratory glassware and cookware. It is less common in everyday building work but worth knowing as the go-to where heat and chemicals are in play.
Tempered glass
Tempered glass is heat-treated, heated and then cooled quickly, which makes it several times stronger than ordinary glass and changes how it breaks. Instead of long sharp shards, it crumbles into small, relatively blunt pieces, which is why it counts as safety glazing and is used for shower doors, entrance doors and tabletops. It comes in a range of thicknesses to suit different settings, in both commercial and residential work.
Laminated glass
Laminated glass bonds two or more panes around a plastic interlayer, usually polyvinyl butyral (PVB). The interlayer holds the glass together when it breaks, which gives it three useful qualities at once: safety, sound reduction and security, since it resists being broken through cleanly. That makes it a common pick for skylights, storefronts and vehicle glass, and we cover it in depth in our guide to laminated glass windows for anyone who wants the detail.
Low-iron glass
Low-iron glass has less iron in the mix, which removes the faint green tint you see in the edge of ordinary glass and lets more light through. The result is a clearer, more colour-true pane, favoured for high-end facades, display cases and anywhere transparency is the design goal. It costs more than standard glass, so it is usually reserved for the places people look closely.
Commercial glass in architecture
In buildings, glass does practical and visual work at the same time. Facades use large, clear surfaces to pull daylight inside while reflecting the surroundings outside, and modern facades add double glazing and low-emissivity coatings to hold heat in and cut heat loss. Windows and doors bring in light and views, and high-performance units reduce glare and heat loss for steadier indoor temperatures. Skylights and glass roofing bring light from above, and because the glass is overhead, it is usually laminated, tempered or insulated for safety as much as for light. Interior partitions let light move between areas without the starkness of solid walls, soften noise between spaces, and can be frosted, clear or tinted to balance privacy against daylight.
Safety and security glass: the graded options
Several glass products are made specifically to protect people and property, and the key thing to understand is that they are rated rather than absolute. You specify the level of protection you need:
Bullet-resistant glass
This is often called “bulletproof,” but bullet-resistant is the accurate term, because no glazing is truly bulletproof. It is built from layered glass and polycarbonate that absorb and spread the energy of a round, and it is rated to recognised levels, with thicker and more complex builds stopping more. Banks, jewellery stores and government buildings use it where security is a priority. The right answer is the rating that matches the threat, not simply “thicker is better.”
Fire-rated glass
Fire-rated glass holds back flame and, in some grades, heat for a set period during a fire, which buys time to evacuate and helps contain the spread. Its performance is expressed as a time rating, in minutes or hours, and there is an important difference between fire-protective glass, which holds back flames and smoke, and fire-resistive glass, which also limits heat transfer. It is used in fire doors, partitions and rated windows. We compare it with everyday tempered glass in our guide to fire-rated versus tempered glass if you need to choose between them.
Acoustic (sound-reducing) glass
“Soundproof” glass is a misnomer, because no glass blocks sound entirely. Acoustic glass reduces noise using a combination of mass, laminated interlayers and air gaps between panes, and it is a real help in offices, clinics and buildings on busy streets. How much it cuts depends on the build, so the thickness and the gap matter. We explain how it works, and what to realistically expect, in our piece on how acoustic glass reduces noise. Think of it as turning the volume down, not off.
Blast-resistant glass
Sometimes called “explosion-proof,” blast-resistant is the better description. Built from multiple toughened and laminated layers, it is designed to stay in its frame and hold fragments together under a blast or shockwave, which is what prevents flying glass from causing the worst injuries. It is found in embassies, certain government and military sites and some high-risk commercial properties. Like the others here, it is specified to a rating rather than treated as a guarantee.
Energy and sustainability
Glass is also where a lot of a building’s energy performance is won or lost. Insulating glass units, two or more panes sealed around a spacer with an air or gas-filled gap, cut heat transfer and keep conditioned air inside, and filling that gap with argon or krypton and adding a Low-E coating improves them further. Solar control glass limits solar heat gain while keeping good daylight, which suits sun-facing elevations and warmer spells. Low-E coatings reflect infrared heat, holding warmth in through winter and reducing heat gain in summer, while cutting the UV that fades interiors. On the sustainability side, glass is recyclable: container glass is recycled readily, and while coated architectural glass is harder to recycle in practice, offcuts and old units can be reprocessed into new glass and into fibreglass insulation. Specifying well and reusing where possible both help.
Maintenance and care
Commercial glass keeps its look and life with simple upkeep. Clean it with mild soapy water or a glass cleaner and a microfibre cloth, and avoid harsh chemicals and abrasive pads that scratch or dull the surface. Deal with scratches early, since they tend to worsen, and consider protective or hydrophobic coatings in high-traffic areas, keeping in mind they wear over time and need renewing. Inspect installations regularly for cracks, chips or failed seals (a hazy, fogged sealed unit has usually lost its seal), and replace units that are past saving so the glass stays safe and clear.
FAQs
Ready to get help with your glass issue?
Not sure which glass suits your project? We can match the right type, and the right safety or energy rating, to your building. Explore our commercial glass services or request a free quote. Call 310-GLAS (4527), text 780-652-1296, or book online.