Advocacy

6 New Glass Technical Papers

1. Glass for Personal Protective Barriers  
2. Introduction to Vacuum Insulating Glazing  
3. Guidelines on How to View Decorative Glazing Products in Interior and Exterior Applications  
4. Guidelines for Measuring Color of Decorative Glazing Materials
5. General EPD Education  
6. Best Practices for Installed Painted Decorative Glass 

9 Updated Glass Technical Papers  

1. Bird-Friendly Glass Design Strategies  
2. Marking and Labeling of Architectural Laminated Glass  
3. Protecting Glass Against Weld Splatter  
4. The Top 10 Items Commonly Missing from Fenestration System Shop Drawings  
5. Safety Guidelines for Deglazing Structural Silicone  
6. Approximate Weight of Architectural Flat Glass  
7. Security Glazing  
8. Glass Floors and Stairs  
9. Proper Procedures for Cleaning Architectural Glass Products 

20 Most-Downloaded Technical Papers and Manuals 

1. Updated- Approximate Weight of Architectural Flat Glass  
2. Updated- Bird-Friendly Glass Design Strategies 
3. Updated- Security Glazing 
4. Design Considerations for Laminated Glazing Applications 
5. Updated- Proper Procedures for Cleaning Architectural Glass Products 
6. Bid Considerations for Contract Glazing Proposals 
7. Flat Glass Industry Standards 
8. Updated- The Top 10 Items Commonly Missing from Fenestration System Shop Drawings  
9. Describing Architectural Glass Constructions 
10. Heavy Glass Door Design Guide 
11. Use of Laminated Glass in Glass Railing Systems 
12. Guidelines for Appearance of Insulating Glass Unit Edges in Commercial Applications 
13. Effects of Moisture, Solvents and Other Substances on Laminated Glazing Edges 
14. Weight of Laminated Architectural Glass 
15. New- Glass for Personal Protective Barriers 
16. Updated- Marking and Labeling of Architectural Laminated Glass 
17. Energy Performance 
18. Updated- Glass Floors and Stairs 
19. Heat-Treated Glass Surfaces Are Different 
20. Construction Site Protection and Maintenance of Architectural Glass 

3 Highest-Attended Thirsty Thursdays Webinars  

1. The Latest IBC Railing Requirements presented by Vicente Montes, CDC Inc. 
2. Energy Code Evolutions 2020 presented by Tom Culp, Birch Point Consulting and NGA technical codes consultant 
3. Preventing Glazing Surprises presented by Steve Thomas, Guardian Glass LLC  

Watch them again in the Thirsty Thursday Archive!

NGA is actively involved with standards and codes bodies including the International Codes Council, ASTM International and ASHRAE, among others, to promote and defend the use of glass in the built environment. Recent activities include:

DOE Building Energy Codes Program 

NGA’s Energy Code Consultant, Dr. Tom Culp, Birch Point Consulting, Co-Vice Chair ASHRAE Std. 90.1, presented at the virtual DOE Building Energy Codes Program in the panel discussion “Looking to the Future - What's in Store for ASHRAE Standard 90.1.” Tom’s presentation focused on the onsite renewable energy requirements in 2022 ASHRAE 90.1. Other topics covered in this session are thermal bridging, envelope back-stop and HVAC metrics. Watch a recording of the session. See the full program and download presentation slides at energycodes.gov.  

ICC Procedural Changes to the Code Development Process 

The International Code Council (ICC) is considering changes to the code development process based on issues presented to the Board Committee on the Long-Term Code Development Process (Blue Ribbon Committee). The board has approved two updates so far- cost impact and assembly consideration. Watch this page for further updates as they develop.   

CSA A460 Bird Friendly Building Design

NGA has submitted comments designed to promote and protect new and current glass technologies in Canada’s CSA A460 standard, which covers bird-friendly building design in both new construction and existing buildings. Learn more. 

Download Bird-Friendly Glass Design Strategies for further information on glazing designs to protect birds, and check back here for updates from our active task group working on Best Practices for Bird-Friendly Glazing.

ASHRAE 90.1-2019

For the last three years, the NGA advocacy team has worked with other industry associations and public officials to successfully work new performance requirements for windows, doors and skylights into the ASHRAE 90.1 energy standard for buildings, which were approved in Spring 2019. Read more.

ASHRAE 90.1-2019, published in October 2019, includes the following revisions: 

• Updated commercial fenestration criteria  
• No reduction in window area 
• Increased daylighting controls  
• Cleared barriers for use of VIG in walk-in coolers and freezers 
• Commissioning requirements including more focus on air leakage  

School Security

While current building codes do not require security glazing in schools, a growing number of school districts nationwide are looking to meet voluntary security glazing standards to provide additional protection for their buildings. NGA is participating in a multi-industry effort with the National Fire Protection Association, ASTM International and ICC to provide guidance in this effort. In addition, NGA presented this topic as part of its Thirsty Thursday webinar series and is working on a glass technical paper on school security.

NYC’s “Green Deal”

In April 2019, the glass industry witnessed this jarring headline coming out of New York City: "NYC’s ‘Green New Deal’ to Ban Glass, Steel Skyscrapers." And while research revealed the mayor was not actually announcing a ban on glass and steel buildings in New York City, his anti-glass statements and over-simplistic labeling of glass as a poor energy performer were harmful to the glass industry. Since then, the NGA, relying on voices from the code, architect, and glazing contractor communities, has addressed how initiatives like the Green New Deal can hurt the glass industry, and educated the industry on what glass companies can do to comply with this requirement. Read, “What You Need to Know about the Green New Deal.”

NGA provides advocacy one-pagers to format advocacy requests related to glass industry issues into a quick-reference format to help stakeholders and legislators easily understand issues at hand. Download NGA's advocacy one-pagers below.

• Bird-Friendly Glazing in Building Construction
  • More information on this topic in the Bird-Friendly Glass Design Strategies Glass Technical Paper
• Flat Glass Global Warming Potential

GICC works directly with NGA’s code consultants to build greater knowledge and acceptance of architectural glass, glazing materials, and glazing systems as safe, efficient, effective, and economical construction products. GICC seeks to educate model code, standard-setting, and building code organizations and officials, as well as the general public.

The GICC met virtually on November 5, 2020 to discuss updates to the ICC Building Code and the Canadian Model National Building Codes. GICC welcomed new leadership to the Executive Committee:

• GICC Chair - Devin Bowman of Technical Glass Products replaces Greg McKenna of Kawneer Company
• GICC Vice Chair - Steve Thomas of Guardian Glass replaces Darrell Smith of IWFA
• GICC Secretary/Treasurer - Ron Hull of Kuraray continues his service in this role

Thanks again to our GICC leadership for their time and dedication to serving the glass and glazing industry interests in the building codes.

If you are interested in joining GICC, contact Sara Neiswanger for details.

NGA submitted public comments to the ICC Board in support of a proposal to use ANSI Consensus Procedures for future development of IECC. Read the comments here.

Our active task groups meet every four to six weeks to develop new technical resources and revise existing publications. Task group meetings generally last 30 to 60 minutes, with additional time on a volunteer basis to draft content.

The NGA Fabricating Committee has established new task groups to draft or update the following Glass Technical Papers:

• Performance Improvements of IGUs
  The center of glass thermal performance of an IGU is a function of glass type, coating, and size and gas fill of cavity gap. This document will address these areas only and does not address IGU edge conditions.

• Durability and Testing of Painted Decorative Mounted Glass
  This document provides factors to consider when determining the durability of glass that is painted on the back side, or second surface, and provides direction for testing to determine a products' durability.

• Weatherability & Durability of Decorative Glass
  This document offers guidance to assess the ability of decorative glass products to sustain conditions prevailing in a given interior or exterior environment.

• Dos and Don’ts of VIG Installation
  This new document will focus on installation of vacuum insulating glazing (VIG), including how to integrate VIG into existing facades. Learn more about VIG in our introductory technical paper.

Contact Amber Johnson to join any of these groups.

See All Current Committee Members and Task Groups