Float glass, clear or tinted (3mm, 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 15mm, 19mm)
Flat glass manufactured by floating molten glass on a bed of molten tin, producing uniform thickness and smooth surfaces. Standard architectural glazing material available in clear and tinted variants from 3-19mm thickness.
Flat glass manufactured by floating molten glass on a bed of molten tin, producing uniform thickness and smooth surfaces. Standard architectural glazing material available in clear and tinted variants from 3-19mm thickness.
Float glass is the most common type of glass used in construction, manufactured through the Pilkington process where molten glass floats on a bath of molten tin. This process creates glass with uniform thickness, flat parallel surfaces, and excellent optical clarity. Available in clear and various tinted options (grey, bronze, green, blue), float glass serves as the base material for most processed glass products including toughened, laminated, and insulated glass units. Australian applications must comply with AS 1288:2021 for selection and installation.
- Excellent optical clarity and transparency
- Smooth, flat surfaces ideal for coating applications
- Cost-effective compared to specialty glasses
- Readily available in multiple thicknesses
- Can be cut, drilled, and edge-worked on-site
- 100% recyclable material
- Chemically inert and hygienic surface
- UV transmittance for daylighting applications
- Long service life with minimal maintenance
- Wide range of tinted options available
- Established supply chain throughout Australia
- 01 Excellent optical clarity and transparency
- 02 Smooth, flat surfaces ideal for coating applications
- 03 Cost-effective compared to specialty glasses
- 04 Readily available in multiple thicknesses
- 05 Can be cut, drilled, and edge-worked on-site
- 01 Breaks into dangerous sharp shards
- 02 Not suitable for safety-critical applications without processing
- 03 Limited thermal insulation as single glazing
- 04 Moderate acoustic performance
- 05 Susceptible to thermal stress breakage
- Density
- 2500 kg/m³ kg/m³
- Specific gravity
- 2.5
- Porosity
- 0% %
- Water absorption
- 0% %
- Hardness
- 5.5-6.5 Mohs scale
- UV resistance
- Transmits 20-70% UV depending on thickness
- Chemical resistance
- Excellent (except hydrofluoric acid)
- pH tolerance
- Stable pH 3-11
- Surface roughness
- Ra < 0.001 μm µm
- Tensile strength
- 30-45 MPa (annealed) MPa
- Compressive strength
- 800-1000 MPa MPa
- Flexural strength
- 35-45 MPa MPa
- Shear strength
- 17-25 MPa MPa
- Poisson's ratio
- 0.22-0.23
- Impact resistance
- Non-impact rated (requires tempering)
- Creep resistance
- Excellent (no creep at room temperature)
- Embodied carbon
- 9.5-11.5 kg CO₂e/m² (4mm)
- Carbon footprint
- 75-85 kg CO₂e/m² lifecycle
- Embodied energy
- 150-200 MJ/m² MJ/kg
- Water footprint
- 600-800 L/m² L/kg
- Recycled content
- 15-35% (typical cullet content) %
- Renewable content
- 0% %
- Circular score
- High (infinitely recyclable)
- Combustibility class
- Non-combustible to AS 1530.1
- Fire resistance level
- Non-rated (requires special treatment)
- Ignition temp
- Not applicable (non-combustible) °C
- Flame spread index
- 0 (non-combustible)
- Smoke dev. index
- 0
- Heat release rate
- 0 kW/m²
- Material cost (range)
- $38-95/m² (clear, thickness dependent)
- Material cost (per unit)
- $38/m² (4mm), $60/m² (6mm), $95/m² (10mm)
- Lead time
- 1-3 days (standard), 2-4 weeks (custom)
- Lifecycle cost
- $500-800/m² (30 years)
- Annual maintenance
- $5-15/m² (cleaning)
- Market availability
- Readily available nationwide
- Expected lifespan
- 25-50+ years
- Maintenance interval
- Annual cleaning, 5-year seal inspection
- Warranty period
- 5-10 years typical