Glass — Complete Guide

Glass is essential for daylight, views, ventilation & modern aesthetics in buildings — from windows & doors to facades, partitions, railings & shower enclosures. The right glass balances transparency, safety, solar control, privacy & insulation. This category covers all architectural glass types, from basic float glass to advanced double-glazed units (DGU).

Architectural glass follows IS 14900 (float), IS 2553 (safety glass), IS 7392 (DGU). Top brands: Saint-Gobain, AIS (Asahi India), Gold Plus, Modiguard, Pilkington.

Materials in this Category

Glass Type	Best For
Float Glass (Clear)	Base glass, windows, furniture
Toughened (Tempered) Glass	Doors, shower, balustrades (safety)
Laminated Safety Glass	Overhead, fall protection, security
Frosted / Etched Glass	Privacy with daylight
Tinted & Reflective Glass	Solar / heat / glare control
Double-Glazed Units (DGU)	Thermal & acoustic insulation

Glass Comparison

Glass	Safety	Key Benefit
Float (Annealed)	None (sharp shards)	Clear, economical base
Toughened	Safe (small dice)	4–5x stronger
Laminated	Safest (holds together)	Overhead / security / acoustic
Frosted / Etched	Base dependent	Privacy + daylight
Tinted / Reflective	Base dependent	Solar / heat control
DGU	Base dependent	Thermal + acoustic insulation

How to Choose

Windows / general: Float glass (5–6 mm)
Doors / shower / balustrade: Toughened (safety)
Overhead / skylight / security: Laminated
Bathroom / privacy: Frosted / etched
Hot facade / solar control: Tinted / reflective / Low-E
AC rooms / noise / energy: DGU (double-glazed)
Use toughened / laminated in human-impact zones (NBC mandate)

Cost Overview (Approximate, 2025-26)

Glass	Cost (per sqft)
Float Glass (5–6 mm)	Rs 70 – 120
Toughened Glass	Rs 180 – 460
Laminated Glass	Rs 200 – 720
Frosted / Etched Glass	Rs 120 – 550
Tinted / Reflective Glass	Rs 110 – 700
DGU (Double-Glazed)	Rs 450 – 1,250

Best Practices

Use toughened / laminated in safety-critical locations (doors, low windows, balustrades, overhead)
Specify heat-soaked toughened for facades / overhead
Use DGU with Low-E for AC rooms (energy saving)
Use tinted / reflective for hot, sun-facing facades
Complete all cutting / drilling before toughening
Use proper structural silicone for glazing
Hold glass in UPVC / aluminium frames
Follow NBC 2016 glazing safety requirements

Applicable Standards

Standard	Description
IS 14900	Transparent Float Glass
IS 2553	Safety Glass (Toughened & Laminated)
IS 7392	Double Glazed Units (DGU)
EN 12150 / 14179	Toughened & Heat-Soaked Glass
EN ISO 12543	Laminated Safety Glass
NBC 2016 Part 6	Glass & Glazing

Conclusion

Architectural glass brings light, views & modern style while delivering safety, solar control & insulation when chosen correctly. Use float for general windows; toughened for doors / shower / balustrades; laminated for overhead / security; frosted for privacy; tinted / reflective for solar control; and DGU for thermal & acoustic comfort. Explore each in detail: float, toughened, laminated, frosted / etched, tinted / reflective and double-glazed units.

See all categories on the construction materials page.

Glass