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Ever been confused about terms used in the Glass and Glazing Industry?

What do they mean by “Annealed Glass” or “Absorbance” for example?

Over a series of posts we will give a a brief description of some of the more commonly used technical and non-technical terms about glass - starting with TERMS that begin with A

Abrasion
A method of shallow, decoration grinding using a diamond wheel. The decorated areas are then left unpolished, mainly used for glass decoration.

Absorbance
The ratio of solar radiation versus total radiation absorbed by a glazing system.

Air infiltration
The ratio of air leaking through cracks in building.

Air leakage rating
Air infiltration ratio.

Argon
An inert, non-toxic gas used to fill insulating units, thus improving thermal performance.

Acid Etching
A process where the glass surface is treated with hydrofluoric acid. Acid-etched glass has a distinctive, uniformly smooth and satin-like appearance.

Anneal
A process used to cool formed glass at controlled temperature rates to prevent thermal stresses.

Annealed Glass
During the float glass process, the hot glass is gently cooled in the “annealing lehr”, which releases any internal stresses from the glass to enable the cutting and further processing of the glass after manufacture.

Annealing Range
Determines the limits of temperature within which glass may be annealed.

Antique glass
A general term describing a very old piece of glass, perhaps even several centuries old.

Arrised Edge
A basic form of edge working, by removing the sharp edges of cut panes of glass.

Attenuation
Reduction of the intensity of sound as a result of energy conversion from sound to motion or heat.

Acoustic Insulation
The ratio of external sounds passing through a glazing surface.

Alarm Glass
Is a special laminated glass designed and manufactured for security purposes. The interlayer is embedded with a very thin wire and then “sandwiched” between two or more sheets of glass.

Acid Polishing
This process is used to remove obscurities from etched surfaces.

Antique mirror
Is a decorative silvered glass mostly used for interiors.

Anti-reflective glass
Anti-reflective glass is float glass with a specially-designed coating which reflects a very low % of light. It offers maximum transparency and optical clarity, allowing optimum viewing through the glass at all times.

Active coating material
Whose properties are affected by external stimulus.

Aspect ratio
The ratio of the longer side of a pane to its shorter side.