Navigating the Future of Glass

Above: Urmilla Sowell (left) and Thomas Culp at the March BEC Conference in Las Vegas.

The glass and glazing industry is on the cusp of transformative change, driven by evolving codes and standards that reflect broader environmental and security priorities. At the March BEC Conference, Urmilla Sowell, vice president of advocacy and technical services, National Glass Association, and NGA technical code consultant Thomas Culp from Birch Point Consulting, shed light on these critical shifts, emphasizing the need for professionals to stay informed and proactive. Their presentation outlined the NGA’s steadfast advocacy for the sector, highlighting key proposals addressing school security and energy efficiency, while also navigating the legislative landscape that shapes their future. As pressures mount from both regulatory bodies and market forces, understanding these changes is not just beneficial—it’s essential for safeguarding business interests within the industry.

Prioritizing security in school design

Integrating security measures into building codes is a key effort. “A couple of proposals that we are working on right now are a school security proposal and a daylighting proposal,” says Sowell. “The building codes do not currently reference security other than the fire-rated section that references safety, but not security. One of the things that we’re working on is how school security fits into the building codes. In our proposal, all of the main entrances should have a view of pedestrians or vehicle traffic and any windows, doors and sidelites in the main entrances shall be rated with ASTM F3561 Standard Test Method for Forced-Entry-Resistance of Fenestration Systems After Simulated Active Shooter Attack… which is an assembly test, not a glass test.”

Shining a light on educational settings and performance

Sowell shared that research shows incorporating daylight in classrooms results in significant educational benefits, with students experiencing faster learning rates and higher test scores. New proposals aim to integrate more daylighting in educational settings, including both K-12 classrooms and college dormitories. “Studies show that daylighting and views in classrooms result in 5% to 14% higher test scores, and students learn 20% to 26% faster. That’s a difference between a B student or even a C student, just based on having daylighting and views in the classroom,” says Sowell.

Promoting bird-friendly building

Culp emphasized a “defend and promote” mantra regarding bird-friendly glazing requirements, which are rapidly emerging across the U.S. and Canada, driven by local ordinances such as New York City’s Local Law 15. Many states are now incorporating these requirements for state-owned buildings, and the federal Bird Safe Building Act is a key advocacy goal for federally owned projects. “Bird-friendly glazing requirements are spreading like wildfire across the country, which is exciting but can also vary significantly from one place to another,” says Culp. “To help get in front of this, we introduced a proposal for bird-friendly glazing requirements as a jurisdictional option in the national level International Green Construction Code. And as a member resource, we also track bird-friendly legislation as it is proposed around the country.”

Local adaptations in response to federal policy shifts

Energy codes are evolving towards higher efficiency products, reflecting a trend that may intensify at state and local levels amidst changes in federal policies. “We expect this to continue regardless of the political environment,” says Sowell, framing energy efficiency as a nonpartisan goal that reflects the industry’s commitment to sustainability.

“I’ve received a lot of questions and inquiries on the new administration and what it means for energy codes,” says Culp. “What does Trump 2.0 mean for energy codes and glazing products when they have an obviously different viewpoint than the previous administration. From a high-level perspective, I expect we’ll see the same reaction that we saw during Trump 1.0 ... where the federal government steps out, certain states and cities may fill in, setting their own targets and developing their own codes.”

Culp describes a chaotic, but ultimately positive, experience in adapting to evolving energy codes, highlighting how past disruptions led to new opportunities, particularly at the local level. “There are threats and opportunities,” says Culp. “Opportunities for high-performance building products, vacuum insulating glazing, triple glazing, fourth surface low-emissivity, advanced spacers and advanced frames. However, it will be a scattered response across the country. In some places, it’ll just be status quo.”

He notes that some states have permitted cities and counties to adopt stricter energy codes than those set at the state level, a trend observed in major cities like New York and Boston, which enacted building performance standards aimed at reducing energy consumption in existing structures. Culp anticipates similar developments in the coming years, with incremental changes in energy codes and increased local activity driven by political and regulatory dynamics.

With Environmental Product Declarations providing a transparent assessment of the environmental impacts associated with manufacturing products and sustainable building practices, particularly focused on embodied carbon, the emerging demand for EPDs in construction specifications was stressed. “These EPDs will become critical for fulfilling green building initiatives,” says Culp. NGA’s proactive measures and funding efforts to develop comprehensive EPDs for various glass products is a response to the shift among architects and builders in considering the environmental impact while selecting materials.

“What can you do if you’re asked for an EPD?...   We need to be proactive rather than reactive,” says Culp. “The programs currently require only the EPD for the primary flat glass, not the processed, fabricated glass. They also allow you to ignore some of the minor components that have less of an overall impact, like fasteners and hardware. But in the future, we’re going to see increased demand for more granular EPDs; not just the primary glass but the processed glass. Once you look at all the possibilities—different glass thicknesses, tints, tempered, laminated, coated, insulated—it gets complex fast with nearly infinite combinations. That is why we are looking into methods such as EPD calculator tools to assist the industry to provide this more detailed information in a timely and cost-effective manner.”