From the NGA

Closing the Skills Gap

Training for glass fabrication personnel is now available via MyGlassFAB.

Determining an Acceptable Color Variance for Decorative Glass

Excerpted from NGA Glass Technical Paper FB77-24 Determining an Acceptable Color Variance for Decorative Glass. The complete document is available as a free download.

Thermal Bridging Considerations at Interface Conditions

Thermal bridging occurs when building exterior cladding or structural components with higher thermal conductivity penetrate or bypass insulation, creating a path of least resistance for heat transfer.

A Reintroduction to Glass Magazine’s Norah Dick

Norah Dick, our longtime senior editor, officially steps into the role of editor.

Dynamic Glazing

Dynamic glazing is a fenestration product that can change its optical performance properties, such as visible light transmission, near infrared transmission and solar heat gain coefficient.

75 Years of Glass Magazine

The official publication of the National Glass Association has been a source of essential industry education and news for the glass and glazing industry.

Application Guidelines for Glass Entrance Systems

This article is an excerpt from the National Glass Association's Heavy Glass Door Design Manual, available at the NGA Store.

New MyGlassClass Offers Fabricator Training, Enhanced User Experience

The online platform is now free to NGA members

Flat Glass Recycling and Sustainability

Demand for recycled glass material is high, giving scrap glass generators an opportunity to find a better environmental and economic alternative to discarding glass in a landfill.

Building the Next Generation at GlassBuild

GlassBuild 2024 brings labor into the spotlight, with presentations designed to deliver actionable strategies focused on reaching, recruiting and training the next generation of glass industry workers. 

Sustainability, Recycling and VIG top agenda at NGA Glass Conference: Milwaukee

The premier technical conference for the architectural glass industry, NGA Glass Conference kicks off today in host city Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Participants will benefit from leading technical leaders, learning the latest on sustainability initiatives, vacuum insulating glass, non-destructive glass…

Fabricating Flat Glass Mirrors

Mirrors provide both functional and aesthetic performance in interior design for homes, office buildings, schools, medical and institutional facilities. In addition to the function of providing reflected images, mirrors are used to move natural light further into buildings and enhance the openness…

Glass Cast Season 2 Episode 2

Next-Level Employee Engagement, with Tom Jackson of Steel Encounters.

Glazing for Seismic Events

Engineers and architects follow code requirements for the structural performance of buildings in seismic zones. Glass and glazing can be designed as non-structural components installed in buildings in seismic-prone areas.

Glass Cast Season 2 Episode 1

Matt Aragon of Aragon Construction sits down with SLAM Collaborative’s Keith Fine to hear what architects are seeking in their partnerships with glaziers.

Industry members educate Congressional representatives about the fundamental role of glass and fenestration

Association staff joined industry leaders to advocate for glass and fenestration systems on Capitol Hill during the third annual Glass & Glazing Advocacy Days. Together, industry members made the case for these systems as sustainable, eco-friendly building products that can provide needed…

Designing with Cast and Heat-Formed Decorative Glass

The National Glass Association is an approved AIA Provider and, thanks to the involvement of its volunteer members, has nine approved industry-consensus presentations available. Members may use these presentations when contacting architects and other interested parties. More architect resources are…

The Future of AI in the Glass Industry

AI is already finding applications to enhance human capabilities, automate tasks and extract insights from vast data, thus reshaping our technological frontiers.

We Need to Talk about Opioid Addiction

Seventy percent of workplaces have been affected by the opioid crisis, according to estimates from the National Safety Council.

BEC Conference Kicks Off in Nashville

Industry disruption, glass for solar panel production, top the agenda on the first day of BEC Conference in Nashville. 

Glass Can Do That

Glass is a multi-functional building product that meets performance, life-safety and aesthetic goals. See all that glass can do in this interactive chart.

Tackling the Industry’s Biggest Challenge: Labor

As part of its new workforce development initiative, NGA has developed a free downloadable guide for companies: A Guide to Recruiting at High School Career Fairs. This how-to guide is available in the NGA store, along with stickers and postcards designed to attract student attention to the trade.…

Destigmatizing Mental Health Discussions

Construction workers have the second highest suicide rate of any industry, and five times more people die of suicide in construction than other construction occupational fatalities combined. GlassBuild America's Main Stage welcomed a panel of experts in mental health to discuss the state of…

DOE pushes for better energy performance/decarbonization for commercial

Decarbonization and advocacy for the glass industry topped the agenda at last week's NGA Glass Conference: Isle of Palms | Charleston. The conference welcomed around 100 technical and advocacy leaders to discuss decarbonization and advocacy, as well as celebrate industry leaders.

Heat-Treated Glass Surfaces are Different

In this Glass Informational Bulletin, learn how heat-treated glass is a critical component of high-performance coated, insulating, laminated, spandrel, safety glazing, bullet-resistant, blast-resistant and hurricane-resistant fenestration products. As usage has increased in recent years, so has the…

Industry Leaders Talk Mega Trends

What's ahead for the glass industry? "Industry Trends to Watch," a panel kicking off GlassBuild 2023, welcomed four leaders from all parts of the industry to discuss labor, the advent of AI, and other major trends to be aware of.

Industry Leaders Discuss the Business of DEIB

Industry experts, hosted by NGA Operations Manager Alicia Hamilton, explored diversity, inclusion and what it means for business, in the keynote panel “Building Better Business through DEIB,” presented on the GlassBuild Main Stage. The conversation looked at what that belonging can look like…

Navigating Bird-Friendly Legislation

As part of its Thirsty Thursday webinar series, National Glass Association code consultant Nick Resetar, Roetzel & Andress, shared updates on existing American and Canadian legislation and ordinances to help navigate the rules around bird-friendly glazing during his “Navigate Legislation for…

Resources for Glass and Glazing Professionals

The National Glass Association has published 80+ Glass Technical Papers (GTPs), covering all aspects of glass and glazing building products. These resources are made possible by the time and commitment of industry volunteers, code experts and NGA staff. 

NGA 75th Anniversary

In the 75 years following the NGA’s founding, the organization became the largest trade association serving the architectural glass and metals industry. The NGA merged with the Glass Association of North America in 2018 and now includes more than 1,800 member companies representing contract…

Glass Cast Episode 5

Dave Ferrett, Bagatelos Architectural Glass Systems, discusses recent project challenges.

Glass Cast Episode 4

Matt Kamper of Woodbridge Glass talks about a recent challenge where the glazing team came into conflict with the design team over plans for the curtain wall system.

Reflections on Mirror

The technical services team of the National Glass Association maintains the NGA Codes & Standards Help Center to provide general guidance to its member community. The following is a compilation of inquiries about flat glass mirror. 

Glass Cast Episode 3

Taylor Anderson talks about the skilled labor shortage and the comprehensive onboarding process at her company, Anderson Aluminum as part of the BEC Conference panel, Generational and Mentorship Gaps.

Glass Cast Episode 2

This episode features Joey Aragon, director of operations, Aragon Construction Inc., discussing how his company established and refined a mentorship program.

Turn Up the Volume on Glass Advocacy

Advocacy efforts bring the conversation about glass directly to decision-makers, and they are essential to advancing industry innovation and ensuring glass and glazing products are a part of the high-performance building future. 

NGA Launches Vlog & Podcast | Episode 1: Creating an ESOP

Check out Glass Cast: From the NGA, the new summer series vlog and podcast from the National Glass Association. Join hosts Katy Devlin and Sara Neiswanger as they discuss a range of topics relevant to your glass business.

NGA Glass Conference Heads to the Pacific Northwest in July

The National Glass Association is heading to Tacoma, Washington with its NGA Glass Conference, happening July 25-27, at the Marriott Tacoma Downtown.  

NGA Named 2023 Best Nonprofit to Work For

The National Glass Association was selected as one of the “2023 Best Nonprofits to Work For” by The Nonprofit Times for its excellent leadership and creation of a quality workplace.  

Next-Gen Glass Can Save Billions in Energy Costs

High-performance glazing on the agenda at Glass & Glazing Advocacy Days.

Wellness and Sustainability Lead Conversations at NGA Glass Conference: Miramar Beach

As the International Year of Glass 2022 wrapped up, industry technical leaders at NGA Glass Conference: Miramar Beach in Miramar Beach, Florida, focused on the years ahead with two themes: advocacy for architectural glass as a sustainable material and the many ways it enhances occupant experience.

Steps to Maximize Your NGA Resources: A How-To Webinar

Closing Out the International Year of Glass

As IYOG comes to a close, I'm looking back at the year’s activities. NGA helped to promote glass this year by demonstrating the essential role of glass in the built environment's sustainability goals, and by raising awareness of the industry as a rewarding career path.

As IYOG Closes, the Glass Industry Looks to the Future

The international glass industry honored the achievements of the UN International Year of Glass. Recognizing all that glass can do, expert industry panelists helped provide a framework for how glass can continue to innovate in the next decades.

NGA Resources for Glaziers & Installers

The National Glass Association Installing Committee volunteer members have developed numerous technical resources for glaziers, available for download in the NGA Store.

NGA and ASA Renew Partnership

Through NGA’s alliance with the American Subcontractors Association, NGA members have exclusive access to popular ASA publications such as Contract Negotiating Tips and Bid Proposal Addendum, and other ASA resources, free of charge.

NGA Energy Codes Consultant Appointed to New IECC Committee

NGA’s energy codes consultant, Tom Culp of Birch Point Consulting, was recently appointed to the new Commercial Energy Code Consensus Committee for the International Energy Conservation Code.

California Adopts 2022 Energy Code

Overall, the new version of Title 24 will make significant advancement towards the state’s energy efficiency and climate change goals, while also meeting their cost effectiveness requirements.

Updated Guide to the Glass & Glazing Requirements

NGA has released an updated version of its long-standing resource, the Guide to the Glass & Glazing Requirements of the Model Building Codes.

NGA Launches Updated Glass & Glazing Design Academy

NGA launched its updated Glass & Glazing Design Academy, made available to architects and industry professionals through a partnership with Architectural Record.

Economist Ken Simonson to Speak at NGA's 2021 Glazing Executives Forum

At the 2021 Glazing Executives Forum, get the information you need to know about the state of the supply chain from industry expert Ken Simonson, chief economist for the Associated General Contractors of America.

NGA Plans New, Reimagined Industry Pavilion for GlassBuild 2021

The Industry Pavilion will showcase resources from leading associations, organizations and stakeholders spanning all avenues of the glass, fenestration and construction industries on the brand new GlassBuildTV platform. 

School Security Glazing FAQs

Frequently asked questions regarding school security glazing requirements and applications, answered by NGA task group members.

Training the Next Generation

Finding and keeping skilled labor is the top challenge facing U.S. glazing contractors. In response, a growing number of companies and industry organizations are looking to apprenticeship programs to bridge the skills gap and train the next generation.

BEC Presents Episodes Now Available at Glass.org

Watch these episodes on demand: Construction Industry After COVID-19, Changes in Commercial Real Estate and the Glazing Industry, Key Glazing Codes & Standards, State of the Industry.

Glazing Design Analysis Using NGA's Engineering Standards Manual and Heavy Glass Door Design Guide

The tables in these two manuals can be used to determine minimum allowable glass thickness, open joints widths that do not allow fingers to be inserted or trapped, and appropriate hardware selection for interior glass walls and heavy glass doors. Szotkowski…

Registration Now Open for GlassBuild Connect: The Glass & Fenestration Online Experience

The National Glass Association announced that GlassBuild Connect registration is now open. In response to pandemic-imposed travel, gathering restrictions and prioritizing public safety, GlassBuild America—the annual glass, window and door expo—has transitioned into a month-long online experience…

Notes from the Chair

As I begin my term as NGA Chairman of the Board for the 2019-2020 term, I find myself considering the growth and development of the industry and this association, and the ambitious goals on the horizon for the coming year. 

Heavy Glass Doors

In the last two decades, the heavy glass door trend has continued its upward trajectory. To address this market demand, the National Glass Association published an update to its Heavy Glass Door Design Guide, replacing the previous 1999 edition.   

Photo Gallery: NGA Annual Conference

NGA Announces New Heavy Glass Door Design Guide

Introducing the New Glass Magazine Website

Glass Magazine rings in the New Year with a relaunch of its website, GlassMagazine.com. The new website offers essential glass industry content and news in a more organized, accessible and mobile-friendly format. It is designed to better connect readers with the information they need to meet…