Committee Updates from NGA Glass Conference: Milwaukee

Over the course of three days, the conference held educational presentations and meetings of NGA’s Forming, Advocacy and Fabricating Committees.  

Read the Glass Magazine recap of the event. 

NGA Forming Committee

The Forming Committee announced a new legislative tracking database for NGA members on Federal and State Buy Clean initiatives for low embodied carbon building materials. NGA will continue to work with stakeholders on these initiatives. Access NGA resources on Buy Clean programs.  

The committee summarized findings from NGA’s participation in the US DOE Decarbonization workshop hosted by the Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office (IEDO) in Pittsburgh, PA in May 2024. This workshop covered energy efficiency and the carbon footprint of container glass, architectural glass and fiberglass. Looking to the future, the IEDO estimates that 60% of heavy industry emissions reductions by 2050 will result from new technology that is not yet market ready.

NGA Forming Committee task groups are developing harmonized industry-consensus definitions for common flat glass terminology that can be shared with standardization organizations and other stakeholders. Task groups completed updates to the Coated Glass AIA presentation and continue to refine a new draft technical paper on anti-microbial coatings.

The Forming Committee meeting concluded with a lively debate on flat glass sustainability drivers, discussing working definitions of embodied versus operational carbon, social cost of carbon, circularity, global warming potential versus CO2 emissions and ESG (environmental, social, governance) of companies. 

NGA Advocacy Committee

Committee members recapped the third annual NGA Glass & Glazing Advocacy Days held May 14 - 15, in Washington, D.C. At this annual event, NGA works with lobbying firm K&L Gates to connect member companies in small groups with members of Congress, as well as representatives from governmental agencies to make a positive connection for glass to legislators. Priority topics at the event are energy efficiency and sustainability, school security glazing, bird friendly glazing and workforce development. The 2025 event is tentatively scheduled for May 13-14, 2025, pending updates to the congressional calendar.

• The sustainability and recycling task group is working to refine the Window Recyclability: Circular Economy one-pager for legislators to define a clear “ask” with a tie to an existing bill in preparation for the 2025 event.  
• NGA is also working with consultants to propose an update to the Section 48 tax credit for electrochromic glass systems to be more inclusive of other high-performance glazing products and to extend the expiration of the credit.  

The Sustainability Subcommittee reported the General Services Administration (GSA) P100 facilities document was updated this year, with continued reference to NGA’s Bird-Friendly Design Guide. GSA is the largest landowner in the United States, and P100 sets design and construction standards to cover architectural design, engineering systems, sustainability, security, and performance metrics. The 2024 version specifically establishes benchmarks for electrification, embodied carbon, energy efficiency, grid-interactive efficient buildings, water reuse, construction decarbonization, and labor practices. Updates include thermal performance requirements, daylighting and views, security and safety, sustainability and green building standards, inclusion of ICC/MBI standards, and stricter requirements for fenestration air leakage.  

The committee also discussed updates to the Product Category Rules (PCR) for flat glass, processed glass and fenestration, and the industry average Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). The EPA grant to NGA will fund further transparency and tools for NGA member companies to facilitate compliance with sustainability initiatives. 

NGA Fabricating Committee

The committee reviewed the new coding system for Glass Technical Papers (GTPs), which are balloted for systematic review every five years. If the GTP is republished with no technical changes, the original code is maintained with the current year added in parenthesis. If the GTP is revised with technical changes, the code is updated to reflect the current year. For example, FB30-11 (2024) Proper Procedures for Receiving, Storage and Transportation of Flat Glass Mirrors was republished with no changes. In contrast, FB06-24 Proper Procedures for Cleaning Flat Glass Mirrors was updated with technical changes in February. The new coding system is harmonized with ASTM and other standardization bodies.  

Protective Glazing

• The new Bird-Friendly Glazing AIA presentation is complete. Learn how to become a presenter (members only) of this and other industry-consensus presentations for architects (NGA member log-in required). The task group will begin standardization of NGA DG01-21 Best Practices for Bird-Friendly Glazing Design Guide in ASTM format to promote uniform implementation of bird-friendly glazing. ASHRAE 189.1 Standard for the Design of High Performance, Green Buildings is planning to add bird-friendly glazing requirements; a task group will propose language consistent with NGA’s Bird-Friendly Glazing Design Guide. NGA developed a bird-friendly legislation database, which will be available to NGA members.  
• The School Security task group is finalizing the draft of the new School Security AIA presentation. The group completed revisions to the School Security Glazing Glass Technical Paper to focus on ASTM F3561 Standard Test Method for Forced-Entry-Resistance of Fenestration Systems After Simulated Active Shooter Attack for active shooter deterrence and to clarify terminology of interlayers.  
• A task group is reviewing the draft of a new GTP, Wired Glass in Fire-Rated Safety Glazing Applications.  
• New task groups were formed to update the Protective Glazing Manual and to draft resources for cleaning and maintaining bullet resistant glazing.  

Insulating  

• Task groups are developing new resources on condensation, and a new AIA presentation on Vacuum Insulating Glazing.

Tempering  

• New technology for on-line, non-contact stress measurement in heat-treated glass was presented and discussed.  
• The committee reviewed recent activity at ASTM Committee C14 on Glass and Glass Products.

Decorative  

• A new NGA Decorative Glazing Reference Manual is in development, with a call for photos of installed decorative glass.  
• Task groups are reviewing ballot comments on Determining an Industry Acceptable Color Variance GTP, and drafting new GTPs, Introduction to Digital Print and Recommended Practice for Defining Fabrication Details for software and automation equipment.  

Laminated Glazing  

• A task group is working to update the NGA Laminated Glazing Reference Manual, including updated nomenclature for laminated glass.  
• A new task group was formed to review global quality standards for laminated glass.  

NGA Installing Committee

• The NGA Installing Committee will meet September 30 at the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, TX at the Glazing Executives Forum at GlassBuild America.  

Newly Published Materials

NGA’s various task groups have been busy creating resources for the industry. Below is a summary of newly published and updated materials in 2024, available for download and/or purchase in NGA’s online store:

Glass Technical Papers

• Updated! FB25-09 (2024) Performance Criteria for Glazing Subjected to Seismic Events
• Updated! FB53-17 (2024) Benefits of Decorative Glass in Daylighting Applications
• Updated! FB56-18 (2024) Heat Soak Testing of Tempered Glass for Architectural Glass Applications
• Republished! FB30-11 (2024) Proper Procedures for Receiving, Storage and Transportation of Flat Glass Mirrors
• Updated! FB06-24 Proper Procedures for Cleaning Flat Glass Mirrors
• Updated! FB24-24 Hurricane Product Substitution
• Updated! FB32-24 Dynamic Glazing for High Performance Buildings
• Updated! FB22-24 Proper Procedures for Fabrication of Flat Glass Mirrors
• Updated! TB-1601-24 Guidelines for Use of Capillary Tubes
• Updated! FB42-24 Assessment of Decorative Glass Strength Properties
• Updated! FB57-24 One Optical Number Does Not Fit All
• Updated! FB62-24 Thermal Stress in Heat-Treated Spandrel Glass
• Updated! FB44-24 Assessing the Durability of Decorative Glass
• Updated! FB61-24 Tornado Resistant Glazing
• Updated! FB71-24 School Security Glazing

AIA Presentations

NGA is an approved AIA Provider and, thanks to the involvement of its volunteer members, has nine approved industry-consensus presentations available. NGA members may use these presentations when reaching out to architects and other interested parties. To become a presenter, contact Sara Neiswanger. More architect resources on the AIA CE webpage on glass.org.

• Updated! The Value-Added Performance of Coated Glass
• New! Key Strategies of Bird-Friendly Glazing
• Coming Soon! Thermal Bridging Considerations at Interface Conditions