The Benefits of Designing with Reflective Glass

When designing with glass, there is a wide range of options to choose from to create a truly unique project. One option is reflective glass, which has some significant aesthetic and performance benefits. Even where transparent glass is desired, there are specific applications where tinted and/or reflective glass can achieve the design intent. 

Reflective glasses have evolved and now feature varying levels of reflectivity that create a wide range of aesthetic options. Today there are even reflective glasses that provide the solar control benefits of low-e coatings. The mirror box effect is definitely a thing of the past! 

Below are some key benefits to designing buildings with reflective glass: 

1. Color: Tinted, reflective architectural glasses offer better harmonization with spandrels, metal panels, extrusions and other building materials. This color-enriched glass transmits generous levels of visible light and offers color neutrality, which also enhances the tint of the glass substrate underneath the reflective coating. Today, reflective glasses can also come on various tinted substrates and include low-e coatings
2. Privacy: Reflective glass has a special metallic coating that makes it possible to see outside while preventing people from seeing inside to preserve privacy during the day. As an alternative to spandrel glass, reflective glass can (to a degree) provide a more uniform exterior appearance and obscure the visual impact of internal office environments and building mechanicals including computer wires, vents, fans and HVAC components. 
3. Glare Control: Reflective glass reduces visible light transmittance (VLT) and glare for building occupants while simultaneously reducing glare caused by coatings and diminishing the need for window blinds and other interior shading devices. In addition, reflective solar control glass reflects a portion of incoming solar radiation, which restricts heat penetration into the building and can potentially lower HVAC usage.
4. Aesthetic Perspective: Reflective glass provides a bold, crisp exterior appearance and a dynamic building surface that changes to capture the visual character of the ambient environment, including the color of the sky, the passing of the clouds and the different times of day. 

Overall, with its special metallic coating, reflective glass provides privacy for building occupants, improves energy efficiency and offers a unique exterior aesthetic. 

For complete technical information about designing with reflective glass and other glass topics, visit vitroglazings.com. For any other glass questions, please contact Vitro Architectural Glass (formerly PPG glass) or call 1-855-VTRO-GLS (1-855-887-6457).