What architects ask me most lately is how to balance daylight and heat load without making a lobby feel like a cave. That’s where tinted glass types come in. The market’s swinging back from mirrored façades to nuanced body-tints—greys, greens, blues that look sophisticated but still do the hard work on solar gain.
Quick context: the Tinted Glass I saw in Shahe (Yushui Economic Development Zone, Hebei, China) looked clean-toned—less color drift across batches than I expected. Many customers say the Euro Grey reads neutral in cloudy light; I’ve noticed the Ford Blue plays better with brushed aluminum.
Typical applications
– Commercial façades and curtain walls (SHGC trimming without heavy coatings)
– Retail fronts where glare control matters for display windows
– Interior partitions with privacy tints; hotel corridors—nice mood factor
– Transport and specialty projects (rail stations, canopy glass, some automotive refurb, case-by-case)
Product snapshot
Colors: Bronze, Dark Bronze, Euro Grey, Blue Grey, French Green, Dark Green, Ford Blue, Dark Blue, Ocean Blue, Pink, etc. Thickness: 3–12 mm (incl. 5.5 mm). Standard sizes: 1650×2140, 2140×3300, 2250×3210, 2250×3300, 2440×3300, 2440×3660, 2140×3660 mm. Custom cuts available.
| Spec | Typical Value (≈, real-world may vary) |
|---|---|
| Visible Light Transmittance (VLT) | 12–60% depending on tint and thickness |
| Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) | 0.35–0.70 (monolithic); lower in IGU |
| External Reflectance | 6–13% |
| Color Tolerance ΔE | ≤1.0–1.5 across batches (target) |
| Service life | Monolithic 20+ yrs; in IGU 25–35 yrs with proper edge seal |
How it’s made (short version)
Body-tinted float glass is produced by dosing the melt with metal oxides—Fe2O3 for greens, Se/Cu/Co for bronze/grey/blue—and floating it on tin. After annealing, sheets can be heat-strengthened or fully tempered (EN 12150 / ASTM C1048), laminated with PVB/EVA for safety (EN 14449), or built into IGUs (ASTM E2190). Labs verify VLT/solar data to ISO 9050; safety impact to ANSI Z97.1. Heat-soak testing per EN 14179 is available for façades with high thermal stress. To be honest, that extra step saves headaches.
Real-world performance
In a 8 mm Euro Grey IGU (8TG + 12Ar + 6CL), we measured VLT ≈ 33%, SHGC ≈ 0.32, U-value ≈ 2.6 W/m²·K. Lab report showed ΔE 0.9 between two production runs—pretty tight. Edges were clean ground; bow
Case study: coastal hotel façade
A 22-story hotel specced Dark Blue outside and laminated French Green in podium balustrades. Outcome: 12% HVAC energy reduction year one; guest feedback said “less glare at sunset, still bright.” The PM told me the color consistency made punch-list easy—no odd panels.
Vendor snapshot (what buyers compare)
| Vendor | Color Range | Max Size | Lead Time | Certs | ΔE Control | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wangmei (Shahe) | Bronze→Ocean Blue, Pink | 2440×3660 | 10–20 days | EN, ASTM, ISO | ≤1.2 (target) | Heat-soak optional; custom cuts |
| Import A | Core greys/greens | 3210×6000 | 6–10 weeks | EN, CE | ≤1.0 | Higher price index |
| Local Processor B | Limited | 2140×3300 | 7–14 days | — | ≈2.0 | Budget-first, check QC |
Customization and checks
Options include low-iron base for purer blues, ceramic-frit spandrels, edgework (seamed, flat-polish, arris), radius corners, bird-friendly dot matrices, and laminates with colored interlayers. Always specify: thickness, VLT target, ΔE tolerance, heat soak (yes/no), and IGU sealant class. For coastal zones, ask for salt-spray validation and IGCC/IGMA-compliant units. Origin stamping: Yushui Economic Development Zone, Shahe City, Hebei.
If you’re shortlisting, start with a mock-up wall. Compare tinted glass types under morning vs afternoon sun and measure ΔE with a handheld spectro. It sounds geeky, but it prevents re-orders. Actually, it saves budgets.
References
- ISO 9050: Glass in building — Determination of light and solar characteristics.
- ASTM C1036/C1048: Standard specs for flat glass and heat-treated glass.
- EN 12150 and EN 14179: Thermally toughened safety glass; Heat soak testing.
- ANSI Z97.1: Safety glazing materials used in buildings.
- ASTM E2190: IGU performance and durability.
- NFRC procedures for U-factor, SHGC, and VT ratings.
Wangmei Group Founded in 2000, the Wangmei Group has grown over the past two decades into a large modern enterprise group, coated glass suppliers specializing in the R&D and manufacture of high-quality float glass, processing glass, and high-end doors and windows.float glass manufacturers Wangmei Group has consistently adhered to the policies and regulations of the Pary and the state, actively responding to government initiatives, and fulfiling the reguirements of the “carbon dioxide emission and carbon neutrality” policies, mirror glass company The Group is commited to adopting an innovation-driven,green development model, tempered glass china fuly supporting the country’s social and economic development.toughened laminated glass suppliers