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Not all glass is created equal.
Some, when you get up close to it, can reveal a slight green tint that only becomes more apparent as the glass gets thicker – such as laminated glass, whereby two panes are bonded together. As a result, the view out of your window and across the picturesque landscape beyond could be spoiled. Likewise, potential customers looking through your shop window may see your products distorted by an unflattering hue, impacting their overall impression and perhaps causing them to pass by unimpressed.
Both of these scenarios would benefit from the installation of low-iron glass, guaranteeing a crystal clear view of the landscape or products on the other side. But to understand how low-iron glass can deliver better light transmission and an enhanced visual experience, it is first necessary to define exactly what we mean by the term ‘low-iron glass’.
What is low-iron glass?
Low-iron glass has been refined to have a much lower iron oxide content when compared to standard float glass. Trace amounts of the iron oxide impurity often find their way into the glass mix via the addition of raw materials like sand and dolomite, creating the associated green tint as the iron oxide present is reduced and integrated into the molten glazing.
Low-iron glass, on the other hand, is created by sourcing high-quality raw materials with a guaranteed low iron content. For example, manufacturers might choose refined soda ash and limestone that they know will contain far fewer impurities. In addition to sourcing high-quality ingredients, the manufacturer may choose to expose them to an additional refining process to further reduce the iron content.
Having minimised the amount of iron in the raw materials, the manufacturer will closely control the melting phase, introducing a reducing atmosphere to ensure the iron cannot reach an oxidised state.
The result is glass that has no visible green tint, no matter which angle it is viewed from or how close you get to it.
What are the benefits of low-iron glass?
The biggest benefit of low-iron glass is its pure transparency when compared to standard float glass, allowing for exceptionally clear views. Its exceptional visual quality makes low-iron glass ideal for projects where aesthetics and clarity are crucial – such as museums, galleries, shops and domestic homes that enjoy wonderful views. Aside from that main positive characteristic, low-iron glass boasts a better solar performance due to the increased light transference from one side of the glass to the other.
What are the disadvantages of low-iron glass?
Low-iron glass is created through the sourcing of high-quality raw materials like silicone and dolomites, as well as a specialised heating regime to prevent iron oxidisation. That additional attention to detail and energy means that low-iron glass is often more expensive than its plain annealed equivalents.
While it is true that low-iron glass is more expensive, we believe it is certainly a worthwhile investment if your view remains unspoiled and the visitor’s experience is unblemished by a distracting green tint on the glazing. We have seen so many excellent projects that have fallen at the final hurdle by installing sub-standard glazing – causing us to grimmace and say ‘if only’…
Does low-iron glass have a green edge?
If you were to hold a pane of standard annealed glass in your hands like a mirror, then turn it on its side, you would see the characteristic green tint of iron oxidisation. The edging of low-iron glass should have minimal colourisation if it hasn’t been entirely eliminated throughout its creation process.
What is low-iron glass used for?
Low-iron glass should be used as part of any project where the view from one side of the glazing to the other is especially important. Below we have listed just four scenarios where low-iron glazing would be suitable, but there are an almost infinite number more:
Museums
Standing before the Sutton Hoo exhibit in the British Museum, you can feel yourself being transported back through 1,000 years of history to the time of the Anglo-Saxons. These artefacts, supposedly treasured by East Anglian ruler King Raedwald, are seen at their best due to the combination of sensitive lighting and low-iron glass, preventing viewers positioned at an angle from a green glare.
Shop windows
From Saxon glass beads to modern gold, silver and diamonds in a jewellrey store window, the value of low-iron glass remains. It is important that passersby view your wares in the most representative way possible, tempting them into your shop and making a purchase.
Domestic viewpoints
Our lives can feel very disconnected from the natural splendour on offer outside our homes. By framing a particularly splendid view with bespoke low-iron glazing, you can bring a little bit of the outside in without it feeling artificial.
Skylights/rooflights
The primary function of a rooflight or skylight is to bring as much light as is possible into a space. As well as preventing a green tint, low-iron glass allows signficnatly more natural light to pass through, brightening your smace far more than with standard annealed glass.
Examples of where we have used low-iron glass
When we embark on a project, we take a very considered approach, understanding the needs of the client and the suitability of our bespoke products. As part of that approach, we will identify specific areas where low-iron glass would be very beneficial.
While we have dozens and dozens of projects that have benefitted from the low-iron glazing, here are just a couple:
Roman Villa Museum, The Newt, Somerset
Roman occupation can be observed by visitors to the museum at The Newt in Somerset through a low-iron glass walkway, providing an accurate representation of the artefacts and ancient structures below their feet. To find out more, visit the dedicated case studies page here.
Senate House, London
Nestled a stone’s throw from the British Museum in the heart of London is Senate House, a historical building in need of some tasteful modernisation. Our brief was to create a geometric, snaking glass roof, making the café and workspaces below a far brighter place – to maximise the light, we chose low-iron glass. See the project for yourself here.
Gravelly Grounds
We were tasked with designing a bespoke glass extension that allowed the occupant to immerse themselves in the natural greenery outside without any distraction from artificial greenery caused by oxidised iron within the glazing. We believe the results speak for themselves, and you can see full details of the project here.
In our humble option, the benefit of installing low-iron glazing (that of enhanced transparency) is crystal clear. Literally. Don’t let the green tint distract you and your visitors – instead, speak to our specialist team of designers about how low-iron glass can benefit your next project.