In architecture, glass serves the integral role of acting as part of the building envelope and providing transparent barriers through which individuals inside can maintain a connection with the outside world. The benefits brought on by these features have long persisted. In fact, glass windows have been architectural components since the time of the ancient Romans.
However, throughout most of history, glass windows were reserved for the wealthy and generally only provided limited visibility (Roman glass was greenish-blue and full of impurities). Today, there is a greater demand placed on a window’s performance, as well as an anticipated level of quality for the glass used in every building. ASTM C1036-21: Standard Specification for Flat Glass helps manufacturers to meet this demand by focusing on the quality of flat glass as produced.
About ASTM C1036-21
The ASTM C1036-21 specification covers laboratory testing and field evaluation for annealed, monolithic flat soda-lime glass supplied as cut sizes or stock sheets. It covers the quality requirements of flat, transparent, clear, and tinted glass and is intended to be used primarily for coated glass, insulating glass units, laminated glass, mirrors, spandrel glass, or glazing products with similar uses.
ASTM C1036-21 Glass Testing
The tests conducted through compliance with the ASTM C1036-21 standard exist mainly for the purpose of identifying any visibility issues through the flat glass tested, including those for evaluating blemishes, shell chips, ream, strings, lines, distortion, and solar/optical properties. These methods should also be used to determine the dimensions of the flat glass.
There are two types of flat glass tested: Type I (Transparent Flat Glass) and Type II (Patterned and Wired Flat Glass), which both can be of either Class 1 (Clear and Low-iron) or Class 2 (Tinted). Type I glass is further classified by quality and Type II glass by quality, form, finish, mesh, and pattern.
ASTM C1036-21 Package Marking
As for marking, it is stated in ASTM C1036-21 that
“each package of glass shall be identified by the manufacturer and include the manufacturer’s name or trademark, nominal thickness, glass description, date of manufacture or date of final packaging, and place of manufacture.”
ASTM C1036-21: Standard Specification for Flat Glass is now available on the ANSI Webstore.
