New Glass Technical Resource on Decorative Color Variance Now Available

The National Glass Association (NGA) is proud to announce the publication of another new technical resource, eight years under development, Determining an Acceptable Color Variance for Decorative Glass.

This eight-page Glass Technical Paper (GTP) establishes a voluntary measurable industry acceptable color variance for decorative glazing products that can be used as a baseline for specification. The document addresses measuring tolerances, both reflected and transmitted, of decorative glazing with solid uniform color applied as a pigmented coating or interlayer.

“This publication is an exciting milestone for our industry,” says Michael Saroka, task group chair and chief product officer at Goldray Glass. “It represents the dedication and collaboration of a team spanning the entire supply chain. From design choices and raw materials to fabrication and final installation, every step plays a role in the final color of decorative glass in construction. By facilitating early discussions and setting clear expectations, this document serves as a valuable resource for achieving project success.”

The new GTP further defines optical density and transparency metrics, and includes a table of suggested color tolerance for various glass substrates across batches. It also outlines measuring equipment and glass color calculation formulas.

NGA thanks the task group members who developed this resource for the industry.

Task Group Members
Michael Saroka, Goldray Glass – Chair
Dan Laporte, McGrory Glass
Paul DiCesare, Vitro Architectural Glass
Jeff Nicholson, ICD High Performance Coatings
Kayla Natividad, Pilkington North America
Julia Schimmelpenningh, Eastman
Randy Reynolds, Glass Coatings and Concepts
Bobby Chestnut, Walker Glass
Vaughn Schauss, Kuraray America
Marc Deschamps, Walker Glass
Jon Griggs, Guardian Glass
Nicholas Karpa, Glass Coatings and Concepts
Aaron Thompson, Viracon
Jim Gulnick, McGrory Glass
Jason Fisher, Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope
Thomas Wojtowicz, Viracon
James Wright, Thompson Innovative Glass
Michael Morrissey
Kevin Ramus
Rick Wright

Determining an Acceptable Color Variance for Decorative Glass can be downloaded from the NGA Store.