Open letter from NGA President & CEO Nicole Harris

Date: 6 July 2020
Source: NGA

Date: 6 July 2020

The National Glass Association fully understands urgent times require urgent action. NGA members across the glass and glazing supply chain are doing everything they can to safeguard their workforce, customers, and their businesses in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Cross-border travel restrictions instituted due to the pandemic have disrupted essential operations of glass manufacturers and fabricators. The NGA urges governments to continue to recognize the essential nature of glass and glazing, and to also recognize the cross-border travel of glass industry service technicians as essential as well.  

The glass and glazing industry produces and installs building materials essential to human health, safety and security across all building types, including defense and public safety projects serving the U.S. public interest. Fabricated float glass can be used to mitigate spread of infectious diseases in many built environment applications. Since the start of the pandemic, glass has been relied upon to provide protections for frontline workers in healthcare environments, along with the many essential workers and customers in retail, office, government spaces and more.  

The essential nature of glass extends far beyond virus protection. Safety glazing and fire-safety glazing are among many specialty fabricated glass products produced by our industry, as required by our building codes in hospitals, medical centers, K-12 educational buildings, college dormitories and senior citizen residences. 

Glass plants were deemed essential businesses at the start of the pandemic and allowed to continue operations. Despite the recognition of the essential nature of glass production, cross-border travel of glass industry service technicians has been interrupted. As a result, glass plant operations are being interrupted and hindered when machinery and equipment requires service technicians from the countries where the technologies originate.  

The NGA fully supports all government actions in this crisis and all that’s being done to mitigate loss of life and suffering. NGA is working hard to help our members and the industry at large to comply with all CDC and other government mandates to stem the crisis and flatten the curve.  

To ensure glass companies can continue operations and provide glass for safe and healthy spaces, the NGA urges the extension of the essential designation of glass plants to the related travel of industry technicians.  

With great respect, 

Nicole Harris signature

Nicole Harris

President & CEO 

National Glass Association 

600450 Open letter from NGA President & CEO Nicole Harris glassonweb.com

See more news about:

Others also read

Don't miss the premier event for glazing contractors to learn, network, and tackle industry challenges.The Glazing Executives Forum will be held on Nov. 4, in conjunction with GlassBuild America in Orlando.
FTI is set to highlight the future of high-performance façade design at GlassBuild America 2025 as part of the architect-focused Blueprint for Collaboration program.
YKK AP reinforces European expansion with strategic acquisition, diversifying product offering to include wood-based solutions
NSG Group is pleased to announce that Pilkington Polska Sp. z o.o., a member of NSG Group, plans to install an advanced architectural glass coating line at its facility in Sandomierz, Poland.
Certification opportunities take center stage at GlassBuild America 2025 as NGA and AGMCC once again bring hands-on AGMT testing to the show floor.
Saint-Gobain has begun building its 7th float glass line and 5th mineral wool insulation line in Oragadam, Chennai.

Add new comment

From industry