Guardian Glass North America has announced an extension of its bird-friendly glass range. The new glass features an almost invisible ultraviolet pattern that birds can see clearly, while it is barely noticeable to people. Bird1st UV has a Threat Factor of ≤25 according to the American Bird Conservancy. A value of ≤25 means that out of 100 potential collisions, no more than 25 occur. For comparison, the American Bird Conservancy considers materials with a rating of up to 30 suitable for bird-friendly buildings.
The pattern reflects more than 75% of ultraviolet light, creating a clear signal for birds, while the laminated outer glass absorbs more than 99% of UV radiation outside the patterned areas. This approach helps maintain clear views for people while improving bird safety.
Bird1st UV is compatible with key SunGuard low-E coatings and is available in jumbo and super jumbo sizes.
In addition to Bird1st UV, other bird-visible products are also available on the market. In the architectural glass segment, these include Pilkington AviSafe from NSG Group, BirdSmart Bird Safe Glass from Vitro Architectural Glass, AviProtek and AviProtek E from Walker Glass, Bird Guard Glass from Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope – OBE, 4BIRD and 4BIRD Lami from Saint-Gobain Glass, ORNILUX mikado, ORNILUX mikado one and ORNILUX super mikado from Arnold Glas, as well as SEEN Elements from SEEN AG. For laminated glass, manufacturers also offer interlayer films, including Saflex FlySafe 3D from Eastman and BirdSecure Pro from Kuraray.
Read also: Bird-visible glass used in special insulating glass units with integrated blinds.