Buildings
Structure, lining, insulation or finish depending on family.
Darker cells mean a higher score for this topic on that metric.
Strength50
Heat resistance58
Fire performance88
Insulation28
Workability55
Circularity70
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Last reviewed Sources & creditsMedia creditsMethodology
Quick answers
Is Glass non-combustible?
Declared reaction class in this atlas: A1. Assemblies still need resistance tests.
Does Glass insulate?
Thermal mark 28/100 versus the atlas. Conductivity note: ~1 W/m·K.
What is the density band?
~2.5 g/cm³
How is it made?
Origin story: Mesopotamia / Egypt; float 1959 (Near East → St Helens).
Can it be recycled?
Circularity mark 70/100 — editorial, route-specific.
Typical melting or failure heat?
softens ~500–700 °C
heat 58 · fire 88
Glass earns its keep in systems: a beam, a batt, a fibre blend, a coated steel — rarely a lone coupon.
Products below are cultural landmarks as much as SKUs.
Sectors
Transport
Mass, fire and fatigue rewrite the grade list.
Energy
Heat, voltage and hydrogen compatibility.
Consumer
The volume that pays for the mill.
Medical / food
When allowed — extractables and allergies matter.
Defence / safety
Ballistics, FR clothing, fire stops.
Products
Pilkington float
1959
Portland Vase
Roman
Crystal Palace
1851
Owens machine
1903
Low-e IGU
1980s–
Gorilla Glass
2007–
Stained cathedral
medieval
Glass wool cousin
1930s–
Pairings
technical-ceramics
Crystalline cousins that do not flow like glass.
mineral-wool
Glass wool is the fibrous insulation form.
gypsum-board
The usual fire wall next to glazing.
aerogel
Transparent insulation research vs IGU.
If the pairing is wrong, the material will be blamed for a system fault.
Keep exploring
More in Ceramics & wood
💎
Technical ceramics
Crystalline oxides and carbides for heat, wear and electronics — not the mug on the desk.
Overall 64 🏗️Concrete
The hydraulic ceramic of cities — cement, water, rock and usually steel, with a fire story better than exposed steel.
Overall 57 🌲Wood
Anisotropic cellulose composite grown as trees — carpentry, mass timber and a combustible story that codes still manage.
Overall 57 🎋Bamboo
A fast grass culm sold as timber — scaffolding, flooring and a glue story that decides the indoor air.
Overall 55