Bird-Friendly Architectural Glass

Applications Bird-Friendly Glass.

We believe buildings should be beautiful — and safe for birds. Our bird-friendly glass solutions are designed to help birds see buildings and avoid glass surfaces, reducing collisions and supporting conservation efforts. We offer a variety of standard patterns that meet American Bird Conservancy guidelines and evolving bird-friendly building design criteria. Bird-friendly patterns are available in two formats: first-surface laser etching and second-surface ceramic enamel printing — both compatible with Viracon’s high-performance Low-E coatings for exceptional aesthetics and thermal efficiency.

Surface #1 Printing Laser-Etch Patterns.

View the SoarSafe® Sell Sheet

Viracon's SoarSafe is a subtle, but effective, first-surface laser-etch offering featuring standard dot patterns that lower reflectivity and increase bird safety.

First-surface, laser-etched glass
Available in three popular dot patterns
2”x 2” and 2”x 4” design rule
Meets ABC Threat Factor 20 or 25
All Viracon Low-E coatings available on second surface

SoarSafe Bird-Friendly Patterns

51767 Bird-Friendly
SoarSafe

1% Coverage
1/4” Dots, Staggered
2x2 | TF 20

51777 Bird-Friendly
SoarSafe

1% Coverage
1/4” Dots, 2” Inline
2x2 | TF 20

51205 Bird-Friendly
SoarSafe

0.6% Coverage
1/4” Dots, Inline
2x4 | TF 25

Surface #2 PrintingStandard Bird-Friendly Patterns.

Viracon offers a wide variety of standard and custom print patterns applied to the second surface using ceramic enamel. Below is our standard bird-friendly pattern offering.

Threat Factor 20 or 25

Viracon VE-2M, VNE-63, or VUE-50 coatings offered to meet American Bird Conservancy (ABC) reflectivity criteria

Custom patterns and custom ceramic enamel colors available upon request

Standard Patterns

20566 Bird-Friendly

3% Coverage
1/8” Lines
4” On-center
Vertical
2×4 | TF 25

2824 Bird-Friendly

6% Coverage
1/8” Lines
2” On-center
Horizontal or Vertical
2x2 | TF 20

2070 Bird-Friendly

20% Coverage
1/4” Lines
1-1/4” On-center
Horizontal or Vertical
< 2” Spacing | TF 25

51205 Bird-Friendly

0.6% Coverage
1/4” Dots
Inline
2x4 | TF 25

51777 Bird-Friendly

1% Coverage
1/4” Dots
2” Inline
2x2 | TF 20

51767 Bird-Friendly

1% Coverage
1/4” Dots
Staggered
2x2 | TF 20

50956 Bird-Friendly

20% Coverage
1/4” Dots
Staggered
< 2” Spacing | TF 25

Surface #2 Printing Birds-Eye View.

Standard Opaque Ceramic Enamel Colors

Viracon offers six standard ceramic enamel colors that can be printed on the second surface,
combined with a Low-E coating. Custom ceramic enamel colors are available upon request.

V951

White

V952

Warm Gray

V953

Medium Gray

V954

Gray

V955

Black

V957

Subdued Gray

Bird-FriendlyExplore.

Design Considerations

Comply with bird-friendly building design criteria

Surface #1 SoarSafe and Surface #2 Printing

Available on all substrates (including tinted glass)
Available with all glass thicknesses – 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm
For details on size guidelines, visit the Sizes page

Surface #1 SoarSafe Laser Etch

Available in three dot patterns - 51767, 51777, 51205
Additional patterns and custom patterns are not available
Gloss reading of etch markers (60%) ≤6
All Viracon Low-E coatings available on second surface
View the SoarSafe sell sheet

Surface #2 Ceramic Enamel Print

Seven standard line and dot patterns
Six standard ceramic enamel color options
Custom patterns and custom ceramic enamel colors available
Choose from Viracon’s VE-2M, VNE-63 or VUE-50 coatings to meet ABC reflectivity criteria ≤15%

Viracon’s Involvement

Our involvement in ongoing bird-friendly glass research

As a glass fabricator, Viracon has been actively involved in the ongoing bird-friendly glass research, focusing specifically on finding practical solutions using conventional glass products for buildings with applied patterns.

Additional information about the research and testing is available in the Tech Talk.

Bird-Friendly Tech Talk