Keeping Birds (and the Environment) Safe
Collisions with glass façades are a major cause of bird mortality in North America, claiming the lives of millions of birds each year. That's why Vitro Architectural Glass and Walker Glass teamed up to create an energy-efficient, award-winning solution. AviProtek® E glass unites bird-safe, acid-etched visual patterns by Walker Glass with high-performance Solarban® solar control low‑e coatings.
A Sustainable, Bird-Safe Solution
The partnership between Walker Glass and Vitro provides a bird-safe glazing solution while saving energy. AviProtek® E bird-safe low-e glass helps architects and building owners to achieve their environmental goals, earn LEED® credits and meet solar-performance targets. AviProtek® E glass has received numerous accolades, including a "Best of 2015" selection by Architectural Record and USGlass magazine's 2019 Green Award.
AviProtek® E is the only bird-safe glass product available with an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). This allows architects to secure an additional LEED point for their projects using Pilot Credit 55 related to bird deterrence. It also meets California building legislation requirement (AB262) to be enacted in 2020. AviProtek® E also has a Health Product Declaration (HPD), which contributes to LEED points in the Materials & Resources (MR) Category.
Why AviProtek® E?
While ceramic frit is commonly used to satisfy bird-safe glass requirements, acid-etched visual markers—such as those used in AviProtek® E bird-safe glass—are generally more effective when optimized for energy efficiency. By placing acid-etched visual markers on the first surface of an IGU, which is preferred to prevent bird collisions, a Solarban® solar control, low-e coating can be applied to the second surface—which is ideal for optimizing performance. Walker Glass also offers a 10-year warranty on its acid-etched products.
Ceramic frit is not optimized for the first surface of IGUs. When ceramic frit is placed on the first surface, the low-e coating must be placed on the third surface, potentially compromising energy performance.
Fabrication & Availability
AviProtek® E glass patterns can be applied as horizontal, vertical or decorative visual markers on the first (exterior) surface of both clear and Starphire Ultra-Clear® glass substrates; and with Solarban® 60 or Solarban® 70 glass on the second (interior) surface of an insulating glass unit (IGU).
AviProtek® E glass is available in 6 mm thicknesses at sizes of 96″ x 130″, exclusively through the Vitro Certified® Network.
