February 14, 2023

Latest Glass Technology: Saint Gobain ORAE

Written by Lewis Cox

A quick look at the recycled glass technology Saint Gobain ORAE

Saint Gobain has launched its latest technical glazing product ORAE. The breakthrough glass product is the first glass with the lowest embodied carbon on the façade market. The Saint Gobain ORAE product is the world’s first low carbon glass with approximately 40% less embodied carbon than a typical clear glass pane. While architects and specifiers all over the globe look for further ways to improve the sustainability of their designs and reduce carbon footprints, the Saint Gobain ORAE sees the latest step forward in using glass as part of a sustainable building design. The purpose of the sustainable glass product was to help significantly mitigate the level of carbon created because of construction, which in turn is accelerating the levels of sustainability that the company aims to achieve.

A quick look at the recycled glass technology Saint Gobain ORAE

Saint Gobain has launched its latest technical glazing product ORAE. The breakthrough glass product is the first glass with the lowest embodied carbon on the façade market. The Saint Gobain ORAE product is the world’s first low carbon glass with approximately 40% less embodied carbon than a typical clear glass pane. While architects and specifiers all over the globe look for further ways to improve the sustainability of their designs and reduce carbon footprints, the Saint Gobain ORAE sees the latest step forward in using glass as part of a sustainable building design. The purpose of the sustainable glass product was to help significantly mitigate the level of carbon created because of construction, which in turn is accelerating the levels of sustainability that the company aims to achieve.

ORAE Glass Specification

The aesthetics of the ORAE recycled glass product is the same as the standard Saint Gobain glass in terms of light transmission and clarity and has been designed specifically for facades. The recycled glass product offers low eternal reflection and a neutral tone for a clear glass design. Saint Gobain have advertised that the new solution is available in standard sizes and thicknesses of 4, 6 , 8 and 10mm however, 6mm is the only base product currently available. The recycled glass panes can have any typical Saint Gobain coating applied and then integrated into a double or triple glazed unit for high performance insulation.

Specifying Saint Gobain ORAE

Architects and specifiers must keep in mind that the ORAE product from Saint Gobain is currently a very new technology. The recycled glass product is currently not held in stock and ordered by glass producers on a project-by-project basis. This will mean an increased lead time over typical glass products. Saint Gobain has currently implemented a minimum order value of 400m² of glass which means the ORAE glass product is currently only suitable for large or substantial glazing subcontracts.

If you would like to discuss any further technical details of the ORAE glass or would like to look at specifying it on a project please contact the team at IQ here. If you’re looking at learning more about the sustainability of glazing you can download our Architectural Glazing and Sustainability eBook here.