EN 572-1

EN 572-1 is the standard that defines the terminology and the general physical and mechanical properties for the family of basic soda lime silicate glass products used in buildings. In architectural glass applications, this base material category provides a common technical language for flat glass used in windows, facades, partitions, and related systems, so product types, performance traits, and comparisons can be discussed using the same concepts.

The base glass family and what it means technically

Soda lime silicate glass is one of the most widely used glass compositions in the industry. It is produced from a silica-based glass network modified with soda and lime, and it serves as the starting material for many architectural glass products. Rather than prescribing a specific test regime, this part of the standard establishes a consistent understanding of the names and general material characteristics used for this product family.

Why these definitions matter in building glass

Glass used in buildings is not treated simply as a transparent sheet; thickness, surface condition, flatness, mechanical strength, and other application-related physical properties all influence design and manufacturing decisions. The general physical and mechanical properties addressed here create a common technical framework for classifying different glass products and distinguishing between building-glass applications that rely on the same base material.

• The standard brings together definitions for basic soda lime silicate glass products.
• It provides a shared vocabulary for general physical and mechanical properties in building glass.
• It supports consistent comparison and classification of architectural glass products.
• This part describes the base glass family and is read together with later product- or performance-focused parts.

In general technical terms, this document is concerned with how the product family is named and how its fundamental behavior is understood, rather than with the detailed chemistry of a specific product grade. For designers, manufacturers, and technical teams working with building glass, it is therefore a reference point for terminology and material character.