Glass and Glazing Testing, Certification & Failure Analysis

Intertek performs glass and glazing testing through accredited Building and Construction laboratories across North America. These facilities support manufacturers, fabricators, architects, contractors, and building owners who need reliable performance data, code-compliance evaluations, and objective assessments of glazing systems for commercial, institutional, residential, industrial, healthcare, educational, and other structures.

Intertek Glass and Glazing Testing

Why Does Glass and Glazing Performance Matter?

Glass influences building safety, energy use, occupant comfort, long-term reliability and bird safety. Intertek evaluates glazing systems using standards from ASTM International, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA, formerly AAMA), the Insulating Glass Certification Council (IGCC), the Safety Glazing Certification Council (SGCC), the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC), and windborne debris test standards.

Testing and certification support code approvals, strengthen product design, and help building owners address issues such as water intrusion, fogging, delamination, breakage, or seal failure.

Testing confirms whether glazing systems meet project requirements and code expectations. Certification and evaluation also support acceptance by architects, building officials, and authorities having jurisdiction.

Glazing Product Testing for Building Product Manufacturers

What Performance Tests Apply to My Glazing Systems?

Intertek evaluates glazing systems for structural strength, weather performance, thermal response, impact resistance, acoustic performance, and durability. These tests show how glass performs in real conditions and under the requirements set by building codes and industry standards.

Performance Testing Overview Table

The table below outlines the core glazing tests used across North America to evaluate structural load, weather resistance, thermal performance, impact behavior, and acoustics. These standards apply to commercial, institutional, and multifamily buildings, and in some cases to residential products where codes require documented performance.

How Does Intertek Support Certification and Code Approval?

Intertek provides the testing, inspections, audits and documentation required for the Insulating Glass Certification Council (IGCC), the Safety Glazing Certification Council (SGCC), the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) and regional approval programs. These services help manufacturers demonstrate compliance, streamline submissions, and meet the expectations of building officials and authorities having jurisdiction.

Certification and Testing Standard Reference Table

The table below summarizes the major glazing certification programs used across North America and the specific testing, inspections, and documentation Intertek provides to support compliance and code approval.

Learn more about Intertek's Certification and Code Evaluation services:
https://www.intertek.com/building/certification/

Intertek's Evaluation Services team provides additional code compliance pathways and documentation:
https://www.intertek.com/building/evaluation-services/

External References for Manufacturers

The resources below link directly to industry standards and approval agencies that govern glazing performance, safety, and code compliance across North America.

• ANSI Z97.1 Safety Glazing Standard: https://www.astm.org/standards/z97.htm
• ASTM International: https://www.astm.org/
• Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA): https://fgiaonline.org/
• Florida Product Approval (FPA): https://www.floridabuilding.org/pr/pr_app_srch.aspx
• Insulating Glass Certification Council (IGCC): https://igcc.org
• Miami-Dade Product Approvals: https://www.miamidade.gov/permits/product-approvals.asp
• National Glass Association (NGA): https://www.glass.org/
• Safety Glazing Certification Council (SGCC): https://sgcc.org

What Glazing Products Can Intertek Test?

Intertek tests a wide range of glazing and fenestration products used in commercial, institutional, residential, industrial, healthcare, and educational buildings. Testing applies to new systems and existing installations.

Fenestration systems tested include:

• Curtain wall systems (unitized and stick-built)
• Storefront systems
• Window wall systems
• Residential and commercial windows in aluminum, vinyl, wood, and composite materials
• Exterior glazed doors, sliding doors, and terrace doors
• Skylights and sloped glazing

Glazing products and glass types tested include:

• Insulating glass units (IGUs)
• Safety glazing, including tempered and laminated glass
• Impact-resistant glazing for hurricane and tornado regions
• Fire-rated glazing and framing
• Blast- and ballistic-resistant glazing
• Interior glazed partitions
• Dynamic and specialty glazing, including electrochromic, switchable, and custom assemblies

Certification Categories

Intertek supports the following glazing certification pathways:

• Insulating glass certification (IGCC/IGMA)
• Safety glazing certification (SGCC/ANSI Z97.1/CPSC 16 CFR 1201)
• Impact-resistant glazing (ASTM E1886/E1996, TAS 201–203, ICC-500)
• Ballistic, blast, and forced-entry glazing
• Laminated glass and interlayer systems
• Coatings and surface treatments
• NFRC U-factor, SHGC, and condensation ratings

Fenestration Testing: https://www.intertek.com/building/performance/fenestration-testing/

Intertek Insulating Glass Testing

What Testing and Analysis are Available for Building Owners and Facility Managers?

Intertek offers diagnostics, field testing, and forensic evaluation to help building owners confirm glazing system performance, identify issues early, and document the results of repairs or replacements.

Who can Diagnose Leaks, Fogging, or Breakage in Installed Glass?

Glazing failures should be evaluated by an independent testing and diagnostics provider with expertise in building-envelope performance. Intertek performs field testing, diagnostics, and forensic evaluation to identify the cause of leaks, fogging, breakage, and related issues. The team documents root causes, supports repair recommendations, and verifies whether corrective work restores performance.

Common Field and Diagnostic Services

When glazing issues appear in the field, these are the services most often used to identify the source and document performance:

• Air and water leakage testing
• Window, door, and curtain wall pressure testing
• Leak tracing using controlled spray and pressure equipment
• Moisture mapping and visual assessment
• Forensic glass evaluation (coatings, laminates, sealants, spacers)
• Post-repair verification testing

Field Testing Services: https://www.intertek.com/building/field-testing/
Building Diagnostics: https://www.intertek.com/building/

Related Glazing Topics for Building Owners

Building Envelope • Forensics • Repair Verification

Specialized and Emerging Glass and Glazing Testing & Standards

Intertek provides advanced glazing evaluations for systems that must meet enhanced security, durability, or environmental requirements. These services support projects in high-risk, coastal, cold-weather, or high-traffic regions across North America.

What Advanced or Specialized Glazing Tests Does Intertek Offer?

Intertek provides advanced evaluations for glazing systems that require higher levels of security, durability, bird friendliness or environmental performance. Services include ballistic, blast, forced-entry, and active-shooter testing; hurricane impact and cyclic-pressure evaluations; bird-safe testing; coating and lamination durability testing; and flood-exposure evaluations.

Specialized Testing Table

The table outlines key specialized glazing tests Intertek performs across North America.

What Additional Testing Services Support Glass and Glazing Performance?

Many glazing products rely on other forms of testing to validate performance across the whole building enclosure. Intertek provides additional services that complement glass and glazing evaluations, including:

• Acoustical Testing, Consulting & Noise Assessment for Building Products
• Air, Water, Structural Performance
• Durability Performance for Building Products
• Fire Resistance Testing Services
• Material Testing for Building Products
• Pre-Construction Mockup Testing
• Thermal Conductivity & Thermal Resistance
• Weathering Performance Testing
• Automotive

Why Intertek?

Intertek provides coordinated testing, certification, and forensic evaluation through accredited laboratories across North America. Services support manufacturers, architects, contractors, and building owners who need documented performance and code-compliance data.

• Accredited laboratories across North America
• Integrated testing, certification, and code-compliance services
• Full building-envelope evaluation capabilities
• Field diagnostics and repair verification
• Clear documentation for architects, specifiers, and code officials

Contact Intertek Building & Construction: https://www.intertek.com/building/contact/

How has Intertek Helped Manufacturers, Architects, and Building Owners?

Here are some examples of how Intertek has supported glazing performance, certification, and diagnostics across North American projects:

• Identified the cause of recurring fogging in IG units for a healthcare facility and validated repairs through post-repair testing.
• Tested bird-safe glazing for a mixed-use development requiring reflective marker evaluation.
• Performed hurricane-impact verification for a coastal high-rise using TAS 201/202/203.
• Conducted air, water, and structural field testing for a multifamily building experiencing window-leak complaints.
• Completed NFRC thermal testing and documentation for a manufacturer launching a new commercial glazing line.
• Provided forensic analysis of laminated glazing delamination for a civic building and recommended corrective actions.

Complete Glass and Glazing Solutions | Fact Sheet

As an industry leader in the testing, inspection, and certification of glass and glazing, Intertek is the premium choice for all of your glass and glazing needs, with one of the most recognized certification marks in the industry.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Authorship and Review

Authored by: Intertek Building and Construction Editorial Team

Reviewed by: Jose Colon, Director of U.S. Sales for Intertek's Building & Construction Products division, and Alan Scott, FAIA, LEED Fellow, Director of Building Science Solutions for Intertek's Building & Construction Products division.

Date: November 2025