Glass & Facade from China – buyer’s guide
Guangdong’s glass processors, many in Foshan and Zhaoqing, turn float glass from the big Chinese producers into tempered, laminated and insulated units, and the aluminium factories of Dali build the curtain wall frames around them. For projects that already buy windows from Foshan, adding railings, shower enclosures and facade glass is straightforward.
Product families
- Tempered and heat-strengthened glass – 5–19 mm, clear, ultra-clear (low-iron), tinted, frosted.
- Laminated glass – PVB or SGP interlayers for safety, security and acoustic performance.
- Insulated glass units – double and triple glazing with Low-E coatings, argon fill, warm-edge spacers.
- Curtain wall – stick and unitised systems, spider fittings and point-fixed glass.
- Interior glass – frameless shower enclosures, glass railings and balustrades, partitions, mirrors.
Quality and standards
Look for the CCC mark on tempered glass (mandatory in China), heat-soak testing for facade glass (reduces spontaneous breakage from nickel sulphide), and EN 12150 / ASTM C1048 equivalence for your market. Edge work (polished, bevelled), hole tolerance and flatness matter for railings and shower doors – get a sample piece before ordering a project.
Price ranges (ex-works, 2026)
| Product | Indicative EXW price |
|---|---|
| Tempered clear 10 mm, polished edges | USD 12 – 18 / m² |
| Tempered ultra-clear 12 mm | USD 22 – 32 / m² |
| Laminated 6.38 mm (3+0.38+3) | USD 14 – 22 / m² |
| Laminated tempered 10+1.52+10 SGP | USD 60 – 95 / m² |
| Low-E IGU 6+12A+6, argon | USD 28 – 45 / m² |
| Frameless shower enclosure 900×900×2000, 8 mm, hardware | USD 120 – 260 / set |
| Unitised curtain wall, Low-E IGU | USD 180 – 350 / m² |
Packing and shipping
Glass ships in plywood crates or steel A-frames with cork separators and moisture absorbers; IGUs must stay upright. Expect 1–2% breakage and order spares for every size. Curtain wall units ship in custom steel racks. Marine insurance is essential.
Before you sign the pro-forma
- Glass build-up per opening (thickness, coating, interlayer, spacer, gas)
- CCC / EN / ASTM compliance and heat-soak test where specified
- Cutting list with hole positions and edge finish; sample piece approved
- Crating standard, upright storage and moisture absorbers
- 2–3% spares per size; marine insurance
- For curtain wall: shop drawings, mock-up unit and performance test reports
Related guides: Doors & windows · Hardware · Lighting
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