Tinted / Body-Coloured Glass

Tinted Glass — Colour & Solar

The colour runs through the entire thickness — not a surface coating. Tinted glass absorbs solar energy, reducing heat gain, light transmission and glare. Darker tints and thicker panes absorb more energy.

Colour Options & Performance (6mm)

Colour	Tint Agent	Light Trans.	g-value	UV Block	Weight/m²	Brands
Bronze	Iron + Selenium	50%	0.55	70%	15 kg	Parsol Bronze, Optifloat Bronze
Grey	Cobalt + Selenium	43%	0.52	62%	15 kg	Parsol Grey, Optifloat Grey
Green	Iron Oxide	65%	0.52	55%	15 kg	Parsol Green, Optifloat Green
Aquamarine	Iron + Cobalt	60%	0.52	58%	15 kg	Parsol Aquamarine

Compare the tint shades side by side:

Performance by Thickness

Thickness	Bronze Light	Grey Light	Green Light	Weight/m²
4mm	57%	50%	72%	10 kg
6mm	50%	43%	65%	15 kg
8mm	44%	37%	59%	20 kg
10mm	38%	32%	53%	25 kg
12mm	33%	27%	48%	30 kg

Light Transmission & Solar Factor by Tint

Comparative typical ranges across the 4-12mm thickness range — darker, thicker glass always absorbs more:

Tint	Light Trans. Range	g-value Range	Character
Bronze	33-57%	0.45-0.55	Warm tone, moderate glare cut
Grey	27-50%	0.42-0.52	Neutral tone, strongest glare cut
Green	48-72%	0.42-0.52	Cooler tone, best light retention

Where Tinted Glass Works Hardest

Tinted glass earns its place wherever glare and overlooking are the problem, not just heat. It suits west-facing elevations catching low evening sun, glazed doors and screens needing privacy without curtains or film, and shopfronts or offices wanting a distinct tone from the street. Because the colour runs through the full thickness, the tint reads the same from both sides — useful where the glass is seen from outside and in, such as internal screens and balustrades.

Body-Tint vs Coated Glass

Tinted (body-coloured) glass gets its colour from metal oxides mixed into the melt — the whole pane absorbs solar energy evenly, and the tint cannot wear, scratch off or delaminate. Solar control glass instead uses a thin metallic or metal-oxide coating on one surface, which rejects heat more efficiently for a given amount of light lost. Tint is chosen primarily for its look; a coating is chosen primarily for its performance. The two are not mutually exclusive — see below.

Combining Tint with Low-E

A tinted outer pane can be paired with a Low-E coated inner pane in the same sealed unit. The tint cuts glare and solar gain from outside; the Low-E coating on surface 3 reflects room heat back inside during colder months. This combination is common where a dark tint is wanted for appearance but the unit still needs to hold a competitive U-value for Building Regs compliance.

Care Notes

Tinted glass is cleaned the same way as clear float — a standard glass cleaner and a soft cloth or squeegee. No special products are needed, and the colour will not fade or wash out since it is not a surface treatment.

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