The Glazing Industry: 2023 Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities

From sleek windows of cutting-edge automobiles to sustainability advancements on the windows that make up our towering skyscrapers, the glazing industry has plenty of room to grow over the next decade.

As a forward-thinking glazing company, Advantage Drafting is consistently looking toward the future in this dynamic and rapidly evolving industry. Whether you’re a manufacturer, architect, designer, engineer, or investor, it’s important to understand the trends, challenges, and opportunities that lie ahead, which is why we want to provide you with an outlook on glazing industry trends for 2023 and beyond.

The Current State of the Glazing Industry

Over the last five years, revenue in the glass and glazing contracting sector has experienced a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 0.2%, reaching a total of $19.9 billion. 

However, this growth trajectory has been tempered by a notable 2.4% decline in 2023. 

During this period, the profit margin consistently held at 6.4%, and the downturn was attributed to the challenges faced by the nonresidential construction segment, which had been adversely impacted by economic uncertainties and shutdowns. 

The nonresidential construction category encompasses a wide range of projects, including manufacturing facilities, institutional structures, commercial warehouses, restaurants, retail establishments, office buildings, and hotels. 

Luckily, the industry is looking toward a recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted operational processes due to a pronounced disparity in raw material supply and demand. 

However, as supply chains get back on track, experts are now saying that they expect the glass market to boom in the coming five years. In fact, according to Insight Partners, the architectural glass market will surpass $75 billion by 2028.

New Trends to Look Out For

Switchable Privacy Glass

Switchable privacy glass is a groundbreaking technology that, with the mere push of a button, offers an innovative solution that transforms transparent glass panels into an opaque state.

The instant transition can now help safeguard privacy only when necessary by segmenting spaces and amplifying the flexibility of your commercial properties.

We anticipate seeing the integration of switchable privacy glass in numerous upcoming construction projects throughout the year 2023 and beyond. 

Green Initiatives

Globally, windows contribute significantly to the excessive transfer of heat, both in terms of unwanted heat entering and desired heat escaping, in the interaction between structures and their surroundings.

 In the United States alone, windows account for a disproportionate loss of more than 3% of overall energy consumption. Similarly, this percentage is higher in the UK at 6% and Sweden at 7%

To combat energy loss and maintain the trend toward eco-friendly structures, we can expect to see a rise in green glazing materials and methods, including Low-e coatings, double and triple glazing, spectrally selecting coatings, PCM incorporation, and smart glass. 

Dynamic Facade Design

More and more architects are beginning to incorporate dynamic glass facades into their projects. Dynamic glass can have its transparency automatically adjusted based on external factors like temperature or sunlight intensity, optimizing both the comfort of those indoors and the energy efficiency of the building itself.

Though these technologies have limits in how they respond to programmatic and bioclimatic conditions, as they don’t have the ability to adjust precisely to the continuously shifting intensity of solar resources, new technological developments in electropolymeric technologies may provide us with new ways to enhance building performance. 

Flat Glass Construction

The contract glazing sector in the United States is primarily propelled by the increasing need for flat glass products in the construction and automobile sectors. In fact, in 2019, flat glass stood as the dominant segment within this market, constituting a substantial volume share of over 94.0%. 

Experts project this prevailing pattern to persist in the years ahead. Within the construction realm, the utilization of flat glass contributes to enhancing both the transmission of light and heat within buildings as well as overall visual appeal. 

Challenges Facing the Glazing Industry

Supply Chain Issues

Though the glazing industry has encountered material availability challenges over the past few years, there has been some improvement in aspects like supplier performance, delivery times, backlogs, and shortages.

Still, it’s important to consider the potential of lingering risks within the future supply chain.

As the market continues to be more active, firms must be more discerning in the projects they bid on so as not to take on excessive work that becomes unexpectedly postponed.

New Regulatory Changes

Keeping an eye on evolving building codes, safety regulations, and environmental standards is equally important. We often see new regulations put in place to ensure the safety of a building’s occupants, promote energy efficiency, or reduce the overall environmental impact of buildings. We also have ever-changing regulations put in place to protect workers, such as the SBA’s New Subcontracting Rule.

For example, in December 2021 unveiled new federal Building Regulations, signaling a significant shift in line with the trajectory towards the 2025 Future Homes Standard. They became effective on June 15th, 2022, and their primary objective was to curtail carbon emissions, with the ultimate aim of ensuring that all newly constructed homes align with the 2050 net zero target.

As new building regulations unfold, they’ll have a direct impact on the glazing industry, especially when it comes to ventilation enhancement, elevation of energy efficiency performance, and temperature regulation. 

Final Thoughts – Preparing for the Future of the Glazing Industry

As we move forward, it’s increasingly evident how important it is to stay well-informed about industry dynamics so you can make informed and strategic decisions.

The emphasis on eco-friendly materials, energy-saving technologies, and compliance with evolving regulations highlights the glazing industry’s commitment to environmental responsibility, while the integration of smart technologies within glazing systems promises will provide enhanced functionality and user experience.

In a landscape that is shaped by advancements in technology, regulatory changes, and shifting consumer preferences, we here at Advantage Drafting aim to stay ahead of the curve. If you’re ready to collaborate with a forward-thinking company, request a free quote for your next project today.