USGlass Magazine
Readers’ Choice Award
Bird Friendly Glass
AviProtek® E
Low E Bird-Safe Glass
AviProtek® E is an energy efficient bird friendly glass that reduces bird collisions while improving a building’s energy performance. Architects can choose from a variety of acid etched patterns, paired with a choice of Solarban® low emissivity coatings on surface two.
9
Pattern Options
10 year
Limited Warranty
LEED
Eligible
Acid-Etched Patterns
Choose your bird-safe pattern
This bird safe glass is ideal for applications that require bird collision deterrence and energy performance. For applications that do not require low emissivity glass, or where both sides of the glass are exposed, we recommend the original AviProtek® Bird Friendly Glass.
Product Details
Specifications
AviProtek® E glass features bird friendly acid etched patterns on surface 1 and a low e coating on surface 2. The patterns are etched directly into the glass itself without any films or coatings, making this a durable and low-maintenance solution, and the surface-two placement of the low e coating supports maximum energy efficiency.
- Thickness6mm (1/4″), others available on demand
- DimensionsStandard 96″ × 130″
- SubstratesClear and Starphire Ultra-Clear® by Vitro Architectural Glass. Other substrates available on demand.
- Min. Order4,000 lb (one block)
- ApplicationExterior
- SurfaceEtching on exterior surface (surface 1) only
- EnergyAvailable with Solarban® 60 and Solarban® 70 by Vitro, other coatings available on demand.
- Warranty10-year limited warranty against surface degradation
- Warranty for the low-e coatingFor more information, please communicate with the Vitro Customer Service Department.
See it in action
AviProtek® E — Product Overview
See how AviProtek® E combines bird-safe acid-etched patterns with Vitro's Solarban® low-e coating technology.
Recognition
Industry Awards
AviProtek® E has earned recognition from leading architectural and glass industry publications for its innovation in sustainable, bird-safe design.
2021
2021
2019
Compare Solutions
Which AviProtek® solution is right for your project?
The right AviProtek® depends on your glazing system and energy requirements. All variants share the same acid-etched surface technology.
| Feature | AviProtek® E Low-e Bird Safe · This page | AviProtek® Standard | AviProtek® T Transparent | AviProtek® Turbo High Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bird friendly pattern | Acid-etched on surface 1 | Acid-etched on surface 1 | UV-reflective on surface 1 | Acid-etched on surface 1 |
| Energy-efficient low-e coating | Included on surface 2 | Can be used on surface 3 | Can be used on surface 3 | Available on surface 2 |
| Visibility of patterns to the human eye | Visible but unobtrusive | Visible but unobtrusive | Almost invisible | Visible but unobtrusive |
| Compliant with bird safe design requirements across North America | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Threat factor ratings from ABC | ✓ | ✓ | No | ✓ |
| Impact on light flow | No impact | No impact | Minimal impact | No impact |
| EPD and HPD available | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | HPD only |
Sustainability
Built for birds. Built for buildings.
AviProtek® is a genuine environmental solution — not a marketing claim. Acid-etching eliminates the need for applied films that degrade over time and generate waste.
LEED Credit Eligible
AviProtek® E bird friendly glass can contribute to the following credits under LEED v4.1 Building Design + Construction (BD+C).
Meets Bird Ordinances
Compliant with FLAP Canada, New York City Local Law 15, San Francisco’s Standards, and other bird-friendly building guidelines across North America.
No Films or Coatings
The pattern is etched permanently into the glass surface itself. No film delamination, no replacement cycles, no waste — ever.
LEED® Eligible
FLAP Canada Approved
NYC Local Law 15CSA 460:10 CompliantToronto Green StandardSan Francisco Standards for Bird-Safe BuildingsTested & Rated by the American Bird Conservancy10-Year Warranty
CSI MasterFormat Spec
Documentation
Technical Documents
Everything architects, specifiers, and fabricators need — from CSI specs to handling guides.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How does low e bird safe glass work?
Low-e bird safe glass combines two complementary technologies: a low-emissivity (low-e) coating on surface two to enhance thermal performance, and a bird friendly acid etched design on surface one that provides visible cues for birds to perceive the glass as a barrier and avoid collision.
The low e coating reflects long-wave infrared heat and selectively transmits visible light, reducing heat gain or heat loss depending on climate and unit configuration.
What is bird safe glass?
Bird safe glass, also known as bird friendly glass, bird glass, or bird frit, is a type of architectural glass product designed to prevent bird glass collisions. Birds can’t see glass, but they can see the visual markers on the surface of the product. As a result, they recognize the presence of a barrier and avoid collision.
Bird safe glass may incorporate acid etched patterns or UV reflective treatments, among other options.
What is low emissivity glass?
Low emissivity glass (often called “low-e glass”) is glazing that incorporates a thin chemical coating applied to a glass surface. This coating reduces the emissivity of the glass, meaning it reflects long-wave (thermal) radiation rather than allowing it to pass through, while maintaining or optimizing visible light transmission. The result is improved thermal insulation (lower U-value) and/or improved solar control (lower SHGC), depending on design.
Is AviProtek® E bird friendly low e glass available on tinted glass?
Yes, this energy efficient bird safe solution is available on tinted glass. We encourage you to validate the availability and minimum order quantity of tinted substrates with your Gardner Walker Architectural Manager.
Does bird safe glass with low e affect natural light or the view through windows?
AviProtek® E acid etched markers are subtle and cover as little as 1% or less of the surface of the glass, so they maintain views through the glass and have no effect on daylighting. For details about the clarity and visible light transmittance of Solarban® low emissivity glass, please refer to their Technical Data Sheets, available from the Vitro Architectural Glass website.
What are the benefits of bird safe low e glass?
Bird safe low e glass offers a combination of performance and sustainability benefits tailored to both architects and glass fabricators:
- Energy Efficiency: The low e coating reduces heat transfer and/or solar heat gain, enabling compliance with energy codes and improving occupant comfort.
- Bird Collision Mitigation: The bird friendly surface treatment turns glass into a surface birds can detect and avoid, thereby reducing collisions and supporting wildlife conservation goals.
- Design Flexibility: These systems allow for large, transparent façades and high daylighting levels while meeting both aesthetic and performance demands, including bird safe building mandates and sustainability certifications like LEED.
- Regulatory & Sustainability Compliance: Many municipalities and green building programs now mandate or reward bird friendly glazing solutions. Combining that with low e addresses multiple specification drivers in one product.
- Fabrication and Installation Efficiency: For glass fabricators, delivering a single IGU with both low e and bird safe patterning simplifies logistics compared to separate products or retrofit treatments.
- Occupant Wellbeing & View Quality: Because good quality bird safe low e glass maintains high visible light and clarity, building occupants benefit from daylight, views and aesthetics, while birds benefit from reduced collision risk.
Projects
AviProtek® E in the field
Thousands of projects across North America — from transit shelters to curtain walls on mid-rise towers.
What Professionals Say
Trusted by architects and fabricators
The permanence of the etching is what sold us. We’ve specified bird-safe film solutions before and the maintenance callbacks are a liability. AviProtek® is a specification we’re confident in for the long term.
Principal Architect
Mid-rise Commercial Practice, Chicago
Our fabrication team found the handling and tempering process completely straightforward. The etching holds up through secondary processing without any special handling beyond standard acid-etch protocols.
Operations Manager
Glass Fabricator, Pacific Northwest
For our NYC project we needed a solution that met Local Law 15 requirements and could integrate with our high-performance glazing system. AviProtek® E gave us both without any compromise on thermal performance.
Facade Consultant
Building Envelope Engineering, New York
Ready to specify AviProtek®?
Request a sample set for your next project, or speak with an architectural manager about your specific glazing system.