Product Selection, LEED Credits, Warranty, and Handling
PDF — Technical
Bird Friendly Glass
AviProtek®
Uncoated Bird Friendly Glass
AviProtek® is the original bird friendly glass: a trusted solution proven to reduce bird collisions with windows. Designed for exterior use, it features acid etched patterns on the outermost surface, creating a visible barrier that helps birds recognize glass and avoid hitting windows.
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 where bird collision deterrence is desired but insulation is not required, such as glass railings, shelters, and linkways. For enhanced energy performance, AviProtek® can also be combined with high-performance low-e coatings on surface 3. For applications that require a low-e coating on surface 2, we recommend AviProtek® E low-e bird safe glass.
Product Details
Specifications
AviProtek® glass features acid etched bird safe patterns on surface 1. The patterns are etched directly into the glass itself without any films or coatings, making this a durable, low-maintenance solution.
- Thickness3mm - 10mm (1/8″ - 3/8″), 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 only
- SurfaceEtching on exterior surface (surface 1) only
- EnergyCompatible with low-e coatings on position 3. For surface 2 low-e, see AviProtek® E.
- Warranty10-year limited warranty against surface degradation
See it in action
AviProtek® — A Proven Bird Friendly Solution
In case after case, building owners and managers report zero or near-zero bird strikes against AviProtek® glass. Furthermore, the glass helps meet performance goals for aesthetics, energy efficiency, sustainability, occupant comfort, and more.
You can find more success stories in our report on The Effectiveness of AviProtek® Bird Friendly Glass.
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® Standard · This page | AviProtek® E Low-e Bird Safe | 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 | Can be used on surface 3 | Included on surface 2 | 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
Contributes to LEED credit for bird collision deterrence under Innovation and Regional Priority categories. Full documentation available.
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
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.
How does bird safe glass work?
Bird safe glass works by making the glass visible to birds as a solid barrier. This is achieved with solutions like acid etched glass or UV coatings. Although birds can’t see the glass itself, they can see the patterns applied to the glass and avoid collision.
To be most effective, bird safe patterns should be applied to the outermost surface of the glass (surface 1). This way, they will not be hidden by reflections on the glass.
Can birds see glass?
No, birds can’t see glass the way humans do. They may see reflections of trees, sky, or vegetation on the glass surface and mistake them for open habitat. In other cases, they see through clear glass and mistake it for open space.
However, birds can see visual markers applied to glass. Bird safe glass like AviProtek® uses acid etched patterns on the exterior surface of the glass. Birds see these patterns, recognize the presence of a barrier, and avoid collision.
How big is the problem of bird glass collisions?
Bird collisions against glass are among the top causes of bird mortality, accounting for up to a billion bird deaths per year in North America (Loss et. al., 2015). Recent research suggests the number of fatalities may be even higher (Kornreich et. al., 2024).
Birds play critical roles in natural ecosystems, agriculture and tourism, so their loss has significant environmental and economic implications.
When and where do bird glass collisions happen?
During spring and fall migration, the volume of birds in a migration area increases by about 40%, depending on the region. Therefore, twice a year, more collisions occur. However, contrary to popular belief, bird collisions are not just a problem during migratory periods, but all year round.
Collisions can happen against any untreated glass, regardless of whether it’s installed in a homes or cottage, a commercial building, or a skyscraper. High-risk areas include façades facing trees, water, or migratory flyways. Even noise barriers and bus shelters can be dangerous without bird safe glazing. This is why specifying bird friendly glass is important for projects in both natural and urban environments.
What legislation exists for bird friendly building design?
Bird safe building design is increasingly required by ruling bodies across North America. These requirements typically call for bird friendly glazing on the first 40-60 feet of façades, as well as treatments on rooftop railings, glass canopies, and greenhouses. Many bird friendly buildings are also designed to meet LEED certification criteria, which include a credit for bird safe design. Working with architectural glass products such as AviProtek® bird friendly glass helps projects comply with these standards.
Bird friendly legislation in North America is mostly driven by authorities at the state/provincial or municipal level. Some of the best-known rulings in the United States are San Francisco’s Standard for Bird Safe Buildings and New York City’s Local Law 15.
In Canada, the CSA A460:10 standard for Bird friendly building design provides a voluntary national standard. At the municipal level, the Bird Collision Deterrence section of the Toronto Green Standard is an influential example of bird friendly rules.
The glass industry established its position on bird friendly glazing with the National Glass Association’s publication of their Bird Friendly Design Guide, which supports the prescriptive approach to bird deterrent markers (2×4 rule). This method has proven to be reliable and effective in reducing bird collisions against glass.
The number of cities adopting bird safe regulation is growing rapidly. It is best to communicate with local authorities to see which ones are most relevant to your projects. You can also reach out to your local Gardner Walker Glass Architectural Manager to help you understand what bird friendly requirements will affect your project.
What is the 2x4 rule?
The 2×4 rule is a prescriptive standard for pattern spacing in bird friendly glazing. Most birds will not attempt to fly through spaces smaller than 2 inches high or 4 inches wide. By using first surface patterns with this spacing, designers can ensure bird safe windows meet established bird collision deterrence guidelines.
The 2×4 rule was developed by Dr. Daniel Klem, based on his field experiments on bird glass collisions. To learn more, you can read our article, The 2×4 rule: The origin and definition.
Projects
AviProtek® 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.