Asia-Pacific · Glass Manufacturer
AGC Inc.
🇯🇵 Japan · Last reviewed by Justin Orloff
Quick Facts
founded
1907
hq
Tokyo, Japan
primaryMaterials
Flat glass - float, tempered, laminated, coated
glazingPartner
Glass supplier to all major window system manufacturers
marketTier
Mass Market to Premium (glass manufacturer)
Brand at a Glance
- Country: Japan
- Founded: 1907 (as Asahi Glass)
- Global position: One of the world's largest flat glass manufacturers
- Key product brands: Planibel, Stopray, Mirastar, Sunergy
- Glass types: Float glass, tempered, laminated, coated glass, self-cleaning glass
- Market: Architectural glass globally - residential, commercial, automotive
- Website: agc.com
Product Range
- Planibel
- Stopray
- Sunergy
- Mirastar
- Thermobel
Why This System
AGC's most important product for window cleaners is Mirastar - the self-cleaning glass with a photocatalytic titanium dioxide coating on the outer surface. This coating is on the face you clean. It is not a standard glass surface. Mirastar degrades dirt through UV reaction and rinses clean with rain. But it must never be touched with abrasive pads or cream cleaners, and it must never be treated with water-repellent or glass sealant products - these block the photocatalytic reaction. AGC's Stopray and Sunergy solar control coatings are on the inner glass surfaces within the insulated unit and are not accessible for cleaning. However, cleaning chemistry that compromises the edge seal of the unit can allow moisture into the cavity - where these coatings then degrade. pH-neutral cleaning at the glass edge is not optional. Japan's UV loading and humidity make coating integrity a live issue. AGC glass in southern Japanese prefectures and on exposed coastal elevations has a shorter coating service life than the same glass in northern or sheltered positions.
Step 1 of 2: Manufacturer Recommendations
Official Care Guidance
Step 2 of 2: The Orloffs Protocol
The Orloffs Protocol
This is how I clean AGC Inc. windows. The tools and technique below come from 25 years of daily professional work on the glass. Every step has been tested on real installations and adapted specifically for AGC Inc. systems.
Pro Tools
My daily tool list. This is what I carry to every job.
Pro Tips
- When in doubt about whether a glass is Mirastar, treat it as Mirastar - the Mirastar protocol (no abrasives, no sealants, pH-neutral or pure water only) is safe on all glass types
- Pure water fed pole rinsing is the ideal maintenance approach for Mirastar glass - it achieves what the self-cleaning coating is designed to do without any risk of coating contact from squeegee rubber or cloth
- After a Saharan dust event in Japan (kosa season, typically March to May), Mirastar glass may carry a yellow-orange mineral deposit. This mineral is alkaline - pre-rinse with plenty of pure water before any cleaning to float it off rather than grinding it in
What NOT To Do
- Do not use abrasive pads on any AGC coated glass surface
- Do not apply hydrophobic glass sealant or water repellent to Mirastar self-cleaning glass
- Do not use acidic or alkaline cleaners at the glass-to-frame edge seal junction
- Do not use cream cleaners on Mirastar - they leave a hydrophobic residue that blocks the photocatalytic coating
- Do not use metal scraper blades on coated glass surfaces
Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations
Bundle Kit
Tool Recommendations
pH-neutral glass cleaning concentrate for standard AGC float and Low-E glass
View on Amazon [coming soon]Pure water fed pole for Mirastar self-cleaning glass rinse
View on Amazon [coming soon]Clean microfibre T-bar - fresh cover for each job to prevent grit contamination
View on Amazon [coming soon]Cleaning Frequency
Clean every 4–8 weeks depending on environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Field Notes
“Mirastar self-cleaning glass does not mean no cleaning is needed. It means the glass requires less frequent cleaning and the outer surface breaks down organic deposits faster than standard glass. But city pollution, bird contamination, and mineral deposit still accumulate and still need attention - just at a lower frequency. AGC glass etching on the edge of the unit identifies the glass type and sometimes the coating specification. If the building has specification documents, the AGC product name will identify the coating tier. In Japan's summer humidity, standard AGC insulated units can show exterior surface condensation on very humid mornings - this is the unit working correctly, not a seal failure. It clears as morning temperatures rise.”
Justin Orloff
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