Asia-Pacific · Glass Manufacturer
Viridian Glass
🇦🇺 Australia · Last reviewed by Justin Orloff
Quick Facts
founded
Est. Australia
hq
Australia
primaryMaterials
Float glass, coated glass, insulated glass units
glazingPartner
Viridian is the glass manufacturer - supplied to window fabricators
marketTier
Specialist - glass manufacturer, not window frame manufacturer
Brand at a Glance
- Country: Australia
- Role: Float glass producer and coated glass manufacturer
- Key product: SmartGlass high-performance coated glass range
- Supplied to: Window manufacturers across Australia
- Climate context: Australia-wide - UV index 12+ in summer, coastal salt, tropical humidity
Product Range
- SmartGlass COOL
- SmartGlass BALANCED
- SmartGlass CLEAR
- Float glass
- Toughened and laminated glass
Why This System
Viridian's coated SmartGlass products have the low-e or solar control coating on the internal face of the outer pane within the insulated glass unit. This coating is never exposed to the cleaner - it cannot be touched or damaged during external cleaning. However, if a SmartGlass unit is installed as a single pane (not an IGU), the coating may be on the accessible face. In that case, abrasive cleaning will damage the coating irreversibly. Reflective SmartGlass products show cleaning marks under raking light more prominently than standard clear glass. Clean squeegee technique - wipe the rubber after every pull, overlap strokes by 2cm, detail edges - is essential on reflective glass. Australian UV conditions mean that the solar control performance of SmartGlass is particularly valuable. Keeping the glass surface clean maintains the solar performance - a salt-filmed or dirty SmartGlass surface transmits more solar heat than a clean one.
Step 1 of 2: Manufacturer Recommendations
Official Care Guidance
Source: ORLOFFS PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE - BASED ON 25 YEARS FIELD EXPERIENCE ON AUSTRALIAN HIGH-PERFORMANCE GLASS SYSTEMS
Standard SmartGlass in IGU
- Pre-rinse glass with clean water before applying cleaning solution.
- Apply pH-neutral glass cleaning solution. Soft window washer only - no abrasive pads.
- Squeegee from top to bottom, overlapping strokes, wipe rubber after every pull.
- Detail edges with a clean dry cloth.
- Inspect IGU seals at every service - failed seals on Viridian SmartGlass units cause condensation between panes that cannot be cleaned from the outside.
Potential Single-Pane Coated Glass
- If you see a slight reflective tint on a single pane of glass, treat it as a coated surface - pH-neutral solution, soft washer only, no abrasives under any circumstances.
- Do not use razor blades or scratch pads on any Viridian glass - coated or otherwise.
Step 2 of 2: The Orloffs Protocol
The Orloffs Protocol
This is how I clean Viridian Glass 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 Viridian Glass systems.
Pro Tools
My daily tool list. This is what I carry to every job.
Follow these steps in order. Each one builds on the last. This is the same sequence I use on every Viridian Glass installation.
- 1
Glass type identification
Check whether the SmartGlass is in an IGU or a single pane. Identify any visible coating on accessible faces.
- 2
Pre-rinse
Rinse all glass with clean water.
- 3
Cleaning
pH-neutral solution, soft washer, squeegee top to bottom, wipe rubber after every pull, detail edges.
- 4
Seal inspection
Check IGU seals for fogging or milky haze. Document and report any failed units.
Pro Tips
- On SmartGlass with a reflective tint, view the panel at 45 degrees from the side after cleaning to check for any remaining streaks - reflective glass reveals cleaning quality at angles that straight-on inspection misses
What NOT To Do
- Do not use abrasive pads, scratch pads, or razor blades on any Viridian coated glass
- Do not use acid-based glass cleaners on SmartGlass products - acid attacks low-e coatings
- Do not skip pre-rinsing on coastal properties - salt film on SmartGlass reduces performance
- Do not attempt to clean between the panes of a failed IGU - this requires glass unit replacement
Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations
Bundle Kit
Tool Recommendations
Ettore squeegee 18 inch - standard SmartGlass cleaning
View on Amazon [coming soon]Soft window washer sleeve - no abrasive fibres
View on Amazon [coming soon]pH-neutral glass cleaning concentrate
View on Amazon [coming soon]Cleaning Frequency
Coastal Australian properties: Every 4 to 6 weeks (Salt film on SmartGlass reduces solar control performance). Standard residential: Every 8 to 12 weeks (Australian residential norm)
Frequently Asked Questions
Field Notes
“SmartGlass IGU failures in Queensland are more common than in southern states - the greater thermal cycling from cool nights to very hot days stresses the IGU seal faster. Failed IGU seals on SmartGlass show as a milky haze between the panes. When quoting a property with Viridian SmartGlass, note the glass specification on the job sheet - if a client claims the glass was damaged during cleaning, you need to be able to show that the coating is on an internal face and was not accessible.”
Justin Orloff
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