SoarSafe™: Revolutionizing Bird-Friendly Glass for Modern Architecture

Viracon Helps Birds See Buildings – and Preserve Design Intent

For more than a decade, Viracon has been directly involved in the evolution of bird-friendly design—working with ornithologists, conducting in-house tunnel testing, and validating glass makeups that balance performance, aesthetics, and avian safety.

SoarSafe™, Viracon’s newest bird-friendly solution, is the first first-surface laser-etched pattern that pairs seamlessly with Viracon’s proven Low‑E coatings on surface #2. The result: glass that birds can see, with the visual quality and performance architects expect.

Why First-Surface Matters for Bird-Friendly Glass

Birds collide with glass because they see reflected sky and trees, not a solid surface. First-surface patterns change that.

With SoarSafe, a laser-etched pattern on surface #1 breaks up reflectivity so birds recognize the façade as a barrier. At the same time, Viracon’s Low‑E coatings stay on surface #2—right where you want them for optimal solar and thermal performance.

Key advantages:

• First-surface laser-etched pattern helps birds see the glass and avoid collisions.
• Viracon Low‑E coatings remain on surface #2 for energy and comfort performance.
• No exterior reflectance limitations under ABC when a first-surface pattern is used—SoarSafe can be paired with any Viracon coating while still meeting ABC Prescriptive Ratings for Threat Factor (TF) 20 and 25.
• Aligns with evolving codes and industry trends that increasingly favor first-surface approaches.

Positioning note: This is a way to satisfy bird-friendly requirements without “designing around” bird glass. You keep the aesthetic you want and layer in bird safety.

SoarSafe: Bird- and Architect-Friendly

SoarSafe is designed to satisfy two parallel goals on every bird-friendly project:

1. Aesthetics and design control for the project team

• Viracon Low‑E coatings on surface #2 keep the façade visually consistent with your broader glass strategy.
• SoarSafe patterns are subtle enough to support a wide range of façade expressions while still delivering bird safety.

1. Meaningful collision reduction for owners and communities

• ABC-approved SoarSafe dot patterns achieve Threat Factors of 20 and 25.
• A Threat Factor of 25 signifies up to 75% fewer bird collisions compared to unmarked glass. Lower threat factors (e.g., TF20) further reduce collision risk.

SoarSafe Offering and Design Flexibility

SoarSafe is built to fit into real-world specifications, not force you into a narrow catalog.

Glass and coating options

• Viracon Low‑E coatings on #2: all current Low‑E options are available.
• Glass substrate colors: available on virtually all Viracon substrate colors in 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, and 12mm thicknesses.
• Configurations: IG, IG‑Lami, Lami‑IG, Triple IG, and monolithic (non‑coated, more rare in practice).

This breadth of substrates, thicknesses, and makeups is a differentiator. Many bird-friendly products are limited to one thickness (often 6mm) and a narrow color palette (clear or mid‑low iron only), or they require outboard laminates that can complicate design and detailing.

Pattern options and Threat Factors

SoarSafe focuses on three popular dot patterns designed around the 2" x 2" and 2" x 4" bird-friendly rules:

• TF 20 patterns (2" x 2")
• Staggered dot pattern: SoarSafe #51767
• Inline dot pattern: SoarSafe #51777
• TF 25 pattern (2" x 4")
• Inline dot pattern: SoarSafe #51205

Again, Threat Factor 25 = ~75% collision reduction vs. clear glass. TF20 performs even better.

Additional Viracon Bird-Friendly Solutions

SoarSafe is one part of Viracon’s broader bird-friendly portfolio. For projects that need alternate patterns, colors, or specific façade strategies, there are established solutions on both surface #1 and surface #2.

Surface #1 options

In addition to SoarSafe’s first-surface laser etch, Viracon offers VF ceramic enamel:

• Colors: VF961 White and VF963 Etch
• Typically configured as a laminate outboard with a coating on surface #4
• More pattern flexibility: seven standard bird-friendly patterns plus custom options
• Ideal when:
• You need opaque white or higher visual contrast
• You want a specific graphic or pattern beyond the three SoarSafe dot layouts

Surface #2 options

For projects where patterns on the interior lite make more sense, Viracon offers:

• Silkscreen ceramic enamel
• DigitalDistinctions® ceramic ink

Both are available in seven standard bird-friendly patterns (pre-qualified to TF20 and TF25) plus full custom capability. These options can be used alone or in combination with other façade strategies where first-surface treatments are limited.

Understanding Threat Factor and Project-Specific Testing

Threat Factor (TF) is rated from 0 to 100, where:

• 0 behaves like a solid façade (e.g., masonry wall)
• 100 behaves like clear, unmarked glass

The lower the TF, the better the product is at deterring birds.

The Viracon options listed above have been tunnel-tested and vetted to reach target TF20 and TF25 levels that are commonly referenced in bird-friendly ordinances and design guidelines. For projects pursuing unique patterns or custom makeups, Viracon’s Architectural Glass Studio can help with:

• Custom pattern development
• Project-specific testing
• Support aligning bird-friendly strategy with aesthetics, structure, and energy performance

When to Consider SoarSafe on Your Next Project

SoarSafe is particularly well suited for:

• Projects in jurisdictions with or anticipating bird-friendly glazing requirements
• Design teams who want to maintain a uniform Viracon Low‑E strategy across the façade
• Owners who care about both visible bird safety outcomes and long-term façade consistency
• Curtainwall, window wall, and storefront applications where first-surface control is critical

If you’re already designing with Viracon, SoarSafe lets you extend a familiar glass strategy into a fully bird-friendly solution without starting from scratch.

Let’s Get Your Next Bird-Friendly Project Flying

If you have a current or upcoming project that needs bird-friendly glass—or would simply benefit from a more future-proof glazing strategy—we’re happy to help translate these options into a buildable, code-aligned spec.

• Do you have any active projects with bird-friendly requirements, or sites near migratory corridors?
• Would you like a SoarSafe sample or a review of your current glass strategy against emerging bird-friendly standards?

Martineau & Co can help you evaluate where SoarSafe or Viracon’s broader bird-friendly portfolio fits best in your façade design, from early concept through bid and award.