PPG Certified Fabricator^® Program (PPG/CFP)

When it comes to quality glass projects, architects, building owners and contractors know they need more than quality glass. They also need glass fabricators, laminators and commercial window manufacturers with a proven ability to deliver high-performance quality products on time and on budget. For more than a decade, architects have relied on the PPG Certified Fabricator Network to do just that.

The PPG Certified Fabricator Network encompasses a collection of glass elite fabricators who have committed themselves to serving architects and building owners according to an exhaustive set of standards, established by PPG, covering every facet of the glass fabrication process.

Quality and Reliability

Annual Audits and Recertification

The purpose of the PPG Certified Fabricator Program is to give architects an unparalleled combination of product quality, reduced lead times and responsive customer service. To qualify for membership, fabricators must participate in a comprehensive audit program that requires annual recertification. The rigorous multi-day audit covers virtually every aspect of the fabrication process, from how glass is processed when it enters the plant to how it is fabricated, packaged and shipped.

On Time and On Budget

When architects work with a PPG Certified Fabricator, they get the best of both worlds: regional sourcing throughout North and Central America, together with products backed by the experience, knowledge and worldwide resources of PPG. That means architects and contractors can obtain the fabricated glass products they need to service fast-track construction projects without compromising on quality, performance or aesthetics. This high level of quality assurance and expedited service is supplemented by the following benefits:

• Improved project dry-in times
• Reduced lead times on breakage replacements during and after construction

Experienced Service, Priority Access, Premium Products

By working with PPG Certified Fabricators, architects and builder owners get more than an experienced, reliable glass fabricator. They also earn priority access to the Solarban family of high-performance solar control, low-e glasses, such as:

• Solarban^® 70XL glass, the industry's highest performing solar control low-e glass
• Solarban^® z50 glass, a stylish tinted glass that performs up to 30 percent better than similarly tinted solar control, low-e glasses
• Solarban^® 60 glass, the industry's original clear high-performance solar control low-e glass and still a popular, proven standard; and
• Solarban^® 80 glass, now available with Optiblue^® glass, to produce four distinct tints with light to solar gain ratios of up to 1.98

Beyond these high-performance products, PPG Certified Fabricators also have preferred access to Starphire^®ultra-clear glass; extra-heavy Starphire glass; Vistacool subtly reflective, color-enriched glass; Sungate^® 500 low-e glass and other architectural glass products.

Finally, and most importantly, PPG Certified Fabricators deliver the peace of mind that comes from working with trusted partners that are specially trained and audited to translate PPG glass technology into finished products.

In fact, members of the PPG Certified Fabricator Network have delivered more than 100 million square-feet of high-performance glass, a total that is currently growing by more than 30 million square-feet each year.

The PPG Certified Fabricator Network

The Next Generation

Originally conceived for glass fabricators in North America, the demand created by the initial PPG Certified Fabricator Program has inspired the development of several fabricator-related programs. From a handful of members in 2001, the PPG Certified Fabricator Network has grown to encompass more than 70 glass fabricators, glass laminators, commercial window manufacturers, and entrance and interior glass fabricator in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Colombia.

PPG Certified Laminator Program

The PPG Certified Laminator Program (PPG/CLP) was developed to answer the growing demand for laminated Solarban 70XL, Solarban z50 and Solarban 60 glasses for skylights, safety, sound control and security glass applications. The PPG/CLP Program welcomes three distinct types of glass laminators:

• Architectural glass laminators
• Residential window laminators
• Specialty glass laminators

In addition to rigorous quality control, PPG Certified Laminators have flexible fabrication capabilities that allow them to manufacture custom shapes, sizes and configurations in a variety of solar control tints and reflective glasses.

Through its PPG/CLP program, PPG offers laminated solar control low-e glass for overhead skylights, safety and security glazing applications in Colombia and Mexico.

The PPG Certified Commercial Window Fabricators (PPG/CCWF) program is the place for architects and building owners to find high-quality manufactured windows. Program participants are organized into Gold, Silver and Bronze categories.

• Gold members control every aspect of the window-fabrication process on-site and are required to meet the industry's most stringent standards for materials, and finished window appearance and performance. Like other PPG Certified Fabricators, Gold Members participate in strict annual audits.
• Silver members feature PPG glass in their windows, but use non-PPG products in individual components. They earn PPG certification by subjecting their windows and manufacturing processes to the same audit standards as Gold Program members.
• Bronze members employ PPG coatings and/or glass in their commercial windows, but all or part of the fabrication process takes place off-site at a PPG-certified glass fabricator or applicator.

When architects specify specialty glass products such as Starphire ultra-clear glass for interiors, they do so to create exciting spaces with high visual impact. Unfortunately, downstream contractors and sub-contractors sometimes substitute lower-quality, "or equal" products in their place.

Working directly with PPG/CEIF program members eliminates this problem, helping to ensure that architects and specifiers receive the high-quality products they expect together with the high levels of customer service they demand.

Members of the nationwide PPG/CEIF network are certified by PPG to fabricate Extra- Heavy Starphire glass, heavy PPG clear glass and heavy PPG tinted glass entrance and interior applications, such as:

• Glass handrails
• Overhead glass canopies
• Heavy glass/patch fitting entrance systems (doors and sidelights)
• Fixed or moveable interior glass partitions
• Decorative interior glass panels
• Tempered and laminated glass for entrance and interior application

To further ensure heightened levels of quality and expertise, PPG does not certify PPG/CEIF members as entire companies, but according to their expertise in one or more of the following individual specialties:

In 2007, PPG introduced the Mexico Certified Fabricator Program(PPG/ICFP), which applies the same rigorous PPG/CFP standards to glass fabricators in Mexico, creating a continent-wide network of PPG-audited glass fabricators.

For more information about any PPG Certified Fabricator Network, or to find a specially trained PPG Certified Fabricator in your area, call 1-888-PPG-IDEA or visit www.ppgcfp.com

PPG Performance Glazings
PPG Glass Business and Discovery Center
400 Guys Run Road
Cheswick, PA 15024
1-888-PPG-IDEA (774-4332)
www.ppgideascapes.com

PPG Industries, Inc.
Sweets Catalog Classification Code
08 81 00/PPG

PPG Industries, Inc.
PPG Glass Business and Discovery Center
400 Guys Run Road
Cheswick, PA 15024
Tel: 1-888-PPG-IDEA (1-888-774-4332)
Fax: (412) 826-2299
Website: http://www.ppgideascapes.com
Email: ideascapes@ppg.com

All PPG architectural glass is Cradle to Cradle Certified.^CM