Bird-Friendly Glass

Policy updates in major cities like New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. are driving more architects to specify bird-friendly glass for new construction and renovations, and proposed federal regulations could expand these requirements nationwide.

We've expanded our custom ballistic barrier capabilities to include ORNILUX® mikado bird-friendly glass so you can meet local requirements while protecting people. We can add this technology to multiple types of glass panels for use in windows, curtain walls, and storefront systems.

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Where Bird Friendly Design Is Required

Bird-friendly glass requirements depend on your building's location, height, and local building codes. Most bird collisions occur at lower elevation levels, typically below 75 feet, where exterior surfaces reflect more of the ground and surrounding vegetation.

Current regulations requiring bird friendly glass include:

  • New York City's Local Law 15, which requires bird-friendly glass with a threat factor of 25 on new construction and major renovations up to 75 feet. This scoring measures the percentage of birds who flew toward the pane of glass in a controlled tunnel. (The lower the number, the safer it is for birds.)
  • San Francisco's bird safe building standards, required since 2011.
  • Portland, Oregon, which requires bird friendly glass from ground floor up to 60 feet.
  • Madison, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C., which also have similar requirements.

For a full list of state and local legislation, see our blog post about bird-friendly design.

Our team can review your project's compliance requirements and help you determine where you need bird-friendly glass solutions, which threat factor rating applies, and how to integrate it with bullet-resistant protection.

Why Choose Our Bird-Friendly Glass?

When your project requires both bird-friendly glass compliance and bullet resistance, we use ORNILUX® mikado, a UV coating that resembles a spiderweb pattern.

This coating is:

  • Effective for birds, reflecting UV light they can see so they recognize glass as a barrier
  • Nearly invisible to humans to maintain aesthetic appeal
  • Independently tested to meet American Bird Conservancy criteria for effective bird-friendly glass 
  • Compatible with energy-efficient low-E coatings, tinted glass, and insulated configurations

Download the Spec Sheet

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Bird-Friendly Technology

If you’d like to learn more about where and how to implement bird friendly glazing and please reach out! One of our ballistic barrier experts is ready to learn about your project and discuss how we can meet your needs.

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How Much Does Bird Friendly Glass Cost?

 Including bird-friendly protection into the makeup of standard ballistic glazing typically adds 15-18% to the cost of a glazing panel.  The price you'll pay depends on the scope of the project, including the size of the installation and the number of windows or doors that require protection. Because every facility has unique layouts, compliance needs, and security priorities, our team provides custom quotes to ensure your system balances security, aesthetics, visibility and budget considerations.

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Integrating Bird-Friendly Glazing With Security Systems

Many building projects require bird-friendly glass in areas that also need protection from bullets, particularly on lower floors facing public streets or high-traffic pedestrian zones.

This is common in many different types of buildings, including:

  • Government buildings with executive offices on lower levels
  • Corporate headquarters with C-suite spaces below 75 feet
  • Financial institutions with ground-level transaction areas
  • Courthouses with public-facing facades

For these applications, we engineer glass systems that comply with local regulations and security standards, including the UL 752 Standard for Bullet-Resisting Equipment.

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How To Specify Bird-Friendly Glass for Your Project

If you're ready to integrate bird collision deterrence into your building's security strategy, here's how we recommend moving forward:

1. Review Local Building Codes. Confirm your city's specific requirements for threat factors, height thresholds, and prescriptive or performance criteria for bird-friendly glass.

2. Assess Security Requirements. Identify where your building needs ballistic protection. Determine appropriate UL 752 levels for high-risk areas.

3. Coordinate With Your Design Team. Share site photos, CAD drawings, and measurements. Note where bird-friendly glass and security requirements overlap.

4. Request a Consultation. Our team will review your project requirements and propose a custom-engineered and bird-friendly glass solution that meets both compliance and physical security standards.

5. Verify Installation Logistics. Discuss installation timeline, on-site access, and any  building operations concerns.

Ballistic Glazing Solutions Guide

If you’re not familiar with bullet-resistant products, determining your level of threat can be tricky. Our Ballistic Glazing Solutions Guide outlines everything you need to know about bulletproof glazing.

Download the Guide
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Frequently Asked Questions About Bird-Friendly Glass

Why is bird-safe glass important?

Research shows that as many as one billion birds die each year from colliding with glass buildings in the United States, often because of reflections from the sky or trees. Bird-friendly glass aims to make glass 'visible' to birds with elements that are nearly invisible to the human eye. The glazing has a special coating (such as spiderwebs or dot patterns) that makes glass surfaces visible to birds while remaining nearly invisible to humans.

Which cities require it?

Several major cities have adopted requirements to prevent bird strikes, including New York City, San Francisco, Portland, Ore., Madison, Wisc., and Washington D.C. New York requires glass with a threat factor of 25 or lower for new construction and major renovations up to 75 feet.

What is a threat factor for bird-friendly glass?

Threat factor measures how risky bird-friendly glass is for birds on a scale of 1-100, with 100 being the highest threat level. The number represents a percentage of birds that fly toward the glass in a controlled tunnel. Under New York's Local Law 15, architects must use bird-friendly glass materials with a threat factor of 25 or lower. The American Bird Conservancy defines materials with a threat factor below 30 as 'bird-friendly.'

Can bird-friendly glass be bullet-resistant?

Yes, bird-friendly glass can be integrated with bullet-resistant systems. This allows buildings to meet both bird safety compliance and physical security requirements without compromise.

What types of buildings need bird friendly glass?

Bird friendly glass is typically required on lower floors of buildings (up to 60-75 feet) including government buildings, corporate headquarters, financial institutions, and courthouses. The requirements apply to areas with glazing that provides a clear line of sight, including glass awnings, handrails, guards, wind break panels, and acoustic barriers.

Is bird friendly glass energy efficient?

Yes, bird friendly glass systems are compatible with energy-efficient low-e coatings, tinted glass, and insulated configurations. This allows buildings to meet energy codes and operational goals while maintaining bird safety compliance and security requirements.

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TSS Is Your Trusted Partner for Physical Security

When you need to keep your business and your people safe, TSS is proud to help. We are passionate about equipping teams with the security they need. To learn more, request a free consultation with one of our ballistic experts. We’ll meet with you in a no-strings-attached conversation to learn about your budget, threat level, and goals. We’ll also provide recommendations about how to achieve those goals. We look forward to speaking with you!