Leaders
In Skylight
GLAZING

Columbia produces glass or acrylic skylights.
Select what’s best for your needs.

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65 Years Of high performance
Glass & ACRYLIC

Columbia has been an innovator in the use of advanced glass and acrylic dome technology since the first day we opened our doors back in 1955. Our mission is to produce skylights developed specifically for the harsh Canadian climate utilizing the best glass technology available.

Today we offer the Canadian market a wider range of options – LoE³ coated clear argon filled double glazed glass, glare reflecting bronze or grey that reduces heat gain and light transmittance for areas with intense sunlight, the innovative low maintenance Neat glass that resists dirt buildup, LoE i89 double glazing that is almost as energy efficient as triple glazing, and tempered and tempered laminated argon filled triple glazing.
Triple glazing delivers improved energy efficiency and increased snow load. Laminated glass provides additional safety and is ideal for cathedral ceiling applications.
Acrylic and Polycarbonate offer excellent flexibility in residential and commercial applications. Able to be manufactured in larger sizes than glass.
Acrylic is durable and Polycarbonate is exceptionally strong. The dome shape has the benefit of repelling rain and snow build up. Feature skylights like the CRD Circular Roof Dome and the VCM-P Curb Mount Pyramid are able to produce large sizes to create dramatic architectural design statements.

Columbia’s primary glass supplier

Cardinal Ig Logo

Engineering the future of glass

Cardinal is Columbia’s glass supplier, the world leader in glass technology is engineering the future of glass. Cardinal maintains a clear vision – design and fabricate the most advanced residential glass products in the industry.

With more than 6,000 employees located at 37 manufacturing locations around the United States.
Three R&D centres in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Florida provide the basis for new advances in glazing fenestration.

Cardinal Coating Plant

The coating side of the glass is never handled

Cardinal plasma coating technology

Tempering furnace

Interesting facts about Cardinal energy efficient LoE coated glass

LoE coating is only 1/10,000 of the thickness of a human hair. And hardly effects light transmission.
The coating uses many natural compounds including Silver and Zinc.
Coated glass is never touched by the human hand during the coating process.
Coated glass undergoes constant quality testing throughout the entire process.
During the coating process incredibly low pressure allows for the plasma coating to form using a process called Magnesium Sputtering.

Columbia offers a wide range of high performance glass options

Columbia offers a wide range of double or triple glazing options, including ENERGY STAR^® Canada certified glazing units. All glazing options available on all models, fixed and venting, including custom sizes. All Columbia LoE³ 366 glass is triple coated, dual sealed and injected with Argon gas.

Cardinal Glass Industries is Columbia’s glass supplier, a world leader in high performance glass technology. Cardinal maintains a clear vision – design and fabricate the most advanced residential glass products in the industry.

GOOD

Industry benchmark

Double Glazed LoE³ 366 Clear (Temp/Temp)

Dual pane with argon gas.
Superior LoE³ triple coating is virtually invisible.
Blocks 95% of UV rays.
Advanced condensation
resistance.
Industry standard, identical LoE coating from the same
supplier as the competition.
Provides at least twice the condensation resistance of ordinary glass.

95% UV rays blocked
64% light transmitted
0.28 solar heat gain

Strong laminated glass

Double Glazed LoE³ 366 Tempered/Laminated

Dual pane with argon gas.
Superior LoE³ triple coating is virtually invisible.
Additional security: The innermost interlayer holds the glass together in case of breakage.
Reduces the effects of sound by up to 30%.
Clear or translucent white laminated glass is available.
Up to 99% UV protection,
reduces fading of furnishings.
Provides at least twice the condensation resistance of ordinary glass.

99% UV rays blocked
64% light transmitted
0.28 solar heat gain
10 Year hail warranty

Lowest solar heat gain

Double Glazed LoE³ 366 Reflective Bronze/Grey

Dual pane with argon gas.
Superior LoE³ triple coating is virtually invisible.
Mirror finish reflects the sun.
Lowest visible light
transmittance.
Superior solar heat gain control.
Blocks 95% of UV rays.
Available in bronze and grey tints.

95% UV rays blocked
17% light transmitted
0.15 solar heat gain

BETTER

Low Maintenance

Double Glazed LoE³ 366 Neat

Dual pane with argon gas.
Superior LoE³ triple coating is virtually invisible.
Neat coating breaks up organic material on the glass.
Reduces water spotting and disperses water evenly.
Blocks 95% of UV rays.
Works even on cloudy days, as 80% of UV radiation gets through cloud cover.
Neat coating is available as an add on to all glazing options.

95% UV rays blocked
64% light transmitted
0.28 solar heat gain

For a softer light

Double Glazed LoE³ 366 Tinted Bronze or Grey

Dual pane with argon gas.
Superior LoE³ triple coating is virtually invisible.
Glare reduction. Ideal for rooms requiring a softer light.
Reduces solar heat gain.
Blocks 95% of UV rays.
Available in bronze and grey tints.

95% UV rays blocked
42% light transmitted
0.15 solar heat gain

BEST

Close to triple pane protection

Double Glazed LoE³ i89

Dual pane high performance double glazed glass with argon gas.
Superior LoE³ triple coating is virtually invisible.
LoE³ 366 Clear plus i89
coating.
All the benefits of LoE³ 366 Clear triple coating, plus an additional LoE³ i89 coating on the inside pane of glass.
LoE³ i89 in combination with LoE³ 366 – i89 is virtually invisible, allowing 58% visible light.
Close to triple pane
performance.
Offered in all standard
and custom sized models
since 2011.
Provides optimum thermal control for your skylight at an affordable price.
Neat glazing is available as add on.

95% UV rays blocked
58% light transmitted
0.25 solar heat gain

Best thermal rating

Triple Glazed LoE³ 366 – Temp/Temp/Temp

Triple pane glass with two
argon gas filled chambers.
Industry leader with LoE³ triple coating on surface 2 & 5, or two of three panes of glass.
Best U-Value in the industry, 48% visible light transmission and the best performance against solar heat gain and heat loss.
Offered in all standard and custom sized models since 2010.
10 Year hail warranty.
Effective in reducing noise transmission.
Neat glazing is available
as add on.

95% UV rays blocked
48% light transmitted
0.24 solar heat gain

Energy saving & strength

Triple Glazed LoE³ 366 – Temp/Temp/Laminated

Triple pane glass with two argon gas filled chambers.
Three glazing layers with LoE³ 366 and clear laminated resulting in superior U-Value.
57% visible light transmission and superior performance against solar heat gain and heat loss.
Blocks 99% of harmful UV rays.
Effective in preventing fading and reducing noise transmission.
Additional security: The innermost interlayer holds the glass together in case of breakage.
Reduces the effects of sound by up to 30%.
Offered in all standard and custom sized models since 2010.
Neat glazing is available
as add on.

* Meets Vancouver
building code.

99% UV rays blocked
57% light transmitted
0.25 solar heat gain

Tempered Glass

All glass units include both panes tempered which is up to five times stronger than ordinary glass.
Ensures protection against hail and windblown debris.

Laminated Glass

Laminated Glass – Additional Safety

Available as an add on to all glazing options.
For additional safety choose Tempered/Laminated glazing.
Tough vinyl interlayer holds glass together when shattered.
Choose from clear or translucent white laminate. Blocks 99% of UV Rays.

Product Performance Values

Three variables establish the energy performance of a skylight:

U-Factor: Indicates the rate of heat loss. The lower the U-Factor the greater a skylight’s resistance to heat flow.
SHGC (Solar Heat Gain Coefficient): The fraction of incident solar radiation admitted through a
skylight, expressed as a number between 0 and 1, the lower a skylight’s solar heat gain coefficient,
the less solar heat it transmits.
VT (Visible Transmittance): The amount of visible light transmitted. A high VT is desirable to maximize daylight.

The Columbia Skylights listed below have been rated at a 20˚ slope. Testing is carried out through the NFRC program.

Glazing Product Performance Values

ENERGY STAR^® SKYLIGHTS

Columbia Manufacturing Co. Ltd. is proud to offer more ENERGY STAR Canada certified skylights than any other Canadian manufacturer or distributor. We have been honoured with ENERGY STAR^® Canada’s prestigious 2022 Special Recognition Award – after being awarded the Sustained Excellence award in 2021.

We thank ENERGY STAR Canada for acknowledging Columbia’s decades of focus on sustainability and our continued commitment to producing the only Canadian made energy efficient skylights that adhere to the current ENERGY STAR certification. Columbia is proud to be the only skylight supplier to the Canadian market to have been recognized by ENERGY STAR Canada.

ENERGY STAR Blue Map

Canada is now 1 ENERGY STAR^® Zone Version 5

ENERGY STAR Logos Stacked

Columbia has the widest range of ENERGY STAR^® certified skylights in Canada and is the winner of the 2022 ENERGY STAR^® Canada Special Recognition & 2021 Canada Sustained Excellence Award.
In version 5 of the ENERGY STAR^® standard, all skylights are required to have a maximum U-factor value of 2.29 (metric) or 0.40 (imperial) to be ENERGY STAR^® certified.
Columbia is the leading Canadian manufacturer producing skylights certified to the current ENERGY STAR^® Canada standards. Don’t be misled by companies that use out of date ENERGY STAR^® standards.
By choosing an ENERGY STAR^® skylight you save on energy costs and protect the environment. Columbia is the only skylight manufacturer offering triple glazed on all skylight models, fixed & venting, standard and custom sizes.
Every glass skylight Columbia manufactures has an ENERGY STAR^® glazing option. Use the tables to find your ENERGY STAR^® certified Columbia skylight model.

Columbia Energy Star certified models

Glazing Options Model Legend

Legend:
OVSF: Venting Self Flashing
VSF: Fixed Self Flashing
OVCM: Venting Curb Mount
VCM IF: Fixed Curb Mount Inside Fastening
VCM OF: Fixed Curb Mount Outside Fastening

VISIT THE ENERGY STAR^® PAGE

VISIT NRCAN

The performance rating explained

ENERGY STAR^® uses a number of criteria to evaluate the energy efficiency of a skylight. They are reviewed below.
All of these performance criteria have a different impact on your skylights energy efficiency and work in unison.

Degree Of Heat Loss

U-Value – Degree of Heat Loss

U-Value measures the insulating characteristics of the glass, or how much heat flow or heat loss occurs through the glass due to the difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures.
How quickly heat from hot air (not direct sunlight) will pass through the glass.
U-Values generally range from 0.1 (very little heat loss) to 1.0 (high heat loss) BTU/h∙ft²F. The lower the U-Value the better the insulation.
ENERGY STAR^® utilizes U-Value to determine certification.
Some ways to improve U-Values:
- Use double or triple glazed glass units.
- Argon gas in the cavity between panes of glass.
- Optimize the cavity size between panes of glass.
- Warm edge spacers that create an effective thermal barrier.
- Use LoE³ coatings (coatings can be used on more than one surface).

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient, SHGC

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) is the amount of solar radiation passing through a skylight — either transmitted directly and/or absorbed, and subsequently released as heat inside a home.
The amount of Solar Heat Gain is expressed as a number between 0 and 1. The lower a skylight’s Solar Heat Gain Coefficient, the less solar heat is transmitted.
Objects (such as glass) impacted by sunlight absorb its visible and short-wave infrared components, increase in temperature, and then re-radiate that heat at longer infrared wavelengths.
Solar gain is used as a standard way of reporting the thermal properties of skylight and window assemblies

Visible Transmittance

Visible Transmittance, VT

Visible Transmittance is the amount of light in the visible portion of the light spectrum that passes through the glass and into your home.
VT – expressed as a number from 0 to 1. The higher the number, the greater the amount of light that is passing through the glass.
High performance skylights with LoE³ coatings can allow relatively high amounts of visible light to pass through the glass while repelling the solar heat gain – the more solar heat gain being filtered out, the less light transmittance.
Some examples:
- VT 0.50 would be 50% of the light is entering the home.
- VT 0.80 would be 80% of the light is entering the home.

The benefits of Columbia’s laminated glass

We offer the extra strength of laminated glass on all Columbia glazing options. Consider our most popular choices – double glazed LoE³ 366 Clear/Laminated and triple glazed LoE³ 366 Temp/Temp/Laminated. Columbia is the only skylight manufacturer offering triple glazing on all skylight models, fixed & venting, standard and custom sizes.

Superior Sound Reduction

Reduces the effects of sound by up to 30% compared to standard double pane glass, and up to 50% less than a acrylic skylight. Bring natural light in without additional noise such as traffic or planes.

Additional Security

Laminated glass is far harder to break and penetrate than traditional glass. So, if you are concerned about security it is worth considering. The innermost interlayer holds the glass together in case of breakage.

Best in class UV Protection

Laminated glass lets the light in but protects your home from UV rays. The ideal choice to prevent fading of your floors, furniture and artwork.

Increased Safety

Columbia is the only skylight manufacturer offering triple glazing (including laminated options) on all skylight models, fixed & venting, standard and custom sizes.

Triple glazed skylights meet the current 2020 ENERGY STAR^® certification requirements (Version 5). Providing excellent energy efficiency.

Acrylic is the right choice for many applications

Columbia manufactures skylights in acrylic and polycarbonate. These versatile glazing materials are able to be produced in double and triple glazing. Its major advantage over glass is its ability to be produced in larger sizes.

The dome shape eliminates the need for a sloped curb and sloughs off rain and snow.
It is the optimal glazing for our low maintenance commercial skylights (AOF Commercial Aluminum Curb Mount, CIC Commercial Integrated Curb Skylights).

Double Glazed Clear

Double Glazed Clear

Double glazing is the right choice for most Canadian applications.
Gives a high degree of insulation.
Clear acrylic gives bright natural light.

Double Glazed Bronze

Double Glazed Bronze

Double glazing is the right choice for most Canadian applications.
Gives a high degree of insulation.
Bronze acrylic delivers the maximum protection from extreme sunlight, reducing glare and solar heat gain.

Double Glazed White

Double Glazed White

Double glazing is the right choice for most Canadian applications.
Gives a high degree of insulation.
White acrylic reduces the impact of extreme sunlight, reducing glare and solar heat gain.
Provides privacy.

Triple Glazed Clear

Triple Glazed Clear

Triple glazing is the preferred choice for Canadian climate, and provides additional energy efficiency.
Provides a superior degree of insulation.
Clear acrylic gives bright natural light.
Additional comfort in your interior space.

Triple Glazed Bronze

Triple Glazed Bronze

Triple glazing is the preferred choice for Canadian climate, and provides additional energy efficiency.
Provides a superior degree of insulation.
Bronze acrylic delivers protection from extreme sunlight, reducing glare and solar heat gain.
Additional comfort in your interior space.

Triple Glazed White

Triple Glazed White

Triple glazing is the preferred choice for Canadian climate, and provides additional energy efficiency.
Provides a superior degree of insulation.
White acrylic reduces the impact of extreme sunlight, reducing glare and solar heat gain.
Provides privacy.
Additional comfort in your interior space.

Characteristics of Acrylic

Clear

Allows the maximum amount of visible light.

Bronze

Allows a clear view through the skylight while reducing the amount of visible light and solar heat gain.
Results in softer room lighting.

White

Offers privacy along with reduced visible light and solar heat gain.

Characteristics of Polycarbonate

A tough plastic that exhibits outstanding strength.

Often used in commercial applications where low flame spread ratings are required.

The Features Of Acrylic Glazing

Acrylic has many benefits that make it the perfect choice for specific applications. Columbia recommends discussing your glazing selection with your architect or contractor.

The right material for larger skylights

Acrylic and Polycarbonate skylights can be manufactured at a larger size than glass. It is the ideal choice for large skylights intended to deliver dramatic architectural impact.

Strong and durable

Acrylic is incredibly strong and is able to absorb impact. Its natural flexibility allows it to resist damage caused by falling objects. The dome or pyramid shape absorbs external forces better.

Polycarbonate is the toughest material available and is suitable for extreme applications where exceptional strength is necessary.

Available in energy saving triple glazing

Due to advances in technology Columbia is able to manufacture triple glazed acrylic or polycarbonate – meaning you can get closer to the energy savings of glass at larger sizes, and exceptional strength and durability.

The advantage of the dome and pyramid

Because acrylic and polycarbonate can be easily shaped (unlike glass) they can be formed into domes and pyramids, allowing them to be installed on flat roofs without a sloped curb. The shape allows snow and rainwater to naturally slide away and deters accidentally walking or standing on the skylight.

Leaders In Skylight GLAZING

65 Years Of high performance Glass & ACRYLIC