NACE 23.1 – Manufacture of Glass and Glass Products | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 23.1 covers the manufacture of flat glass (float and mirror glass), safety glass, hollow glass (containers, bottles), glass fibres and other glass products. In public procurement, flat glass and safety glass are particularly important for window procurement, façade glazing and noise barriers.

Legal basis: NACE Rev. 2 (Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006) · Last updated: January 2026

What does NACE 23.1 cover?

NACE 23.1 (Manufacture of glass and glass products) classifies companies that melt and process glass products of all kinds from quartz, soda, lime and additives — an essential sector for public building projects, noise protection measures and building refurbishments.

Group 23.1 within Section C (Manufacturing) and Division 23 is broken down into several classes:

In public procurement, flat and safety glass for window and façade projects dominate, along with acoustic glass for noise barriers on roads and railways. Glass-fibre insulation (glass wool) is increasingly relevant in energy-efficient building refurbishments.

Public tenders: scope of activity NACE 23.1

Glass products are procured by the public sector in virtually every building project as part of the building envelope — in addition to noise-protection projects on transport infrastructure and specialist procurement for schools, hospitals and administrative buildings.

Typical contract types

• Window procurement and refurbishment: individual and framework agreements for insulating-glass windows (double or triple glazing) in public buildings — schools, government offices, cultural institutions
• Façade glazing: mullion-and-transom constructions and glass façades for administrative buildings and prestigious public buildings
• Noise barriers and noise-protection windows: procurement of acoustic glass and noise-barrier elements along federal roads, motorways and railway lines
• Security glazing: burglar-, bullet- or break-resistant glazing for police stations, court buildings and bank counters
• Glass-fibre insulation: glass-wool products for energy-efficient refurbishment of public buildings under federal funding programmes
• Laboratory glassware: procurement for public research institutions, universities and inspection authorities

Thresholds and procurement procedures

Glass deliveries within larger building projects are typically tendered as part of construction lots (window and glazing works under VOB/A). The open procedure is customary; for energy-efficient refurbishment programmes with federal funding, EU thresholds for works contracts apply (EUR 5,538,000).

Relevant CPV codes for NACE 23.1

The following CPV codes allow targeted searches for glass-product tenders on TED and national procurement platforms.

Current tenders are published on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily), on the German federal procurement platform (Bund.de) and on municipal portals.

For whom is NACE 23.1 relevant in procurement law?

Public contracting authorities

The key contracting authorities are municipal building departments and building-services operators for window procurement and refurbishment projects, road authorities (federal and state) for noise barriers, rail infrastructure operators (DB InfraGO, ÖBB) for noise protection on railway lines, and public universities and research institutions for laboratory glassware.

Companies and bidders

Glass manufacturers and processors acting as bidders should pay attention to the following aspects:

• Product standards: EN 1279 for insulating glass, EN 12150 for TSG, EN 14449 for LSG, EN 14963 and EN 13501 for fire-resistant glass
• CE marking: mandatory under Construction Products Regulation (EU) 305/2011 for all glass products used in construction works
• Energy performance evidence: U-value evidence in accordance with the German Building Energy Act (GEG) for glazing in public buildings
• Acoustic insulation classes: sound-insulation classes under DIN 4109 as a technical specification in window procurement
• Burglar-protection classes: EN 356 (manual) and EN 1627 (complete window construction) for security-relevant glazing

NACE 23.1 in context: Section C and Division 23

NACE 23.1 is part of Division 23 (Manufacture of glass, ceramics and other non-metallic mineral products) — a section with a strong link to public construction and infrastructure procurement.

• NACE C – Manufacturing: parent section
• NACE 23 – Manufacture of glass, ceramics and other non-metallic mineral products: parent division
• NACE 23.3 – Manufacture of clay building materials: complementary building materials
• NACE 23.9 – Manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products: mineral wool and insulation materials

Frequently asked questions on NACE 23.1 and public tenders

How are window procurements for public buildings classified under procurement law? Window procurement (including glazing) is generally a supply contract if only the products are procured, or a works contract (under VOB/A) if installation, assembly and associated construction work predominate. In the latter case, the higher EU thresholds for works contracts apply.

What energy-efficiency requirements apply to glass in new public buildings? The German Building Energy Act (GEG) prescribes minimum U-values. For window glazing in new buildings, a Ug value of ≤ 0.7 W/(m²K) (triple glazing) generally applies. Additional requirements apply to publicly funded refurbishments (BEG federal funding).

What acoustic-insulation classes are required for noise barriers on federal roads? Requirements under the LAI noise-protection guidelines and DIN 4109 vary depending on traffic load and protection level. Glass elements in noise barriers must typically achieve a weighted sound reduction index Rw ≥ 35 dB and are to be tendered in accordance with ZTV-Lsw.

Last updated: January 2026 All information provided without warranty. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement.