Lasityöt

Lasityöt refers to the trades and activities involved in processing, fabricating and installing glass in buildings and other structures. The field encompasses both the on-site glazing of windows, façades, skylights, partitions, and balustrades, as well as the fabrication of glass components in workshops, including cutting, edge finishing, tempering, laminating, and insulating glass units.

Common glass products include standard and tempered glass, laminated safety glass, insulated glass units (IGUs), frosted and reflective glass, and decorative or curved glass. Work may involve measurements, handling and cutting, edge finishing, drilling, tempering or annealing, and sealing and installing glass with glazing beads, silicone sealants, and other fasteners.

On site, glaziers install glass into frames or façade systems, fit hardware, seal joints, and ensure weatherproof performance. In manufacturing settings, workers handle glass cutting, bending, tempering, laminating, and inspection for defects. Tools include glass cutters, suction cups and clamps, nippers, grinders, diamond blades, tempering furnaces, sealant guns, and scaffolding or lifts for working at height.

Lasityöt involve hazards such as cuts from glass, flying shards, and work at height. Safe work requires personal protective equipment, training in handling glass, use of fall protection, and adherence to building codes and safety standards. In Finland, entering the field typically involves vocational education and apprenticeship programs in construction or glass technology, with ongoing professional development and, where applicable, union affiliation.

The demand for efficient glazing influences energy performance of buildings; lamination and double or triple glazing are common. Glazing work spans residential, commercial, and industrial sectors, and is often carried out by specialized glazing contractors or divisions of construction companies.