NAICS 327211

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the standard used by U.S. federal statistical agencies to classify business establishments based on their production processes for collecting, analyzing, and publishing economic data. Developed under the Office of Management and Budget with Canada and Mexico, NAICS replaced SIC in 1997 and is currently implemented on the 2022 vintage. ¹

NAICS 327211 covers U.S. establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing flat glass by melting silica sand or cullet. It also includes facilities that both manufacture flat glass and produce laminated glass when the lamination uses flat glass made from melted raw materials in the same establishment. Laminating from purchased flat glass is classified elsewhere. ²

What this NAICS covers

• Manufacturing flat glass from melted silica sand or cullet in dedicated glass furnaces. ²
• Integrated production of laminated glass when the facility also melts raw materials for flat glass. ²
• Continuous flat-glass forming operations as part of primary glassmaking. ²
• In-plant annealing, cutting, or basic finishing steps incidental to flat-glass manufacture. ²
• Establishments whose primary activity is flat-glass manufacturing, regardless of end-use market (e.g., architectural, automotive, or specialty). ²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Type	Code	Descriptor
NAICS	327212	Other Pressed and Blown Glass and Glassware Manufacturing
NAICS	327215	Glass Product Manufacturing Made of Purchased Glass
PSC	9340	Glass Fabricated Materials
PSC	9390	Miscellaneous Fabricated Nonmetallic Materials

Common exclusions and cross-references

• Laminating glass from purchased flat glass is classified in 327215, not in 327211. ²
• Pressed, blown, or shaped glassware produced from melted batch (except containers) is classified in 327212. ²
• Glass packaging containers made in glassmaking operations are classified in 327213. ²

Small business size standard

For NAICS 327211, the SBA small business size standard is 1,100 employees (effective March 17, 2023). ⁴

Frequently asked questions

• What activities are included under NAICS 327211?
  NAICS 327211 includes manufacturing flat glass from melted silica sand or cullet, and it includes laminated glass when the lamination uses flat glass made from melted raw materials at the same facility. Laminating from purchased flat glass is excluded. ²

• How does 327211 differ from 327215 and 327212?
  327211 is primary flat-glass manufacturing from melted batch; 327215 covers products made from purchased glass (including laminating purchased flat glass); 327212 covers pressed/blown/shaped glassware made from melted batch (not flat glass). ²

• Which PSC codes commonly align with flat glass products?
  Agencies frequently report fabricated glass materials under PSC 9340. Other nonmetallic fabricated materials that do not fit a specific category may be coded under PSC 9390. Official PSC definitions are published in the PSC Manual. ⁵

• What is the SBA small business size standard for this NAICS?
  The SBA size standard for NAICS 327211 is 1,100 employees. This threshold governs eligibility for small business set-asides and other programs that use employee-based standards for manufacturing industries. ⁴

• Is NAICS 2022 already in use for this industry?
  Yes. The Census Bureau began publishing data on a 2022 NAICS basis with the 2022 Economic Census and plans full adoption across programs by the end of calendar year 2027, with limited exceptions noted by Census. ³

Useful resources

• Census NAICS description for 327211 (official definition and cross-references). ²
• Census: Implementation of the 2022 NAICS (adoption and timeline). ³
• SBA Table of Small Business Size Standards (effective March 17, 2023). ⁴

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau — Economic Census: NAICS Codes & Understanding Industry Classification Systems. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/economic-census/year/2022/technical-documentation/code-lists/understanding-naics-redirect.html
2. U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS 327211 (2022) official description and cross-references. https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=327211&year=2022
3. U.S. Census Bureau — Implementation of the 2022 NAICS (timeline and adoption). https://www.census.gov/library/reference/code-lists/naics/2022/implementation-timeline.html
4. U.S. Small Business Administration — Table of Small Business Size Standards (effective March 17, 2023). https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/Table%20of%20Size%20Standards_Effective%20March%2017%2C%202023%20%282%29.pdf
5. U.S. General Services Administration — Product and Service Code (PSC) Manual (April 2025). https://www.acquisition.gov/sites/default/files/manual/PSC%20Manual%20April%202025.pdf