NAICS 327215

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the standard used by U.S. federal statistical agencies to classify business establishments for the purpose of collecting, analyzing, and publishing economic data. Developed under the Office of Management and Budget in cooperation with Canada and Mexico, NAICS replaced the SIC in 1997 and is updated every five years; the current vintage is 2022. ¹

NAICS 327215 — Glass Product Manufacturing Made of Purchased Glass — covers establishments primarily engaged in remelting, pressing, blowing, or otherwise shaping purchased glass into products (excluding containers). This industry includes laminated glass made from purchased flat glass and other glassware fabricated from purchased glass. Exclusions include optical lenses (except ophthalmic), ophthalmic goods, and fiber‑optic cable, which are classified elsewhere. ³

What this NAICS covers

• Remelting purchased glass to form new glass products. ³
• Pressing, blowing, or otherwise shaping purchased glass into finished goods (except containers). ³
• Manufacturing laminated glass from purchased flat glass. ³
• Fabricating glassware from purchased glass (except packaging containers). ³
• Producing glass parts/components for lighting or equipment when formed from purchased glass. ³
• Glass product manufacturing activities distinct from on‑site glazing/installation services (those are construction activities). ⁴

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Classification boundaries and cross‑references

• Laminated glass made from purchased flat glass is classified in 327215; laminated glass made by firms that also melt batch to make flat glass belongs in 327211. ³
• Glassware formed from purchased glass is in 327215; glassware made by melting batch and pressing/blowing is in 327212. ³
• Optical lenses (except ophthalmic) belong to 333314; ophthalmic lenses and goods are in 339115; fiber‑optic cable from purchased fiber strand is in 335921. ³
• Installation, tinting, or on‑site glazing services are not manufacturing; they are classified under 238150. ⁴

Frequently asked questions

• What is the core activity in NAICS 327215?
  Establishments in this industry remelt, press, blow, or otherwise shape purchased glass into products (excluding containers). It includes laminated glass made from purchased flat glass and non‑container glassware fabricated from purchased glass, as well as components made from purchased glass for lighting and equipment. ³

• How does 327215 differ from 327211?
  327211 covers establishments that melt batch to manufacture flat glass (and may also laminate what they produce). 327215 covers laminating and fabricating activities when the input glass is purchased rather than produced in‑house by melting batch. ³

• Is on‑site glazing or window installation part of 327215?
  No. On‑site installation, glazing, and tinting services are specialty trade construction activities and are classified under 238150 (Glass and Glazing Contractors), not under manufacturing. ⁴

• Are optical or ophthalmic lenses included in 327215?
  No. Optical lenses (except ophthalmic) are classified in 333314, while ophthalmic goods (including eyeglass lenses) are classified in 339115. These are explicitly excluded from 327215. ³

• Which federal PSCs commonly align with fabricated glass items?
  Glass fabricated materials often correspond to PSC 9340, and building glass products can appear under PSC 5620. Always verify the specific item description against the current Product and Service Code (PSC) Manual for accurate assignment. ⁵

Useful resources

• G2X — NAICS 327215 overview
• Census: NAICS explanation and update history, including 1997 adoption and 2022 vintage. ¹
• Census: 2022 NAICS implementation timeline and overview. ²
• Census: 2022 NAICS definition and cross‑references for 327215. ³
• Census: Construction sector — Glass and Glazing Contractors (238150). ⁴
• Acquisition.gov: Product and Service Code (PSC) Manual (current edition). ⁵

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau — About Industry: NAICS background and updates. https://www.census.gov/topics/employment/industry-occupation/about/industry.html
2. U.S. Census Bureau — Implementation of the 2022 NAICS (timeline and overview). https://www.census.gov/library/reference/code-lists/naics/2022/implementation-timeline.html
3. U.S. Census Bureau — 2022 NAICS Search: 327215 Glass Product Manufacturing Made of Purchased Glass. https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=327215&year=2022
4. U.S. Census Bureau — 2022 NAICS Search: 238150 Glass and Glazing Contractors. https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=238150&year=2022
5. Acquisition.gov — Product and Service Code (PSC) Manual (current). https://www.acquisition.gov/content/psc-manual-april-2025.docx