To produce sheets of flawless glazing for windows, doors, etc., a continuous ribbon of glass is "floated" on a bed of tin. In order to allow the irregularities in the glass to even out, the glass is held in a controlled atmosphere with a ratio of approximately 90% N₂:10% H₂. Once it is cooled, the flat glass becomes hard enough to be removed. The hydrogen in the controlled atmosphere acts as a scavenging agent to ensure an oxygen-free environment, because the molten tin is highly sensitive to oxidation, even in trace quantities. Even the glass itself can be negatively affected by oxygen presence, which can cause residue formation on the surface of the glass, creating a hazy appearance.

As purity and reliability of supply are critical factors in float glass manufacture, purchased bulk hydrogen is preferable to onsite production. A rough consumption indicator would be 4.86m³ H₂ per ton of glass produced.