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STRUCTURAL GLASS FACADES - USC School of Architecture

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presents a different challenge; many coatings are fragile and must be protected from<br />

exposure, and thus cannot be used on monolithic glass. Coatings such as the low-E<br />

coatings discussed in Chapter 2 must be applied to the inner face (the number 2 or 3<br />

face) <strong>of</strong> a laminated or insulated panel. Such coatings are referred to as “s<strong>of</strong>t” coatings.<br />

There are however, “hard” coatings available. These are called pyrolytic coatings, and<br />

are applied by the float glass producers as an on-line process such that the coating is<br />

fused into the glass surface. The coated surface is used as the number 2 (inside)<br />

surface. Different manufacturers <strong>of</strong>fer different products <strong>of</strong> varying performance.<br />

<br />

Strength: Strength is purely a function <strong>of</strong> the glass material as defined above.<br />

<br />

Break Pattern: The break patters is purely a function <strong>of</strong> the glass material as defined<br />

above.<br />

<br />

Spontaneous Breakage: As above in the heat-treatment section, spontaneous<br />

breakage is only an issue in tempered glass, so a tempered monolithic panel would be<br />

subject to this consideration, and should be heat-soaked (see Chapter 2) if used in a<br />

frameless glass system.<br />

<br />

Safety: Tempered monolithic glass qualifies as safety glass.<br />

<br />

Optical Distortion: Optical distortion is a function <strong>of</strong> heat-treatment, so this potential<br />

exists in heat-strengthened and tempered monolithic panels.<br />

<br />

Size Limitation: Size is a function <strong>of</strong> heat-treatment as indicated in the previous section.<br />

<br />

Application: Monolithic glass or single-glazing is used where thermal and security<br />

considerations are not issues, and where economy is. Monolithic glass is used in<br />

structural glass facades where the pursuit <strong>of</strong> maximum transparency is the overriding<br />

251

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