STRUCTURAL GLASS FACADES - USC School of Architecture

An initial step in developing a conceptual design for a structural glass façade is to select the
glass type. This is a relevant as the glass panel type may limit the maximum panels size and
thus the glass grid dimensions. All of the glass selection criteria listed here will certainly not
be relevant to any given project. It is tempting to let the strength requirements determine the
panel makeup. However, the determination may well not be made on the basis of strength
alone; code or thermal performance requirements or appearance considerations can be the
determining factors. It is worth considering these various criteria as an initial step, although
final determination as to such things as color and coatings can be left unresolved at the
designer’s discretion, while a panel type is selected to use as the basis for the determination
of the glass grid. If the glass size to be used is not large and within the parameters
established here, the entire issue of glass panel type can be put off until later.
6.4.1.1 Support
This is a key consideration with respect to the use of point-fixed glass systems. The glass
panel types that can be used with frameless systems are indicated in Table 6-12. Generally,
annealed glass is to be avoided in point-fixed applications.
6.4.1.2 Strength
The ASTM E 1300 Standard Practice for Determining Load Resistance of Glass in Buildings
should be consulted for glass capacity under specified loads. The strength properties of
glass panes and panels are discussed in Chapters 2.4 and 6.2.3.
DuPont has an online tool that can be used to simply calculate glass stress and deflection.
http://www.dupont.com/safetyglass/en/science/calculator/index.html#
Pilkington also has several interesting online tools.
http://www.pilkington.com/the+americas/usa/english/building+products/tools+and+calculator
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