Structural glass

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Contents

Material analysis

MasterFormat Number: 08 90 00


Traditional uses

  • Stairs, walkways, bridges, roofs, interior & exterior wall/glazing.
  • It can be molded into a multitude of shapes and colors as an artistic medium.
  • Glass fin structures, tension structures, canopies,cladding structures and skylights.
  • Can be used to stop water intrusion, wind and weather, and even bullets (in certain instances).

Emerging uses / trends

  • Structural glass tends to influence modern architecture more and more. Clean modern facades free of “applied” mullions and other ornament. Structurally, glazed systems also allow for expansive glazing to maximize sunlight and views.
  • Ceramic screen patterns or etched designs can be applied to the glass for aesthetic purposes.


Finish and aesthetic qualities

  • Clean, flat, smooth modern finish with or without mullions.
  • Wide variety of colors, laminated glass available with additives for sound control, solar control or impact resistance. Low iron glass available for increased clarity in clear glass and low-e glass available for increased control of heat gain/loss. Tempered glass offers increased strength and decreased shattering of glass if broken.

Surface forms / shapes

  • Industry standards dimensions with custom cut forms can be manufactured.
  • Unitized systems are somewhat limited because they are prefabricated, so a more simple form is best. Stick-built systems can take on a variety of shapes.

Cost analysis

  • Varies greatly depending of area to be spanned by structural glass, glass quality and type, and structural system utilized. However,a common range might be $150-$300 per sq. ft.

Material properties

Primary structural use

  • Tension and compression
  • Structurally glazed systems use a structural sealant to hold the glazing panel in place, against the window mullion. This allows for a capless mullion system which can profile a building with a clean modern finish. Typically a cap serves as a compression plate to hold the glazing panel in place.


Material performance

  • Careful installation of structural glazing is important to maintain integrity of fireproofing,

air and water infiltration prevention methods.

  • Requires frequent cleaning with water and mild detergent unless self-cleaning glass utilized.

Dimensional and opening restriction

  • Economy standards limit most products (glass, drywall, plywood, insulation, etc.) to 4’x8’ dimensions.

Most exterior systems are custom made for the buildings floor-to-floor dimensions. Unitized systems are more common these days and old stick-built curtain wall systems are becoming obsolete.

  • Standard glass thickness ranging from 3/32” to 2”, with tempered and laminated structural

fins on average 3/4” to 1”. Structural glass can span indefinite area according to support structure and stacking of many glass plates.

  • Based on support/tensile structure used and the specific engineering of each individual case study.

Acoustic property

  • Poor acoustical control properties.



Manufacturing process and assembly

  • On a molecular level glass is a liquid, and is actually denser than concrete.
  • Glass fins or mullions can be utilized to brace system and transfer wind load and seismic forces to supporting boundary structure. Specially engineered splice place assemblies or spider fittings join mainplates. Support structures can also include glass mullion systems, tension structures, space frames or custom metal designs.
  • Unitized systems are built in a controlled environment and then shipped to the site for installation. This allows for each panel to be tested prior to shipment and decreases the amount of on-site material and labor.

Environment and Life Safety

Environmental impact

  • Large expanses of glazing can increase heat gain and loss within a building and increase demand on HVAC load.
  • Glass comes in varying levels of U-value, shading coefficient, solar heat gain coefficient, relative heat gain and visible light transmittance to help control gain/loss levels.

Flammability rating

  • Fire rated glass available


References

Notes


Student contributions

  • Danielle Tappis, Fall 2005
  • Ciara Langley, Spring 2007
  • Rania Makkas, Spring 2008

See also

Similar materials

  • edit this entry

Building references

  • Apple Store

767 Fifth Ave. New York City, NY 10153

External links

Additional resources

Leading manufacturers


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