Structural Glass Glazing

New technology and better integration with day lighting and climate control system allows advanced glazing in building facades to improve the comfort and performance of building occupants and also assist in national and global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming.

Curtainwall Glazing

A curtain wall system is a specialized type of cladding typically used in the construction of commercial and institutional buildings. It utilizes glass, either transparent or spandrel or both, and vertical and horizontal mullions acting as structural members to transfer wind and gravity forces to the building structure. The spandrel portion can be metal panel or some other material. There are two types of curtain wall systems – the stick system and the unitized system.

Stick System:

Stick System is a curtain wall system in which the mullions are installed first, and then the glass panels are inserted into the mullion framing in the field. The vertical deflection criteria are more stringent for this type of system than a unitized system. The primary advantage of this system is its lower cost when compared to the unitized system.

Unitized System:

A unitized system is a curtain wall system in which the mullions are fabricated with the glass panels in place, and then erected as individual panels. The advantages of the unitized system are firstly that the erection time is reduced, and secondly Unitized panels can tolerate more vertical deflection in the structure due to their gasket joints.

Structural Glazing

Structural Glazing forms a very important part of facade design. Over the years structural glazing has evolved and it has been a very challenging to find good structural glazing solutions. The different types of structural glazing systems are-

Four Sided Framed Glazing:

In four sided framed glazing a frame is fabricated on all four sides of the glass to support it. During installation the horizontal and vertical support members are framed on the building. Glass is used as a transparent infill panel.

Two Sided Framed Glazing:

In a two sided framed glazing the support for glass is only on two sides. It is either fabricated in the horizontal or in the vertical direction. The glass is then fixed in the mullions.

Frameless Glazing:

The frameless glazing imparts a seamless look to the glass. The glass is fit together with different kinds of hardware like spider glass etc., which are used to tie the glass to the structure. Spider glazing is the only option available for the larger opening elevation in the exterior and entrance of commercial and residential buildings.

Glass Fin Glazing:

Glass fins are vertical glass sheets used to strengthen the glass facade. The glass sheet is placed in a perpendicular direction to the building facade. It is bonded to the building with special hardware and silicon sealants.

The Sealants that are used in structural glazing have to be strong, durable and be resistant to ultra violet radiation. They should also be neutral to changing weather conditions since glass may get over-heated in summer and there might be heat loss in winters.