Setting of glass
3. Structural Glazing & VGG
2008
Technical Advisory Service
Setting of glass
 Traditional setting
 Particular setting
– Floors
– Portholes
–…
 Structural glazing
 Bolted glazing
Setting of glass : Structural glazing & VGG
 Introduction to « glazed façades »
 Structural glazing
 VGG
Setting of glass : Structural glazing & VGG
 Introduction to « glazed façades »
 Structural glazing
 VGG
Structural glazing
 Principles of the Structural Glazing
 Details and types of Structural Glazing
 The different parties and the coordination
 Calculation of the sealing heigth
 Glazing products
 Setting
 Maintenance, inspection and replacement
Principles of the Structural Glazing
Curtain wall
Structural Glazing
Principles of the Structural Glazing
 1960: Detroit: first application in single glazing
 1970: Extension of system to insulating glass
Sealing on site
Advantages
Inconveniences
simple
bad working
conditions
economical
climatic conditions
pollution
Principles of the Structural Glazing
 1980 – Introduction of the concept en Europe
 Use in double glazing
 The concept is more complex
Sealing on framework in factory
Advantages
Inconveniences
better control of
operations
mogelijkheid om
possibility to
integrate in
opening window
complex
technology
increase of
intervening
parties
Principles of the Structural Glazing
Principles of the Structural Glazing
Structural glazing
 Principles of the Structural Glazing
 Details and types of Structural Glazing
 The different parties and the coordination
 Calculation of the sealing heigth
 Glazing products
 Setting
 Maintenance, inspection and replacement
Details and types of Structural Glazing
 Horizontal section
Structure
Compatible
backer rod
Structural
sealant
Structural seala
Structural
sealant DG
DG
Compatible
backer rod
Silicone watertigth joint
Details and types of Structural Glazing
 Vertical section
Compatible
backer rod
Structural sealant
Stuctural sealant DG
Silicone watertigth joint
Setting block compatible
Frame
Details and types of Structural Glazing
 Setting blocks and safety devices
T ype 1
With devices of
mechanical selfweight support
T ype 2
V eilig h eid s
vo or zie ning e n
V oor z ie nin ge n o m h et eig e ng e w ic ht o p te n em en
With safety devices
Without safety
devices
T ype 3
With devices of
mechanical selfweight support
V eilig h eid s
vo or zie ning e n
T ype 4
B e gla zin g
V erlijm ing sk a d er
Details and types of Structural Glazing
 Double glazing: Unstepped or stepped
d1
d2
h
r
r
h
r
Details and types of Structural Glazing
 Mastics
– Sealing mastic
– Watertightness mastic
 Glass products
– Simple glazing
– Double glazing
– Spacer
1 SYSTEM
 Sealing area
– Anodic aluminium
– Coated aluminium
– Other areas
EOTA
(ETAG 2)
Details and types of Structural Glazing
1
DG spacer
2
Outside sheet DG
3
Safety – mechanical self-weight support
4
Waterproof seal
5
Fond de joint
6
Sticking bead
7
Silicone structural
8
Frame
9
Waterproof seal
10
Waterproof seal
11
-
12
Clip
13
Structure
Type 1 example
Details and types of Structural Glazing
Advantages of stuctural glazing:
 Excellent water and airtight façade
 Good acoustical insulation
 Natural thermal breakage
 Very little risk for thermal shock
 Easy cleaning of façade
 Protects building structure against corrosion
Details and types of Structural Glazing
Inconveniences of stuctural glazing :
 Cooperation necessary between different partners
 Difficult procedures
 Longer delivery time for supplies
 Difficult transport and handling
 Massive structure visible when non-reflecting glass is
used
Structural glazing
 Principles of the Structural Glazing
 Details and types of Structural Glazing
 The different parties and the coordination
 Calculation of the sealing heigth
 Glazing products
 Setting
 Maintenance, inspection and replacement
Coordination and communication
SEALANT
MANUFACTURER
GLASS
MANUFACTURER
FAÇADE BUILDER
Coordination
BUILDING OWNER
BONDING
COMPANY
Coordination and communication
FAÇADE BUILDER
 Co-ordinate all project operations
 Define the concept of structual glazing
 Communicate necessary information to glass supplier
(wind load, dimensions, …)
 Control each anodization batch
 Draw a sketch of wall with identification number of
frames
Coordination and communication
SEALANT MANUFACTURER
 Realise conformity tests on framework and glass
 Give bonding company the results and
recommendations
 Approve structural salant and double glazing
calculations
 Give advise regarding the concept of Structural glazing
 Ensure compatibility of materials in contact with VEC
or VI sealant
 Technical support bonding company
Coordination and communication
GLASS MANUFACTURER
 Organise conformity tests on glass products by
sealant manufacturer
 Compute the height of edge seal (r)
 Inform façade builder about type of sealant
 Verify if the concept of Structural Glazing is
compatible with its DGU guarantee
Coordination and communication
BONDING COMPANY
 Respect procedures developed by bonding company
 Respect the plans of the façade builder concerning the
dimensions, nature of sealant, cleaning products,
primers, … and the identifying of the units
 Auto-control of the factory + rRegister auto-control
and sealant conditions (t°, RH%,…)
 Give access to workshop during sealing period
 Send copy of results of auto-controls to façade builder
Coordination and communication
OWNER OF THE BUILDING
 Annual inspection, by a qualified staff, structural seals
and glazings according the service manual done by the
façade maker.
 In case of damages, replacement should be done as
quickly as possible
Structural glazing
 Principles of the Structural Glazing
 Details and types of Structural Glazing
 The different parties and the coordination
 Calculation of the sealing heigth
 Glazing products
 Setting
 Maintenance, inspection and replacement
Calculation
Apportionment of the responsibilities
1
2
3
h
r
r
h
h
r: to be calculated by AGC Flat Glass Europe
h: to be calculated by the mastic supplier
Calculation
Case 1 : Unstepped double glazing
d1
r
d2
Calculation
Case 1: Unstepped double glazing
 If d1 > d2 :
a W
6
r 

 10
2 
 rmin = 6 mm
 Tolerance +/- 2mm => min. 8mm
Calculation
Case 1: Unstepped double glazing
 If d1 ≤ d2 :
a W 1
6
r 


 10
2 2 
 rmin = 6 mm
 Tolerance +/- 2mm => min. 8mm
Calculation
Case 2: Stepped double glazing
2
1
h
r
h
r
Calculation
Case 2: Stepped double glazing
 If the structural sealing « h » takes only the inside sheet :
The « r » sealing of the DG has no structural function
=> rmin = 4 mm
If the structural sealing « h » takes only the outside sheet :
The sealing of the DG has a structural function and the « r » calculation can
be done according case 1 : stepped double glazing without
Structural glazing
 Principles of the Structural Glazing
 Details and types of Structural Glazing
 The different parties and the coordination
 Calculation of the sealing heigth
 Glazing products
 Setting
 Maintenance, inspection and replacement
Glazing products
 The following products can be used in Structural glazing:
 Planibel clear, coloured
 Stopsol (Classic, Supersilver, Silverlight )
 Sunergy

Stopray (edge stripping necessary)
 Top N / Energy N (edge stripping necessary)
Remark: Glazing products with high reflection allows to
hide the metallic structure
Glazing products
=> In case of DGU, only the thermobel Silicone can be
used:
 Minimum dimensions : 250 X 450mm
 Maximum dimensions limited by:
– maximum allowable weight on the profiles
– wind load
– composition
 Cutting:
- only linear cutting
- no angle less than 15°
- for angles between 15° en 30°, the edge are
grinded
Glazing products
S in g le
g la z in g
V is io n
d o u b le g la z in g
S te p p e d v is io n
d o u b le g la z in g
F lo a t:
v is io n
s p a n d re l
E x t. S .
In t. S .
E x t. S .
In t. S .
A n n e a le d
yes
no*
yes
yes
yes *
yes
H e a ts tre n g h t.
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
T e m p e re d
yes
yes
yes
no*
no*
no*
L a m in a te d
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes *
yes
L a m in a te d
H .S ./
te m p e re d
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
Structural glazing
 Principles of the Structural Glazing
 Details and types of Structural Glazing
 The different parties and the coordination
 Calculation of the sealing heigth
 Glazing products
 Setting
 Maintenance, inspection and replacement
Setting
 Single or double glazing :
– The system must be drained
– The “net” weight must be taken up by wegdes
– The materials used must be agreeable
– Laminated glass : all the sheets must be held + drainage
Setting
 Double glazing Thermobel S :
– The « net » weight of the 2 glazings must be taken up by setting
blocks
L 
S  25
nR
sin 
– The materials used must be compatible
– The structure of the façade cannot provoque any dynamic or
stativ load on the glazing
– No stagnation of water is allowed in the rebatew
Structural glazing
 Principles of the Structural Glazing
 Details and types of Structural Glazing
 The different parties and the coordination
 Calculation of the sealing heigth
 Glazing products
 Setting
 Maintenance, inspection and replacement
Maintenance, inspection and replacement
Inspection of 1st level:
 Irregularities that can be notified by the occupants :
• condensation, even momentary, of the DG
• Defects of the system of drainage,…
 Irregularities that can be notified by the maintenance
services :
• Coloration of the silicone
• Rip or deficiency of sticking of the mastic, …
Maintenance, inspection and replacement
Inspection of 2nd level :
– This inspection must
 Control eventual defects of the watertightness seals and VEC
seals.
 Verify that there is no change in the setting of the sealing.
Control of the supports and the movements of the building.
 Control statistically the sticking of the sealing supports.
– Inspection report => façade builder =>partners =>actions
Maintenance, inspection and replacement
Replacement :
– Upon the project foresee possibilities of replacement.
– Drawings and methods must be available for the fitter.
Setting of glass : Structural glazing & VGG
 Introduction to « glazed façades »
 Structural glazing
 VGG
VGG
 Principles of VGG
 Glazing products
 The different parties and the coordination
 Calculation of the sealing heigth
 Setting
Principes of VGG
Structural
Glazing
VGG
Principes of VGG
 Thermobel Silicone VGG
d1 de= 16 d2
i
h
r
e
air sec
external glass
silicone DC 3362
insert
Internal glass
Principes du VGG
Principes of VGG
 Summary - What is VGG?
– Particular structural glazing patented by AGC
– Ensures a mechanical fixation of Thermobel silicone on
a structure
– Only for insulating glazing
Principes of VGG
Principes of VGG
Principes of VGG
Principes du VGG
Advantages of the VGG
 Same aspect as the Structural Glazing
 Natural thermal breakage
 Excellent water and airtight façade
 Protects building structure against corrosion
 Easy cleaning of façade
 Very little risk for thermal shock
 Adaptable on standard profiles 50 of profile suppliers
 Less partners = simplified relations
VGG
 Principles of VGG
 Glazing products
 The different parties and the coordination
 Calculation of the sealing heigth
 Setting
Glazing products
 Only DGU are compatibel with VGG:





Planibel clear, coloured
Stopsol (Classic, Supersilver, Silverlight )
Sunergy
Stopray (edge stripping necessary)
Top N / Energy N (edge stripping necessary)
Glazing products
=> Processing possibilities of Thermobel Silicone VGG :
• Minimum dimensions : 250 X 450mm
• Maximum dimensions limited by:
– maximum allowable weight on the profiles
– wind load
– composition
• Cutting:
-
only linear cutting
- no angle less than 15°
- for angles between 15° en 30°, the edge are grinded
VGG
 Principles of VGG
 Glazing products
 The different parties and the coordination
 Calculation of the sealing heigth
 Setting
The different parties and the coordination
SEALANT
MANUFACTURER
GLASS
MANUFACTURER
FAÇADE BUILDER
Coordination
BUILDING OWNER
BONDING
COMPANY
VGG
 Principles of VGG
 Glazing products
 The different parties and the coordination
 Calculation of the sealing heigth
 Setting
Calculation of the sealing heigth
 Method following Structural glazing case 1
e
G la verbe l
r
i
VGG
 Principles of VGG
 Glazing products
 The different parties and the coordination
 Calculation of the sealing heigth
 Setting
Setting
 Double vitrage Thermobel S:
– The weight of the 2 glazings must be taken up by setting
blocks
L 
S  25
nR
sin 
– The materials must be compatible
– The structure of the façade cannot provoque any dynamic
or static load on the glazing
– No stagnation of water is allowed in the rebate
– The internal glass of the DGU cannot be tempered
– Minimal glass thickness 6mm float and 44.1 laminated
Materials
Materials
Importance of the planeity of the fixation and the tighness profiles
insert
Point of fixation
Support
The glass surface
and the profile
must be at the
same (alignment)
Utilise an adapted
profile in function of
the glass thickness
Stucture