Article-Building with Glass

Constructin the Future
Issue 24 2005

I found this article helpful with my major project as i was considering having an entirely glass front for my warehouse. After reading this however (and teamed with the fact that glass is probably not appropriate when storing things away from direct sunlight) i have considered changing my ideas.

the article stated that issues such as- daylighting standards, energy efficiency, safety, durability, and weahtertightness needed to be assesed when installing a glazed sytem. Also, an important factor that needs to be assessed is the loading on the glass through other structural systems.

Although it did state how creating the glazing in factories improved its quality and minimised potential failure, it also stated that it was in its use that extensive glazing in an inappropriate area became a danger, as the natural properties of glass do not support excessive loading or diverse climatic changes.

Also, the abnormal loading of such elements as explosions, fires, wind driven debris and human impact was investigated to see how a glazed system could cope until failure.
This test was also performed with annealed, toughened, laminated wired and filmed safety glass. With these innovations, the potential risk of life has been lowered, but the article states that building standards must remain the same to minimise the risk of injury or glazing failure.