Performance Criteria and Tests for Novel Glass Construction

Antony D Smith, Graham S Dodd.

Following recent developments in the use of overhead structural glass, the specification of laminated glass is often assumed to represent the best and/or safest solution. However, the simple specification of laminated glass is not always sufficient to provide a safe solution and designers should consider in detail the behaviour of any glass products when broken.

A number of standard tests are available to categorize the performance of glass products, though these are normally applied to standard sized test samples. A range of guidance exists for the use of glass in buildings, but this is not always appropriate for overhead glazing.

This paper describes the design and specific testing of a number of recent projects where laminated glass has been used structurally and overhead, including the transfer of forces into the glass, and the specifi cation and testing of the glass elements to demonstrate their post fracture behaviour.

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