Advanced Glazing Systems
Advanced glazing systems speaks to what are advanced glazing systems and why use advanced glazing systems.
They are sought in the quest to design ever more minimal details for
buildings as architects have encouraged the development of systems of glazing
that seem in varying degrees, to defy gravity. This is indeed an important part of new buildings being designed.
Butt Joint Glazing
The head and sill of the glass sheets are supported conventionally in metal frames, but vertical mullions are eliminated, the vertical joints between sheets of glass being made by the injection of a colorless silicone sealant. This gives a strong effect of unbroken horizontal bands of glass wrapping continuously around the building.
Structural Glazing
The metal mullions lie entirely lie entirely inside the glass with the glass adhered to the mullions with structural silicone sealant or more recently acrylic foam structural glazing. Structural glazing allows the outside skin of the building to be completely flush, unbroken by protruding mullions.
The critical silicone sealant work is done in a factory, not on a construction site. The lights of glass are transported to the site already adhered to the small aluminum channels that will bind them to the mullions. In comparison to structural silicone glazing tape exhibits superior elastic properties, it can be applied more quickly and with less waste. It develops its adhesive bond more quickly and it produces a cleaner visual appearance.
Suspended Glazing Systems
These are
used primarily for high walls of glass around building lobbies and enclosed
grandstands. These are extremely attractive.
Glass Mullion System
The tempered glass sheets are suspended from above on special clamps and are stabilized against wind pressure by perpendicular stiffeners, also made of tempered or by systems of tension cables. Where a single sheet of glass spans from the top of the window to the bottom, the glass and stiffeners are joined only by sealant.
To create walls that are taller than a single sheet, metal fittings are used to join sheets at the corner and edges. Stainless steel cables and fittings may be used to support large expanses of glass in roofs.
The structure around the perimeter of the opening must be very stiff and strong to resist the pull of the cables that sustain the glass.
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