STRUCTURAL GLAZING & BUILDING REGULATIONS

Your installation will need to meet the stipulations laid out in several categories of the Building Regulations, including:

Heat Loss Glass is not a good insulator and the regs set minimum standards for loss of energy through doors and windows. Happily, because it’s much thicker than standard double-glazed units, structural glass can actually provide better performance. The super-insulated versions are well above the minimum requirements of the regulations. If it is used in large areas, heat loss can be offset by increasing the level of insulation in the rest of the walls, floor and roof of the house.

Sound insulation The best barrier to sound is mass, and again, structural glass performs better than thinner glazing. Voids or cavities also help to reduce noise penetration. These can be used in combination with laminated units to achieve better sound reduction.

Loading Typical loads placed on glass are from people walking across a floor or leaning onto a balustrade, snow building up on a rooflight or the wind blowing onto it. Complex calculations may be needed to demonstrate to the building control officer that these will all be easily borne.

Fire Occasionally, fire resistance is required, for example between a room and an escape route from an upper floor. Achieving the necessary level is possible with structural glass, but it will be expensive.