Glass as a building material
Wrong
Setting blocks
Setting blocks for glazing have to fix the posi-
tion of the panes within their frames in such a
way that the loads, e.g. self-weight, are carried
via the anchorages or nodes of fixed frames or
via opening light suspension points (four-hinge
frames, see DIN EN 14439). Contact between
metal and glass must be ruled out. The edge of
the glass in the rebate must not touch the
heads of any screws or other parts of the con-
struction. The depth of the actual rebate must
be defined. For normal float glass or insulating
units made from float glass, the setting blocks
must be positioned at least 20 mm from the
corners and should be min. 80–100 mm long.
The whole thickness of the pane must rest on
the setting blocks; in practice the blocks are
about 2 mm wider than the thickness of the
glass element. Impregnated hardwood or plas-
tic setting blocks are favoured. The resistance
of the blocks to the long-term compressive load
as well as their compatibility with the other
materials used must be verified.
Heavy units (> 100 kg) should be placed on
setting blocks made of polyamide, chloro-
prenes, EPDM, polyethylene (no PVC) or sili-
cone with a Shore A hardness of approx. 75° in
order to reduce the pressure on the edges of
the individual panes, e.g. in the case of lami-
nated safety glass elements placed on hard
materials. In doing so it must be guaranteed
that opening light and frame cannot distort or
twist during use and that the opening light can
be operated. This applies just as much to tilt-
and-turn windows as it does to horizontal/
vertical sliding windows. Furthermore, a nor-
mal-sized pane in a frame should not take on
any loadbearing function for which it was not
designed.
To work properly, the setting blocks must have
a flat bearing. If the shape of the rebate does
not allow this, bridge setting blocks must be
used which do not hinder the vapour-pressure
equalization (Figs 2.1.60 and 2.1.61).
If setting blocks are omitted from the construc-
tion, permanent and verifiable substitutes must
be found.
Bearings for glass
The choice of edge bearing for the glass is
determined by the use. In vertical installations
standard edge tapes can be laid between
glass and frame as a prelude to the sealant.
Some special glazing systems require elastic
materials. For sloping installations, bearings
must be selected that are resilient enough to
accommodate the long-term dead loads of
glass plus snow. These materials must have
closed pores so that they do not absorb the
moisture that can lead to damage over the
long-term.
When selecting bearings it should not be for-
gotten that the whole construction must remain
sealed. The contact pressure and the material
must always be matched to the particular appli-
cation. Here, too, it is important to consider all
physical aspects and not just isolated factors.
The bearing conditions of the different types of
glass must also be taken into account, such as
the constraints arising out of the particular
application. For example, in the case of insulat-
ing units, limiting the deflection of the edge
seal under load to l/300 of the glass edge is
advisable so that with increasing deflections
the edge seal is not subjected to too much
shear, which can soon lead to leaks along the
edge.
The principal requirements for individual appli-
cations are explained on p. 96.
Vapour-pressure equalization, drainage
Apart from float glass, the edges of the panes
require a rebate with vapour-pressure equaliza-
Support setting block
tion to the outside, i.e. a drained rebate. This
ensures that the vapour pressure does not
become excessive and condense, and also
that any moisture entering from the outside can
be drained away and so does not attack and
damage chemically the edge seal system of, Right
for example, insulating units, laminated and
laminated safety glass or wired glass. As a
100% moisture seal along the entire rebate
and its joints is not possible in practice, and
as leakage water from outside can infiltrate,
vapour-pressure equalization and the drainage
of the rebate are imperative. In all types of con-
struction, but especially sloping glazing, it
should be ensured that the sealing level lies
above the water run-off layer. Seals subjected
to long-term water pressure may develop leaks.
Butt joints
The general requirement for vapour-pressure
equalization and drainage (see above) also
applies to horizontal or vertical butt joints as Support setting block
well as frameless corner details. Therefore, butt Setting block wedge
joints in, for example, insulating units, laminat-
2.1.61
ed and laminated safety glass and wired glass
must be designed in such a way that perma-
nent vapour-pressure equalization is guaran-
teed in order to allow moisture to escape from
the rebate or cavity. Trying to fill the cavity
completely with sealant always leads to defects
in practice which then act as water traps and
destroy the edge (see “Joints at an unsupported
edge”, p. 172).
2.1.58 The mechanical properties of metal and glass
a Permanent deformation in metal following a
point load
b Splinters are ejected from the glass – a sign
of its brittleness
2.1.59 Cutting glass
2.1.60 Incorrect positioning of setting blocks
2.1.61 Right and wrong ways of using setting blocks
87