Construction details

Clamp fixing

3.1.25 Glass suspended with clamping plates 2

Vertical section and elevation 2

scale 1:5

3
3
For frameless glazing it is often more sensible
to design the glass as a suspended system
(curtain wall) – instead of supporting it from
underneath – to rule out stability problems. 5 4
4
However, this can be achieved only by using
elaborate and expensive connections. The
clamp fixing shown here was specifically 1
devised for fixing single glazing. A screw
mechanism transfers the clamping force into
the pane of glass, which can accommodate the
weight of the glass, depending on the coeffi- pads and environmental conditions (moisture,
cient of friction of the intermediate pad temperature, soiling etc.) must be taken into
between glass and clamping jaws. In principle, consideration. Fig. 3.1.35 shows an even and
clamp fixings are a suitable means of jointing statically determinate load transfer through an 1 Glass 6
for glass because in contrast to point fixings, articulated joint and correspondingly long 2 Articulated joint
the loads can be transferred evenly into the clamping pieces. The bottom edges of the 3 Clamping section
glass and essentially avoid any concentrations panes must remain free to move. They are 4 Clamping jaws
5 Intermediate pad
of stress. On the practical side, boundary con- therefore sealed in grooved gaskets in such a as friction surface
ditions such as the surface finish of the friction way that structural movement or deflections in 6 Permanently elastic
faces, the creep characteristics of intermediate the floor slab can be compensated for. joint
3.1.25

Bearing fixing

3.1.26 Rigid connection via bearing in drilled

hole
3.1.27 Glass fin

Elevations and horizontal sections

scale 1:5

Bearing fixings have proved useful in steel and

timber engineering. They are characterized by 2 1 2
their simple and robust handling, which makes
them ideal for the conditions on a building site. 3
However, in the case of glass, in contrast to
structural steelwork, we cannot assume a uni-
form distribution of the bearing pressure on the 1
sides of the hole. In order to distribute the pres- 1 4
sure as evenly as possible over the sides of a
hole drilled through glass, a bush must be
inserted between bolt and glass to dissipate
the stress peaks. The bushes are made from
special aluminium alloys or synthetic materials
(Teflon, polyamide), or are injected materials
such as epoxy, polyester or polyurethane, and
must be durable, able to withstand the rigours
of the weather. The long-term suitability of bush 5 6 3.1.26
materials must be verified beforehand by way resulting properties must be taken into account
of tests. No relative movements between the when calculating the stresses in the glass, and 1 Glass 4 6
glass elements can be permitted in connec- if an expansion joint is required, it must be 2 Bolt with locknut
tions designed to transfer forces. The bolted incorporated at another place, not here. In the 3 Steel splice plate
4 Intermediate pad
connections shown in figs 3.1.26 and 3.1.27 case of laminated glass and laminated safety 5 Washer
function as though the individual glass compo- glass, the flow properties of the interlayer must 6 Sleeve made from
nents were one piece. This is a rigid joint. The be taken into account. injected material
3.1.27

169