There are numerous structural glass systems offered by various suppliers that open up vast possibilities for architects, allowing them to create a complete glass envelope for buildings with frameless façades on any plane.

BS EN 17074: Glass in building — Environmental product declaration — Product category rules for flat glass products. BS EN 17416: Glass in building — Assessment of release of dangerous substances — Determination of emissions into indoor air from glass products

Structural glass: glass used in a manner where it may be supporting other building components (e.g. glass mullions) or where it performs a semi-structural role (e.g. free standing glass protective barriers). The term may also be used for glass fixed using bolted connections (frameless glazing), even if it performs no structural function.

Pilkington Planar™ is used by architects to create expansive flush glass surfaces. The system utilises stainless steel fittings housed in countersunk holes to fix glass to its structure, making it more discreet while maximising visibility.

A quick guide to some of the Standards & Building Regulations used in construction that have implications for the choice of glass

Pilkington OptiView™ is a range of glass with an anti-reflective coating(s) to reduce visible light reflectance and to allow more light to pass through. The range is suitable for monolithic, laminated, and toughened applications and can also be glazed as part of an insulated glass unit build-up where required.

Pilkington Anti-condensation Glass is suitable for a wide variety of commercial and domestic applications in combination with other energy-efficient glass products such as those from the Pilkington K Glass™ and Pilkington Optitherm™ Ranges.

A glass conservatory roof helps to create an illusion of additional space over and above a polycarbonate roof or tiled conservatory roof.

Flat drawn or Fourcault process involved drawing the molten glass upwards out of a bath and allowing it to cool as it is lifted into the air. This would ensure a transparent but distorted sheet of glass.

Pilkington provide the service of determining the glass thickness and type to withstand wind and snow loads when the information is not available in the standards. This is a commonly requested service that is quick and easy to provide.