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

The creation of a glass façade in a residential house allows glass to be used in large uninterrupted areas creating consistent attractive surface. Glass panes can be installed in a system based on aluminium or steel profiles or as a point fixed structural glazing system where conventional metal framing is eliminated and the glass is ...

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Base glass: a term used to describe the glass, which is subsequently processed, e.g. acid etching, sand blasting, or coated glass. Bead: see glazing bead. Bent glass: an alternative term for curved glass.