Glass Structure. 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.

List of British/EU Standards and Codes of Practice. There are many British and European Standards which apply directly or indirectly to glass for use in building. Although not exhaustive, the following lists some of the most commonly used.

The strength of glass is determined by putting the glass under stress until it breaks. The surface strength is measured using a ring and the edge strength by 4 point bending. The test is repeated to derive a distribution for the break strength.

Solar control glass either reflects energy or absorbs it to reradiate the heat outwards. By its nature it gets hotter that clear glass and glass that is designed for thermal efficiency alone like Pilkington K Glass™ and Pilkington Optitherm SN™.

Learn how glass interacts with heat and light from the electromagnetic spectrum. Find out how glass emits and absorbs energy, and how it affects the appearance and performance of glass.

To enable us to calculate a suggested glass thickness we need some basic information: The design wind load and snow load. The dimensions of the glass width and height. The angle of glazing. The number of supported edges of the glass.

Part O is a new regulation in England to prevent overheating in new dwellings, which requires solar control glazing and ventilation. Learn how it differs across the UK, how to comply with it, and why it doesn't mean less glazing.

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.

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.