Architectural Glazing Interface Details

Frameless Fenestration

Vertical Frameless glass section details

Stacked GLass Fin Head detail

Base stacked Fin and Head Hanging Fin

Fin splice plate details

Frameless interface at stone and stainless cladding

Architectural Glazing Project Description:

Our Achitectural glazing package to this  contemporary designed hotel included the following packages

• Capped Stick Curtain Walling
• Integrated metal balustrades.
• Ribbon glazing
• Punch hole windows.
•  316 Stainless Steel Cladding.
• Point fixed spider glazing with glass fins, cantilevered and stacked.
• Glass canopy.
• Brisesoleil.
• Frameless glass revolving door.
• 316 Stainless steel door.

The most technical aspect of this architectural glazing package is the detailing and design of the point fixed glazing at the main entrance. This corner of the building illustrates the type of architectural glazing package that ADT FA+CE are reputed to be extremely good at.

As Specialist Façade Contractor our experience enables us to detail and procure Architectural Glazing Solution with several integrated architectural elements.

This type of glass façade assembly forms part of a larger architectural glazing and cladding package, it is an important part of the architectural intent and brand of the corporate identity. For this reason, we will look at key aspects of its construction rather than discussing the overall architectural glazing package.

Cantilevered Glass Fin Assembly

This project demonstrates the application of a glass cantilevered fin. This type of fin is fixed at the head. Its function is to transfer wind, dead and live loads to the overhead structure from the face glass.

Load transfer in this manner avoids any induced load transfer at the head of the revolving automatic door.

Face Glass Risk Management

The design of the fin is critical to the overall service life of the glass assembly. This is because if the fin breaks, the face glass is relying on the fin to remain insitu to avoid collapse. Glass can break for a variety of reasons. Our knowledge of façade glazing risks enables us to manage them through their configuration.

Glass Fin Configuration

The cantilevered glass fin is 19mm toughened / laminate and heat soak tested (HST). Risk of failure is minimised by designing the fin to remain situ in the event of breakage.

The face glass is 19 mm toughened single glazed, HST. Both the dead and live loads from each face pane typically 2400mm wide by 1000 high are transferred individually to the fin avoiding the risk of progressive collapse in the event of breakage.

As a Specialist Façade Contractor, We at ADT FA+CE consider the visual aesthetics of the end product. External appearance is important to us.

Roller wave distortion for example is minimised by the use of super flat toughened.

Façade Detailing

At ADT FA+CE, we take pride in each interface detail. This frameless solution demonstrates the effectiveness of recessing the perimeter 316 stainless steel u channels. This has been successfully achieved at the jambs behind the stone cladding, at midspan between floors and around the projecting porch.

The concealment of the channel around the revolving door jamb and glass was not possible. In such instances finish is important and consideration to architectural grades of stainless steel more important.

The successful procurement of this frameless façade solution was dependent upon our ability as façade specialists in managing risk during the following sequence

• Detailing to meet the architectural intent
• Working to agreed levels and opening sizes at design stage
• Integrating physical elements such as in the instance revolving door, projecting porch, stainless
• Cross checking agreed levels and opening sizes
• Scheduling the face glass, looking at every type of glazing risk, physical sizes, glass preparation, aesthetics, manufacturing flaws and possible breakage.
• Glass fins design risks.
• Stainless steel u channels.
• Stainless steel fixing angles and fixing clamps.

Value Engineering

Value engineering is evident in this project in a number of instances. Examples as follows:

• The mock stainless balconies workpackage was simplified by simply integrating it within the curtain wall framework. Traditionally a separate structure would be required to support them but in this instance we used secondary proprietary brisesoleil brackets on to which an aluminium balustrade was fixed. A change in construction and material enabled cost savings.
• Instead of using stainless steel channels to the perimeter ground floor glazing, an aluminium flush glazed system was used. Cost savings were achieved by changing material and façade system.
• The glazing configuration was altered to suit the buildings orientation.

For example the glazing configuration was:
6/16/6 Clear/low e soft coated on north elevation for the bedroom blocks
6/16/6 Antilleo clear/ low e on the south, east and west for the bed room blocks
6/16/6 Synergy clear / clear for the ground floor glazing.

Altering the configuration enabled cost savings without compromise to the light transmission (LT), solar factor (SF) and u-value.

• Ribbon curtain walling was used in the pent-house areas onto which the cladding was fixed. The visual aesthetic and performance remained the same but the cost of construction and the associated buildability issues were simplified.

All projects work to a budget and it may not be always possible to use particular systems because of cost constraints. This photograph demonstrates this by using a flush glaze system which is recessed behind the stone cladding to maximise light transmission whilst at the same time using a high performance rebated door from the Reynaers suite of products.