Glass Panel - Structural
Structural glazing panels are high-performance glass elements used in curtain wall facades, structural glazing systems, and point-fixed applications where glass serves as the primary weather barrier and architectural surface. These panels are manufactured from soda-lime silicate float glass that is heat-treated (toughened/tempered or heat-strengthened) and/or laminated to achieve the required safety, structural, and fire performance characteristics. Standard configurations include single-glazed toughened, laminated safety glass (two or more plies bonded with PVB or SGP interlayer), and insulating glass units (IGUs) combining two or more panes with sealed air or argon-filled cavities for thermal performance. In Australian construction, structural glass panels must comply with AS 1288 Glass in buildings - Selection and installation, and are commonly used in commercial curtain walls, shopfronts, balustrades, canopies, and point-fixed facades. NCC 2022 amendments have significantly tightened fire performance requirements, with fire-rated glazing now requiring FRL -/120/120 in many commercial applications. Glass is classified as non-combustible under the NCC.
- Commercial curtain wall facades
- Structural glazing systems
- High-performance windows
- Glass balustrades and barriers
- Fire-rated glazing
Structural use of glass in building facades evolved from the Crystal Palace (1851) through early curtain walls in the 1920s-30s (Bauhaus, Lever House 1952) to the fully glazed skyscraper facades of today. The float glass process invented by Alastair Pilkington in 1959 revolutionised glass manufacturing, enabling large, optically flat panels at scale. Toughened/tempered glass became commercially available in the 1960s, and laminated safety glass (originally developed for automotive use) was adopted for building applications in the 1970s. Low-emissivity (low-E) coatings developed in the 1980s dramatically improved IGU thermal performance. Structural silicone glazing (SSG) systems emerged in the 1980s, enabling frameless glass facades. Point-fixed glazing systems (spider fittings) developed in the 1990s further expanded design possibilities. In Australia, AS 1288 was first published in 1973 and has been progressively updated, with the 2021 edition incorporating current safety and performance requirements. The NCC 2022 amendments significantly tightened fire performance requirements for glazed facades following international high-rise fire incidents. Current innovations include electrochromic (smart) glass, vacuum-insulated glazing, and ultra-low-carbon glass manufacturing processes.
DISCLAIMER: This specification document is generated from the CLAD Materials Atlas Database. Information is for general guidance only and does not constitute professional engineering advice. Values are typical and may vary by batch, manufacturer, and production run. Verify suitability for specific project applications independently.