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2020 RCI International Convention & Trade Show: Glass Breakage in Insulated Glazing Units in Spandrel Assemblies
March 26, 2020 - March 31, 2020
Calling all building owners, designers and builders considering the use of curtainwall and window wall systems with opacified glass. Join us on March 26-31 to see live examples of glass breakage, the causes and results of ceramic enamel reducing the strength of heat-treated glass, and describe options to control the potential for in-service breakage.
More info and registration here.
Conference Session Overview: Glass Breakage in Insulated Glazing Units in Spandrel Assemblies
Curtainwall and window wall systems today commonly use insulating glass units (IGUs) for vision glazing and for spandrel panel cladding. A risk for IGU in insulated spandrels is higher thermal stresses on the glass lites, compared to older approaches with single glazing. When ceramic enamel (frit) opacifiers are used, there is increased stress from solar absorption. Thermal stress is generally addressed by heat-treating at least the opacified lite. Multiple incidences of thermal stress-related fracture of ceramic enameled spandrel glass in North America, Europe and elsewhere have shown that ceramic enamel weakens glass, reducing the added benefit of heat treatment, so there remains a risk of in-service thermal stress breakage.
This presentation will give examples of breakage, describe causes, show results of a test program that shows ceramic enamel reduces the strength of heat-treated glass, and describe options to control the potential for in-service breakage. The discussion will be of interest to building owners, designers, and builders considering the use of curtainwall and window wall systems with opacified glass.
This session will be presented by George P. Torok, CET, BSS on March 29, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM and 3:45 PM – 5:15 PM.