FAQ on glass structures: floors, staircases, balustrades
What type of glass is suitable for walking on?
Floor and stair tread glazing must be triple-laminated, consisting of three sheets of glass bonded together. The top sheet of glass is not taken into account in the strength calculation; its purpose is to absorb any accidental impact. The two lower sheets provide the structural strength. Glass floors must comply with CSTB (Scientific and Technical Centre for Building) specification No. 3448. To ensure your glass structure is covered by a guarantee, we recommend that you engage a specialist contractor who offers a ten-year guarantee specifically for the construction of glass floors.
What type of glass should be used for a staircase?
The glass used for staircases must be verified by structural analysis and comply with industry standards, namely the DTU standards and CSTB specification No. 3448. Often, to justify the use of glass steps or stringers, it is necessary to carry out finite element analyses, as is done in aeronautical and automotive engineering. We recommend that you have the work carried out by a specialist contractor who offers a ten-year guarantee specific to structural glass construction.
How do you install a glass floor?
Glass floors must be installed with care. The glass panels are fitted using suction cups. Smaller panes can be fitted by hand, by two people. For larger, heavier panes, we recommend using mini spider cranes fitted with suction cup lifting beams.
What thickness should a glass floor be?
A glass floor consists of three sheets of glass. Its minimum thickness is 24 millimetres. A specific calculation, in accordance with CSTB specification No. 3448, is used to determine the composition of the glass and, consequently, its thickness.
What is the minimum width for a footbridge?
STRUCTURE TRANSPARENCE builds bespoke footbridges. There is no minimum or maximum width. The metal or timber framework is verified using calculations in accordance with the Eurocodes. The glass slabs are verified by a calculation in accordance with CSTB specification No. 3448. We recommend that you have the structure built by a specialist contractor who offers a ten-year guarantee specific to structural glass construction.
How do you determine the dimensions of a footbridge?
The design of a footbridge must be carried out by a specialist company such as STRUCTURE TRANSPARENCE or by an engineering consultancy. In both cases, these companies will provide you with a bespoke solution backed by a ten-year guarantee. A calculation report can be provided.
What is the minimum thickness of glass that can be walked on?
The minimum thickness of glass that can be walked on is 24 millimetres. This thickness is determined by a design office or a construction company in accordance with CSTB specification No. 3448.
How do you build a footbridge?
Before construction begins, plans must be drawn up and structural checks carried out. The load-bearing structure, whether made of steel, timber or concrete, must be checked in accordance with the Eurocodes. The glass slabs must be checked by means of a structural analysis in accordance with CSTB Specification No. 3448. The load-bearing framework is fixed to a framework – often made of concrete – using dowelled steel brackets. The glass panels are fitted with EPDM seals, with a hardness of between 30 and 45 DIDC. These seals are fitted to the load-bearing framework, which may be made of powder-coated steel, solid timber or reinforced concrete.
What type of glass should be used for a balustrade?
The glass used in balustrades is known as safety glass. It is laminated safety glass. We recommend that you use a company that offers a ten-year guarantee specifically covering the installation of this type of structure.
Quelle hauteur pour un garde-corps ?
La hauteur du garde-corps est déterminée par la hauteur de chute. Pour des chutes de plus d’un mètre, la hauteur du garde-corps est au minium d’un mètre. Les garde-corps doivent être conformes à deux normes : NF P01-012 et NF P01-013. Chaque cas est spécifique ne vous conseillons de passer par une entreprise spécialisée.
What should the height of window guardrails be?
The height of a window guardrail is determined by the height of the fall. For falls of more than one metre, the guardrail must be at least one metre high. Guardrails must comply with two standards: NF P01-012 and NF P01-013. As each case is unique, we recommend that you consult a specialist firm.
What type of glazing should be used for balustrades?
The glass used in balustrades is known as safety glass. This consists of laminated safety glass. We recommend that you use a company that offers a ten-year guarantee specifically covering the installation of this type of structure.
How do you fit a window balustrade?
Window balustrades are fixed to load-bearing structures made of reinforced concrete, steel or timber using specific fixings. For example, for balustrades fixed to a reinforced concrete structure, we use mechanical or chemical anchors. These fixings must have a European Technical Assessment. Balustrades must be installed by a contractor who holds the appropriate ten-year warranty for this type of product.
What is a glass structure?
A structural glass structure is a structure made entirely of glass or a composite structure, comprising load-bearing elements made of steel, timber or concrete and glass infill. Structural glass withstands operational loads, wind loads, snow loads, etc. These loads are defined by the Eurocode standard NF EN 1991-1-1. Strength calculations must comply with the Eurocodes and CSTB (Scientific and Technical Centre for Building) specification No. 3448. The verification of the glass is carried out using software developed in-house or, in complex cases, finite element analysis software. STRUCTURE TRANSPARENCE has its own design office which produces the drawings and performs the calculations. We offer a specific ten-year guarantee covering the manufacture and installation of structural glass structures.