Application of Thermally Curved Glass in the Building Industry

Curved, or bent, glass units are used more and more often in modern architecture. The curved elements can create flowing contours, organic bodies, or bold arch and vault constructions. Technical developments in the manufacture and refinement of glass are constantly attaining new heights. Necessary, for this reason, is not only a scientific examination of this product but also a detailed description of its application. Since there presently exist no – or very few – standards, regulations, or guidelines bearing on this product, the Bundesverband Flachglas has drawn up a manual for thermally-curved glass which may be considered as a brief work dealing with the fundaments of this topic. There are described here both the boundary conditions in terms of German building legislation and the particular features of the dimensioning of this type of glass. In addition to this, advice and pointers are given regarding possible tolerances and assembly/installation. Curved glass (made from float glass, fully TG, heat-soaked fully TG or LSG) may, at present, only be applied and installed in Germany on the basis of an Exceptional Approval (Zustimmung im Einzelfall, or ZiE) or of an already-acquired National Technical Approval (Allgemeine bauaufsichtliche Zulassung, or AbZ). Also explained are the structural dimensioning of curved glass, which differ fundamentally from those applying to flat sheets of glass. The manual provides here, among other information, general strength- and resistance-values for guidance in pre-dimensioning.