Structural Glazing

Transparent glass facades or significant glass enclosures are a favorite means of architectural expression. Expansive facade surfaces are often broken down into smaller window-like surfaces by transoms and mullions – causing the desired liberality to be reduced.

| Succesfully convinced

Flush-surfaced bonded glazing solutions have been successfully accomplished for decades and their style symbolises the image of the building. The first SSG facade in Germany was the Morandini facade for Rosenthal, supplied by ECKELT in 1984. After 10 years in service, the ift carried out a check and confirmed its complete fitness for purpose.

The initial scepticism raised by the authorities against structural bonding was settled by the introduction of quality control systems and technical regulations and the method has now become state-of-the-art technology for specialised processors.

| Approved by authorities

Glass-construction-bonding from supported and non-supported Structural Sealant Glazing has been regulated with respect to the technical requirements by the ETAG 002 (January 2002 Edition). Since such constructions are not yet covered by any harmonized EN Norm and therefore cannot be brought onto the EU market, the Austrian Institute for Building Technology (OIB) has affiliated such glass facades into their building material register ÖE Point 3.1.

Bonded glass constructions, which have an ETA permit in accordance with ETAG 002, are allowed to be used in Austria.

1 | Permitted facade systems

At this time we possess Schüco SFC 85 SG system, Schüco International KG FW 50+ SG and Wicsky 3 have received an ETA (European Technical Approval). vandaglas eckelt is a processor certified by IFT Rosenheim to carry out the bonding for these systems.

The permitted use and application of construction products is determined in the building material register ÖE published by the Austrian Institute for Building Technology (OIB). Construction products which have the European technical permit (ETA), may be used if they are in accordance with the specifics set out in the building material register. The building product Glass is regulated in Chapter 3, 3.1 bonded glass facades.

The significant requirements are:

• possesses an ETA in accordance with ETAG 002
• for DGU or Laminated glass only Type I (with support o self-weight) are permitted
• only for single glass units Type III (with support of self-weight) is also permitted

• the required restraints to reduce the danger should the bond fail (mechanical safety) are, irrespective of installation height, always to be used.
• the most important glass types are laminated safety glass or heat-soak tested monolithic tempered safety glass

Bonding of such systems may be carried out only by certified, independently audited companies. vandaglas eckelt  is certified by ift Rosenheim.

2 | Bonding without permit

For all other systems which do not have ETA (European Technical Approval) certification, approval must be sought from the local authority by the facade installer.

› basis:

• Structural dimensioning of the bonding
• Adhesion testing on original profiles/silicone with ETA certification 2-component silicone DC 993 (ETA 01/0005)
• Factory internal control similar to ETAG 002 by ISO 9001 certified companies

› preferred bonding surfaces of profiles:

• aluminium anodised
• stainless steel

The original extrusion/profile (coating, anodising batch) is specifically tested for adhesion properties and approved by Dow Corning prior to bonding.

› permitted bonding surfaces of glass with Silicone DC 993:

• float glass
• coated glass COOL-LITE (SS 108, PB 114 N, ST 150), ANTELIO (clear, Silver)
• enamelled tempered glass with heat soak test, screen printed tempered glass with heat soak test.

We recommend that only materials which have been tested for compatibility are used for Weather Sealing, e.g. Dow Corning DC 791.

		- IFT conformity certificate - Bonding of SGG Systems
		- ETA 01/0005 Dow Corning DC 993
		- General Building Control Permit Z-70.1-75 enamelled fully tempered glass with DC 993 (German version)

The warm-edge spacerbar  is standard for VARIO. The given U-Values are calculated with gas-filled cavities and gas-tightness to EN 1279-2 and substantiated in Test Report TC-RAP-06-18364.