Vitre

Glass without limitations
VITRE STRUCTURAL GLASS CURTAIN WALL

Guide Specifications for USA

The specifications below are offered as suggested inclusions in glass and glazing specifications. They are not intended to be complete. A qualified design professional should verify all the information and determine what is suitable for a particular product, use and/or specific application. They must be reviewed and approved by an appropriate party before publishing as a finished specification.

SECTION 08970

STRUCTURAL GLASS CURTAIN WALLS

PART 1. GENERAL

SUMMARY

Description of Work

  1. Complete structural glazing system: tempered monolithic, laminated or insulating glass main plates; glass stiffeners; glass entrance doors (where applicable); metal framing for doors (where applicable); metal support members for perimeter of system; metal fasteners and sealants.
  2. Labor and equipment, and services necessary to install all the work of this section as shown on the approved shop drawings, as specified, and as required by job conditions.

Related Work Specified Elsewhere

  1. Structural steel
  2. Perimeter caulking
  3. Curtain wall systems

Quality Assurance and Performance

  1. General - The manufacturer will design and fabricate the Structural Curtain or IG Structural Curtain in accordance with the manufacturer's established practices and as shown on the approved shop drawings.
  2. Installation must be performed by an installation company approved by Vitre Mfg. and in accordance with Vitre Mfg.'s erection and glazing instructions.
  3. Structural performance: a test report will be submitted that provides the basis for the structural calculations. For earthquake-prone areas, the Structural Curtain system will be designed to allow for lateral racking for seismic requirements. Test reports by an independent testing laboratory, which show results of tests of structural performance, in accordance with ASTM E330, which have been made for substantially identical system, will be submitted, as required by architect.
  4. There will be no uncontrollable air or water infiltration through the assembly when tested in accordance with ASTM E331.
  5. System will provide for live loads imposed by the operation of doors. Doors will comply with applicable handicap and fire codes.
  6. System will be floor loaded and will not be suspended from the structure above.

SUBMITTALS

  1. Submit shop drawings including elevation drawings, sections and details at no less than a 1/4" scale, showing glass types and thicknesses, metal types and thicknesses, joining details, anchorage fastening and sealing methods, metal finishes, door hardware, glazing sealants, setting blocks, shims and spacers.
  2. Submit substantiating engineering calculations and test reports by state-licensed engineer.
  3. Submit samples as requested:
    1. Glazing materials
    2. Metal components and finishes

WARRANTY

  1. Provide a two-year warranty, cosigned by manufacturer and the installer.
  2. Warranty: cover the complete system for failure to meet specified requirements, including materials and installation costs. Insulating glass units will be warranted for a period of five years.

PART 2. PRODUCTS

Manufacturer
The structural glass wall system will be Structural Curtain, as manufactured by Vitre Mfg.
Main Plate Insulating Glass will be constructed using fully tempered glass in accordance with ASTM C1048. The thickness of the glass lights for the insulating units will be either 3/8" or 1/4" thick. Glass or coating color will be selected by the architect. The insulating glass will be dual sealed with polyisobutylene primary seal and a silicone secondary seal with an aluminum spacer. The insulating glass unit will be certified by the IGCC to a Class CBA rating.
Finishes
All exposed surfaces will be free of scratches and other serious blemishes. Rail, channel and pan cover finishes will be (Select one of the following):

  • For extruded aluminum, an Architectural Class II clear anodic coating conforming with Aluminum Association standards.
  • An Architectural Class I color anodic coating, conforming with Aluminum Association standards. Color: black.
  • An Architectural Class I color anodic coating, conforming with Aluminum Association standards. Color: dark bronze.
  • A fluoropolymer paint coating conforming with the requirements of AAMA605.2. Color will be (Specify):
  • Stainless Steel clad using an alloy 304 finished as follows (specify one): polish or satin.
  • Brass/Bronze clad finished (samples required) as follows (specify one): polish or satin.

Stabilizers
Will be 3/4" fully tempered glass in accordance with ASTM C1048. Stabilizer end blocks will be designed so that the shear load is not transferred through the insulating glass main plate.
Perimeter Glazing Channels
Will be 6063-T5 aluminum alloy meeting ASTM B221, matching the profile on the approved shop drawings; size is as required by the insulating glass thickness and glazing requirements.
Sealants
Structural glazing joints must be glazed with an approved structural glazing sealant, such as GE Ultraglaze 4000, Dow Corning 795 or 995. Perimeter weather seal will be a silicone weather seal product, such as GE Silglaze or Dow Corning 790.

PART 3. EXECUTION

Examination
Examine surfaces receiving the work. Verify dimensions of in-place and subsequent construction. Follow the recommendations of GANA (Glass Association of North America) as to inspection procedures. Do not begin work until unsatisfactory conditions have been corrected. Installation of work will constitute acceptance of the related construction.
Preparation
Pre-installation review: the representatives of the glass system provider, the architectural exposed-structural-steel fabricator and erector, the sealant manufacturer, the glazing installer, the architect's representative and the owner's representative shall review the glazing procedure and schedule, including the method of delivering and handling glass, and installing glazing materials. The chemical compatibility of all glazing materials and framing sealants with each other and with like materials used in glass fabrication will be established.
Installation of Glass

  1. Install in accordance with the glass system provider's requirements and the shop drawings.
  2. Employ only experienced glaziers who have had previous experience with the materials and systems being applied. Use tools and equipment recommended by the manufacturer.
  3. Plate-to-plate joints of glass are to be sealed with silicone sealant. Joint dimensions will be designed to be compatible with sealant properties and live load movement of the structure.
  4. Bolt torque: torque bolts to torques specified on shop drawings using a calibrated tool. Lock torque bolts into position to prevent back-off. Reset calibrations regularly to ensure an accurate torque.
  5. Clean glazing connectors receiving glazing materials of deleterious substances that might impair the work. Remove protective coatings that might fail in adhesion or interfere with the bonding of materials of deleterious substances that might impair the work. Remove protective coatings that might fail in adhesion or interfere with bond of sealants. Comply with the manufacturer's instructions for final wiping of surfaces immediately before the application of primer and glazing sealants. Wipe metal surfaces with an appropriate cleaning agent.
  6. Inspect each unit of glass immediately before installation. Glass that has significant impact damage at edges, scratches, abrasion of faces or any other evidence of damage will not be installed.
  7. Sealants: prime surfaces are to receive glazing sealants where required, in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations, using recommended primers.
  8. Locate setting blocks, if required by the drawings, at the quarter points of the sill, but no closer than 6 inches to corners of the glass. Use blocks of proper sizes to support the glass in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.
  9. Provide spacers to separate the glass from attachment plates.
  10. Set the glass in a manner that produces the greatest possible degree of uniformity in appearance. Face all glass, which has a dissimilar face with matching faces in the same direction.
  11. Use masking tape or other suitable protection to limit the coverage of glazing materials on the surfaces intended for sealants.
  12. Tool the exposed surfaces of glazing materials.
  13. Clean excess sealant from the glass and support members immediately after the application, using solvents or cleaners recommended by the manufacturers.

Curing, Protection and Cleaning

  1. Cure sealants in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions to attain maximum durability and adhesion to glass.
  2. Clean all surfaces after the installation, leaving all in a clean and workmanlike manner.
  3. Final cleaning and protection after installation are the responsibilities of others.

END SECTION