Architectural glass: Types, performance and legislation

Abstract

Glass is an ancient building material, which facilitated penetration of light into buildings. Once it was used exclusively for window panes, whereas nowadays there are examples of structures made of glass only. Apart from the traditional non-bearing application in engineering, it is progressively used for construction of bearing elements. The progressively stricter regulations dealing with energy efficiency of the buildings gives rise to application of special characteristics glass of high performance, but also to the more intensive research in this field. The adequate choice of the glass type can to a great extent improve the energy efficiency of the building. The paper gives a literature review of today?s available architectural glass types as well as their characteristics and developing tendencies. Also a review of standards, both national and international once is provided.