'Standard for Determining Load Resistance of Glass Buildings' Receives Updates
June 19, 2012

The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) E1300, "Standard Practice for Determining Load Resistance of Glass in Buildings," has been updated from its 2009 version, according to the Schaumburg, Ill.-based American Architectural Manufacturers Association.

Scott Norville, chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering for Texas Tech University, provided a summary of the changes that will go into effect in the 2011 version during AAMA's recent Southwest Region Spring Meeting in Austin, Texas.

Updates include an increase to the load limit from 210 psf to 315 psf. In addition, the types of glazing to which the standard applies has changed, and rectangular shapes of monolithic, laminated and insulating glass supported on one, two, three or four sides are now included, according to Norville. The new version also separates out insulating glass and notes that it only applies to insulating glass with four-sided support. The standard also now addresses triple-glazed IG units, according to Norville.

The latest version of the standard also includes additions to the exceptions to laminated glass thicknesses and the addition of a non-factored load chart and corresponding deflection chart for nominal 1-inch glass supported along four sides, according to Norville.

Norville said that two recommended changes to ASTM E1300 were voted down; these were adding glass type factors for etched, wired, patterned and sandblasted glass and the possibility of including an additional appendix concerning the strength of heat-treated glass.