The Great Spandrel Glass Debate
As we change the rules of thermal performance for facades, we are changing the conditions the glass is subject to in shadow boxes and glazed spandrel
As we change the rules of thermal performance for facades, we are changing the conditions the glass is subject to in shadow boxes and glazed spandrel
A review of balustrade practices from around the world, and why practices in United States and countries using ICC code/ASCE 7 designs are failing to
Other than limited special cases, there is a lack of standards providing guidance on the design of structural glass. This has resulted in an ad-hoc
Glass handrail design in the United States lags behind best practice in other parts of the world. There can be as much as a factor of four (4)
<p>The technology of glass now allows glass to be fabricated in sizes and structural configurations not previously conceivable. The standards and…
<p>Explosions can result in very high loads of extremely short durations. Protective design to mitigate the effects of blast loading requires façade…
ASTM published the first version of ASTM E2461-05: Standard Practice for Determining the Thickness of Glass in Airport Traffic Control Tower Cabs in
Thermal bridging through building facades have been overlooked or over-simplified by designers and building energy codes and standards in the past, which has led to higher space heating and cooling loads, occupant discomfort, and higher risk of condensation.
Glass is an essential component for any type of building. Its transparency enhances daylighting and provides occupants a view to the outside. Whether
In 2014, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) approved the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) as an accredited ANSI Standards
Here we are, a full year after the initial COVID-19 surge rocked the United States. It’s hard to believe we’ve been living through the pandemic for a full year at this point; and yet it also feels like it’s been multiple years. We are beginning to see glimmers of hope on the horizon as more people..
FTI's Mic Patterson sits down with special guests Steve Selkowitz of Lawrence Berkeley National Lab and Marc Lafrance of the Department of Energy .
The Facade Tectonics Institute is pleased to launch our long-awaited podcast, starting with Episode 01: Passive House, a moderated discussion between Lois Arena, Director of Passive House Services at Steven Winter Associates and Spencer Culhane, Senior Building Envelope Specialist at Schüco USA.
The tragic fire of June 14, 2017 at the Grenfell Tower in London, England has brought to a very public global forum issues related to the impact of
Current glass industry standards provide clear tolerances for readily quantifiable physical properties to assist with the evaluation of visual
Many factors will influence coating selection, but to achieve the desired performance level for a given situation, coatings must be specified based
Curtain wall design commonly uses insulating glass units for vision and spandrel glazing to provide better visual harmonization of building facade
<p>A building’s envelope mitigates the effects of meteorological phenomena – including lightning – upon the structure and its occupants and contents.…
One of the most complex yet least understood areas where fire can spread is at the perimeter of a building. Fire can not only spread from
Large master planned developments such as Battery Park City in Manhattan, Mission Bay in San Francisco, and Playa Vista in Los Angeles were built