Dartford Glass

At Dartford Glass, our high standards address a wide range of quality and high-performance issues. We describe the physical characteristics of all glass and present various methodologies for verifying acceptable performance levels under specific conditions. The Standard Practice for Determining the  Load Resistance of Glass in different  Buildings, which is often referred to as “glass strength” standard, which is under a steady continuous development by a group of glass industry experts who meet four times a year to talk about  old and new issues, various questions, and research that relates to all types of glass strength. A new version of ASTM E1300 has recently been introduced, and it is a significant change from earlier editions of the standard procedures. Before getting into the various changes, however, let’s look at what the standard is.

Currently, ASTM E1300 addresses laminated and insulating glass buildings exposed to a uniform lateral load of short or even long duration for a probability of breakage. The standard does not apply to the glass with certain edge treatments that alter the various glass strength, such as wired, patterned, notched, etched, sandblasted, drilled, or grooved glass.

While ASTM E1300 has been based on a glass resistance to uniform lateral loads, the normal notes that final glass thickness and certain types of glass will depend on  various factors, including stresses, spontaneous breakage of  glass,  various effects of windborne debris and excessive deflections set forth in all building codes, safety glazing requirements, and other glass-specific concerns. Glass Design professionals use this standard to illustrate compliance to building regulations. Building code officials use this particular standard to verify compliance. And glazing manufacturers, fabricators, and also glass installers like Dartford Glass use it to assist their customers in selecting proper unit glass thickness.

Early Years when the standard came into effect in the mid-1990s, its 12 charts were received with a mixed set of feelings. One chart that included all glass thicknesses which seemed so much easier for all to understand and use. However, with the proponents of ASTM E1300 that convinced the industry, designers, officials technical merits worried about the new standard.