- standard window frame
- hidden window frame
- aluminum- wood hybrid frame
- portal frame structure
- visible frame glass wall
- structural glass wall
- semi-structural glass wall
- spider glass glazing system
The standard window frame
This the most common application method. In order to increase the thermal insulation ability of the glass, the structural depth of the profile is increased, so that a thicker glass with a good thermal insulation ability can be built in; however, even in this case there is an effort to minimize the visible structures. The glazing of these structures is always carried out from the interior. The gap between the profile and the glass is closed by a rubber profile, sometimes by silicone. When choosing a silicone sealant, it is essential to be careful concerning the type and the quality of it, otherwise the primary butyle sealant of the glass unit may react with the silicone. To avoid such occurrences, ask for the help of you manufacturer.
Attention: chemical reaction can happen even if the primary sealing and the silicone do not get into direct contact with each other. The primary sealing is made of polyurethane or polysulfide.
Hidden window frame
The outer layer of the glass structure is extended over in 1 or 2 directions or even in all directions. The main point is that the glass structure covers the glass opening profile after it is built in. These are the so-called stepped glasses. When applying this method, the outer glass must be tempered. In case of triple layer glasses, the outer glass is typically soft-coated. The soft coating has to be removed from the step of the glass. Even after removing the soft-coat with the help of professional and automatized means of production, optical surface phenomenon may occur on the surface of the step due to which these parts of the glass are not seen as a black homogeneous unit. There exists a perfect homogeneous solution for painting the edge (typically black) in a way so that it provides an optically perfect surface. Take into consideration that this method cannot be applied in case of soft-coated glasses. If such demands emerge, the structure of the glass must be chosen so that the soft-coating must be placed in the 3rd or 5th position. Regardless of the structure of such glasses, the sealant has to be UV-resistant, with a gas-tight silicon sealant.
Aluminum wood hybrid frame
In this case, the wood is protected and covered by aluminum from the exterior. The glazing is carried out from the exterior. The closing of the gap between the profile and the glass is provided by a rubber profile. Concerning the total thickness, the degree of tolerance can be more demanding. The primary sealant is made of polyurethane or polysulfide.
Portal frame structure
It is an aluminum structure, free of thermal bridging. The structural depth is increased in order to increase the thermal insulation ability of the glass and to allow the installation of thicker glasses. In this case, there is a great emphasis on minimizing the visible surfaces. The glazing is always carried out from the interior. The closing of the gap between the profile and the glass is provided by a rubber profile. The primary sealant is made of polyurethane or polysulfide.
Visible frame glass wall
It is an aluminum structure free of thermal bridging that is produced under operating conditions, but put together at the place of installation. Typically, it consists of vertical and horizontal units. The glazing is carried out from the exterior. The closing of the gap between the profile and the glass is provided by a rubber profile. The glasses are fixed with the help of exterior pressure plates that are screwed mechanically to the aluminum structure in the axis of the vertical and the horizontal units. The screwing has to be carried out carefully since screws may move and may mechanically hurt the edges of the glasses. These damages may remain invisible at the moment of screwing, but later these may cause cracks or even the complete fracture of the glass due to climate or other mechanic effects. The primary sealant is made of polyurethane or polysulfide. In many cases, covering caps are placed on the pressure plates. These covering caps are painted by powder coating with the color of the horizontal and the vertical units. Their function is to protect the screwing and to provide uniform optic properties to the structure.
Structural glass wall
Basically, this structure is the same as the visible frame glass curtain structure, with the only exception that there are neither pressure plates, nor covering caps. The glass structure is fixed to the body of the curtain wall with hidden fixing items placed in a U-channel (discontinuous or continuous) that are hidden in the sealing of the insulating glass. In case of a triple layer insulating glass, it is advisable to place the U-channel in the inner air gap. The glazing is carried out from the exterior. The closing of the gap is provided by a rubber profile. The sealant is UV-resistant, with a gas-tight silicone. The outer glass must be tempered. Avoid the application of 4 mm thick glasses; instead, the use of thicker glasses is recommended. In case of safety glasses, it is advised to apply thicker glasses than the 3.3 construction. The 20 mm thick gap evolving between the glasses is filled by the constructor after the installation of the structure. The sealant has to be compatible with the silicon sealant. In case of structural glass walls, glasses with opening elements have to be stepped glasses, extended in each direction. Moreover, the outer glass always has to be tempered. In case of a triple- layer structure, the outer glass is a soft-coated one. As it has been mentioned, the soft-coat has to be removed from the step of the glass. Even after removing the soft-coat with the help of professional and automatized means of production, optical surface phenomenon may occur on the surface of the step due to which these parts of the glass are not seen as a black homogeneous unit There exists a perfect homogeneous solution for painting the edge (typically black) in a way so that it provides an optically perfect surface. Take into consideration that this method cannot be applied in case of soft-coated glasses. If such demands emerge the structure of the glass must be chosen so that the soft-coating must be placed in the 3rd or 5th position. Regardless of the structure of such glasses, the sealant has to be UV-resistant with a gas-tight silicone sealant. Since the sealant needs a 24-hour long rest in a horizontal position to become solid, the stepped glass is glued to the structural opening element only after this process. The step of the glass and the aluminum structure are adhered together by a UV resistant, structural adhesive silicone. The adhesion is realized in the glass processing factory. Before loading, transporting and installing the glasses, it is necessary to stick to the recommended technological time intervals.
Semi-structural glass wall
This is the combination of the visible and the structural glass walls. According to individual choices, either the vertical or the horizontal direction is visible, the other is structural. It depends on the aspect side whether the fixation with a U channel on the structural edge is needed. The sealant has to be UV-resistant with gas-tight silicone sealant.
Spider glass glazing systems
As a matter of course, these structures are realized through the drilling of the glasses. In this case, spacer rings can be used to ensure the proper sealing of the holes. The sealant has to be UV-resistant with a gas tight silicone sealant. Soft-coated glasses cannot be drilled because of the drilling technology. Consequently, the Ug value of a double layer insulating glass unit with holes is worse than 1,1. The latest developments are in the area of special surface adhesion technologies, eg. Fischer and Dow Corning innovations:
https://www.fischer.co.uk/en-gb/solutions-for/solutions-for-projects/act
https://www.dowcorning.com/content/construction/constructionglazing/structural-silicone-glazing.aspx
