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8.3

Part 8.3 Glass

Part 8.3 Glass

Glazing must comply with the following:

  1. 8.3.2 for glass sizes and installation.
  2. 8.3.3 for fully framed glazing installed in the perimeter of buildings.
  3. Part 8.4 for glazed assemblies subject to human impact.
  4. Glass used must be of a type within the scope of AS 1288.
  5. Glass used in barriers, except a window serving as a barrier, must withstand loading forces in accordance with AS 1170.1.
  6. Safety glass must be—
    1. legibly marked in accordance with 8.4.7; and
    2. made visible in accordance with 8.4.8.

Explanatory information

  • This Part applies to the selection of glass only and does not include the installation of windows or framed glazed doors. This is due to window systems relying on the design and testing of structural members to withstand wind loads (e.g. mullions, transoms, and meeting rails and stiles) and the perimeter frame design, sealants and gaskets to resist water penetration.
  • This Part does not cover glazing in assemblies that are constructed on site and are architectural one-off windows which are not design tested in accordance with AS 2047 or other assemblies that are second-hand, reused, recycled or heritage.
  • Information on design wind speed for particular areas may be available from the appropriate authority.
  • For glazing in high wind areas, refer to Part 2.2.

Glazing used in buildings must comply with the following:

  1. Glazing used in the perimeter of buildings and supported on all sides must comply with the appropriate provisions listed in 8.3.3.
  2. Glazing used in areas where the potential for human impact could occur must comply with the appropriate provisions listed in Part 8.4.
  3. For 3 mm monolithic annealed glass, the maximum area must not be more than 0.85 m2.

Explanatory information

The selection of glass thickness relies not just on limit state wind loads but on a number of geometric criteria that include the influence of aspect ratio and slenderness factors. These factors are taken into account in Tables 8.3.3a, 8.3.3b and 8.3.3c.

Fully framed (supported on all sides) monolithic annealed glass installed in the perimeter of buildings must comply with—

  1. if the building is located in an area with a wind class not exceeding N1 – Table 8.3.3a; or
  2. if the building is located in an area with a wind class not exceeding N2 – Table 8.3.3b; or
  3. if the building is located in an area with a wind class not exceeding N3 – Table 8.3.3c.
Table 8.3.3a Glass thickness for wind class not exceeding N1: monolithic annealed glass (mm)
Edge (mm) 300 450 600 750 900 1050 1200 1350 1500 1650
300 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
450 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
600 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4
750 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4
900 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4
1050 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4
1200 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
1350 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
1500 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
1650 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
1800 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
1950 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
2100 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
2250 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
2400 3 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 4 5
2550 3 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 4 5
2700 3 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 6 5
Table 8.3.3b Glass thickness for wind class not exceeding N2: monolithic annealed glass (mm)
Edge (mm) 300 450 600 750 900 1050 1200 1350 1500 1650
300 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
450 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
600 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4
750 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4
900 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4
1050 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4
1200 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
1350 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
1500 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
1650 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
1800 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 5
1950 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 5
2100 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 6
2250 3 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 6
2400 3 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 6
2550 3 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 6
2700 3 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 6 6
Table 8.3.3c Glass thickness for wind class not exceeding N3: monolithic annealed glass (mm)
Edge (mm) 300 450 600 750 900 1050 1200 1350 1500 1650
300 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
450 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
600 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4
750 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4
900 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4
1050 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 5 5
1200 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 5 5 5
1350 3 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 5 5
1500 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 6
1650 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 6 6 6
1800 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 6 6 6
1950 3 4 4 4 5 5 5 6 6 6
2100 3 4 4 5 5 5 6 6 6 8
2250 3 4 4 5 5 5 6 6 8 8
2400 3 4 4 5 5 5 6 6 8 8
2550 3 4 4 5 5 5 6 6 8 8
2700 3 4 4 5 6 6 6 8 8 8

Explanatory information

  • For other types of perimeter glazing including toughened, wired, laminated, unframed glazing and insulated glass units, refer to AS 1288.
  • For monolithic annealed patterned glass thickness measurement refer to AS 1288.
  • The thickness of glass in Tables 8.3.3a, 8.3.3b and 8.3.3c is dependent on the wind classification of the site, Ultimate Limit State (ULS) wind pressure set out in AS 4055, and the dimensions of the glass panel. AS 4055 has higher ULS wind pressures for parts of external walls within 1200 mm of external corners. The thickness of glass in Tables 8.3.3a, 8.3.3b and 8.3.3c is based on these higher ULS wind pressures and can also be used for glass in the general length of walls.