NGA FB62-24 PDF

Spandrel glass is glass that has been rendered near opaque and glazed in wall areas covering structural columns, floors, walls, or other building elements that are intended to be concealed from outside view. Increasing standards of energy efficient initiatives are placing unique and unanticipated demands on spandrel glazing. Recently, attention has been drawn to several incidents in which spandrel glass has experienced solar-induced thermal stress breakage. This document discusses the phenomenon of thermal stress build-up, the factors that contribute to it and potential mitigation options. The Technical Services Division of the National Glass Association (NGA) has produced this Glass Technical Paper solely for informational purposes. This Paper was developed by dedicated member volunteers and subject matter experts. The original version of this document was published in 2019. This version of the document was updated and published in June 2024.