Structural Silicone Glazing Systems Explained
Structural silicone glazing is a facade building method using specially formulated silicone sealants to bind glass panels directly to the supporting structural elements. This technology removes or at least greatly lowers the sight of typical mechanical anchoring devices and creates a smooth unbroken glass look. In these systems, the silicone serves two purposes. It serves as an adhesive and weatherproof sealer to hold the glass in place and keep the weather out of the structure. These high-performance silicones are engineered to resist structural stresses, temperature fluctuations, wind pressure, UV exposure and long-term environmental stress.
In a structural silicone glazing system, glass panels are usually attached to aluminum frames or supporting structures. According on the design requirements, the glass may be arranged in numerous ways to generate varied architectural effects. The outcome is a visually remarkable front, which seems consists nearly completely of glass.
An important feature of structural silicone glazing is its ability to distribute loads uniformly on the bonded surfaces. It gives more solidity to the structure and also gives more flexibility to the architect in design. The method allows the integration of big glass panels into building designs without any compromise on safety or performance. As architectural aspirations become ever larger, structural silicone glazing offers a solid answer for building large glass facades that satisfy both aesthetic and practical criteria.
Summary
Structural silicone glazing differs from traditional glazing systems in many significant ways. The most obvious of them is the seamless look it provides. With the structural silicone doing the bonding and sealing, there is a reduction in visible fasteners and frame elements, leading to clean and attractive glass surfaces.