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A system may also need to pass additional tests such as air and water infiltration, structural load and forced-entry resistance to comply with some building code requirements.

Properly designed window and door systems manufactured with laminated glass have proven successful in meeting major building codes and test standards such as the Florida Building Code, including the High Velocity Wind Zone (Dade County); International Building Code; ASTM and Texas Department of Insurance. While certain other protection methods such as storm shutters also meet many standards, laminated glass offers continuous passive protection to a building’s structure, contents, and inhabitants without the need for storing and properly installing unwieldy shutters or storm screens.

Dan M. Russell Jr. United States Federal Courthouse, Gulfport, Mississippi. Architect: R. M. Kliment + Frances Halsband Architects Photo: © Cervin Robinson, 2005

Seismic Protection

The performance of architectural glazing under seismic conditions is highly dependent upon the design and structural components of the glazing system. When designing buildings in geographical areas prone to seismic activity, laminated glass offers two major forms of protection. Most importantly, it protects people from dangers due to falling glass. Ordinary glass used in windows and storefronts does not perform well under severe racking conditions. The glass tends to fall out of the frame and shatter onto the street or sidewalk. Laminated glass, however, remains in its frame when broken, reducing or eliminating falling glass. Laminated glass can also help maintain building envelope integrity by helping to keep the building secure and weather-tight until repairs are completed.

The behavior of laminated and annealed glass can be analyzed when subjected to two dynamic cyclic spectra.