STABILITY VERSION 1.

10 05/08/2024 CLAUDE PIMPURNIAUX

STABILITY: DEFLECTION OF WINDOWS AND CURTAIN WALLS

Reference documents:

European normative:

EN 1279-5:2010 Glass in Buildings – Part 5 – Insulated Glass Units – Evaluation of conformity

EN 14351-1 Windows and Doors – Part 1 – Product standard
EN 13830:2015 Curtain walls – Product standard
EN 16612 Glass in Buildings – Calculation of glass resistance and deformation

Belgian normative:

NBN B25-002-1 Menuiseries Extérieures – Partie 1 – Généralités

NBN S23-002-2 Vitrage – Partie 2 – Calcul des épaisseurs de verre

Technical notes:

Rapport n° 11 : Application des Eurocodes à la conception des Menuiseries Extérieures, CSTC-WTCB, 2009
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Preliminaries:

Deformation and deflection of glazing units should be addressed considering the following points:

- The deflection of the supports of the glass panes, thus the profiles of the windows and curtain walls
- The deflection of the glass panes itself.

In this context, the European standards exceed the local standards. Nevertheless, if local standards exist that
complete or precise the European standards, these prescriptions have to be taken into account.

Deformation and deflection of profiles and glass panes:

Windows and assembled windows:

Definition:

Have to be considered as windows and/or assembled windows, the elements whose surface area is less than 10 m²
and for which the distance between the supports of the profiles is less than 2.20 m (Rapport n° 11, CSTC, p. 15, par.
3.4.1).

Allowable deflection:

The following Table gives the admissible deflection for the profiles of windows.
Table 1: allowable deflection for windows profiles:
Criteria: Admissible deflection: Comments:
Wind resistance test Class C or L/300 Test pressures P1, P2 and P3, Table
according to NBN B25- With L = distance between supports 3, p. 28 of NBN B25-002-1
002-1, for classification
By calculation L/225, with a maximum of 13 mm Taking into account P1 test
With L = distance between supports pressure, 400 to 2000 Pa
Edges of Insulated Glazing H/200 and/or B/200 with a maximum of Rapport n° 11 du CSTC-WTCB, p.
Units 12 mm 146, par. A7-3.1.1 ;
With H = height of the glass pane and B = EN 1279-5 :2010, Annex C, par. C2
width of glass panes
Note (1):

(Extract of Annex C, EN 1279-5:2010)

It is to be noted that the criterion for the edges of the glass panes is a criterion regarding the deflection of the
support profiles of the glazing units.

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Curtain walls and skylights:

Definition:

Have to be considered as curtain walls and/or skylights, the elements whose surface area is greater than 10 m² and
for which the distance between the supports of the profiles is greater than 2.20 m (Rapport n° 11, CSTC, p. 15, par.
3.4.1).

Allowable deflection:

The following Table gives the admissible deflection for the profiles of curtain walls and skylights.

Table 2: allowable deflection for curtain walls and skylights profiles:

Criteria: Admissible deflection: Comments:
Dead loads and/or weight L/500 EN 13830:2015, par. 5.6, p. 21
With L = distance between supports;
Wind resistance test If L ≤ 3.00 m: d ≤ L/200 (maxi 15 mm) EN 13830 :2015, par. 5.7, p. 21
according to NBN B25- If 3,0 ≤ L ≤7,5 m: d = 5 mm + L/300 (maxi
002-1, for classification 30 mm);
If L > 7, 5 m: d ≤ L/250 (> 30 mm)
Snow load If L ≤ 3.00 m: d ≤ L/200 (maxi 15 mm); EN 13830, par. 5.8, p. 21
If 3,0 ≤ L ≤7,5 m: d = 5 mm + L/300 (maxi
30 mm);
If L > 7, 5 m: d ≤ L/250 (≤ 30 mm)
Edges of Insulated Glazing H/200 and/or B/200 with a maximum of Rapport n° 11 du CSTC-WTCB, p.
Units 12 mm 146, par. A7-3.1.1 ;
With H = height of the glass pane and B = EN 1279-5 :2010, Annex C, par. C2
width of glass panes;
Note (1) :

(Extract of Annex C, EN 1279-5:2010)

Conclusion for profiles supporting glazing units:

The more stringent criterion is the one regarding the deflection of the edge, and thus, support of the glass panes
which limits the deformation along the edge to 12 mm.

It does not mean that the deflection between supports is limited to 12 mm. the deflection of the profiles can be
greater than 12 mm depending on the dimensions of the glass panes.

Till a distance less or equal to 2.40 m between supports, the criterion for the edges of the glazing unit will be
respected: H/200 or B/200 will be equal to 12 mm.

If the distance between supports is greater than 2.40 m and if the glass pane is less than 2.40 m, the criterion will be
respected.
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If the dimension of the glass pane is greater than 2.40 m, for example, distance between support and height of the
glass pane are the same and are greater than 2.40 m, the criterion to be taken into account is 12 mm.

Deflection of glass panes:

Preliminaries:

As the resistance of the glass does not impose any requirement to limit the deflection of a glass unit, the EN 16612
standard only gives some information regarding the calculation of the deflection of glazing units (par. 9.1.4
Calculation of the deflection, p. 23):

- The value of the glass deflection has to be in conformity to the standard or to a specific local
standard/recommendation
- In case of no specific local requirement, the deflection has to be limited to 1/65 of the span of the glazing
unit with a maximum of 50 mm.

This requirement limits the stresses in the sealing of the Insulated Glazing Units (IGU) in order to not impact the
durability of the sealing and the vapor barrier of the IGU. In addition, a greater deflection and more visible
deformation may induce a feeling of discomfort and insecurity.

Requirements of the NBN S23-002-2:

The NBN S23-002-2 Belgian standard limits the deflection to the values given in the following Table (par. 10.1 SLS
criteria, p. 32).

Table 3: allowable deflection for glass panes and glazing units:

Criteria: Admissible deflection: Comments:
Single glass pane ymax ≤ a/125 Formula (96), p. 40
Insulated Glazing Unit Glazing unit supported on 4 sides: Formula (97), p. 41
ymax ≤ 15 x 10-7 x d² + 0.0025 x d + 2.5
(mm), no limitation
Glazing unit supported on 2 or 3 sides: Formula (98), p. 41
ymax ≤ 15 x 10-7 x d² + 0.0025 x d + 2.5
(mm) with a maximum of 25 mm
ymax = maximum deflection of glass pane or insulated unit
a = smaller side
b = greater side
d = a which is the smaller edge or b which is the greater edge of the glass pane/glazing unit with:
- Glass pane supported on 4 sides: d = a
- Glass panes supported on 3 sides, one edge free: d = a or b which is the free side
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Comments:

Taking into account the greater insulated glazing units which are (2700 x 4500) mm, for 4 sides supported pane, the
allowable deflection will be 20.185 mm.

This value is less than what could be admissible regarding the EN 16612, as the maximum allowable deflection will
be L/65 which is 41.54 mm with a maximum of 50 mm.

Conclusions:

The Belgian standard NBN S23-002-2 is more stringent than the European standard EN 16612.

Nevertheless, the European standard precises that in the case of existing local regulations, these regulations must be
followed.