Crossbar-column Glazing Of Facades - Problems And Opportunities

2023 Author: Philip Bishop | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 07:54

Calculation of the facade for a residential building
How is the project created?
Varieties of designs
Pros and cons of the system
How to deal with deficiencies?

Transom-post glazing of facades is often used for any type of modern buildings. This is a great way to create an attractive, reliable and durable facade. In the same way, you can install windows, glaze loggias; the structure can be opened in different ways and can be ventilated.

Calculation of the facade for a residential building

Post-transom glazing cannot be called a completely new technology: it has been used for a long time and is common. This glazing method can be applied not only to high-rise buildings, but also to low-rise private buildings. This material will help you choose the most suitable glazing method for your home, understand the nuances, and determine the cost.

In order to get reliable and durable glazing, it is important to choose the right base for it. In order to find out in advance how the facade will look, how much material will be required, special computer programs are most often used for the calculation. The glazing supplier will definitely show you the possible options for the facade, calculate how much materials are required, and tell you the approximate cost of working with your area.

In order to get the result, you need to enter the area of the facade, the type of construction, which glass unit you want to install, whether the glazing will be warm, whether there is a winter garden. The more details you add, the more accurate your metrics will be. It is very important to indicate the thickness of the glass: the result greatly depends on this, since the width of the structure and its weight will change. The more severe the climate, the thicker the glass unit is needed. When choosing glazing, it is necessary to take into account not only climatic conditions, but also illumination, wind strength, and other weather features characteristic of your climate.

If the supplier does not have a program, the company's engineers can perform the calculation. It will take a little longer, but a person may well collect the data you need, take measurements and give the desired result. The correct calculation of the supporting structure plays an important role.

Work of this level can only be performed by a professional company, so you should not try to install it yourself. To create a glazed facade will require not only a team of skilled workers, but also the participation of an engineer, architect, designer and supplier of structures.

How is the project created?

The post-transom glazing system cannot be erected without the creation of an appropriate project. The calculation is necessary, since the structure has a complex system and a large mass. If there is no project, there is a high risk of facade collapse. In addition, structural distortion may occur.

Without the necessary calculations, it is difficult to create sealed glazing: if you need a warm structure, gaps may well appear due to which cold air will enter the room. An engineering calculation will help not only find out how much material is required, how the glazing system should be arranged, but also which type is more suitable for your particular building.

Varieties of designs

There are two main types of glazing for facades:

Crossbar and rack.
Constructional.

The post-transom system of facade glazing is the most attractive externally, convenient for installation, affordable way. That is why it is actively used and found in the city most often. The constructional method involves the use of metal structures with which the glass sheets are fixed. This method gives the impression that the facade is a one-piece structure, created from one large glass.

This glazing method is several times more expensive than transom-rack, therefore it is mainly used to cover small areas, such as shop windows, entrances, terraces. Not every metal is used to connect elements. Aluminum is suitable, since it has a minimum mass, but this has its drawbacks: it is not a rigid enough material, therefore, it is impossible to create large-area structures by this method. Horizontal and vertical crossbars are made of aluminum, the number of which is determined by the dimensions of the double-glazed windows.

Pros and cons of the system

Positive aspects of the girder structure:

Attractive appearance.
Relatively fast installation.
Affordable cost.

Before ordering a project and installation of such glazing, it is worth taking a close look at the disadvantages.

The more crossbars, the less the view will be, as they take up a lot of space.
Crossbars easily conduct heat, therefore, they cannot provide sufficient thermal insulation, and the structure quickly freezes.
The cell cannot be larger than sq. m.
The structure is poorly adapted to strong winds, cannot adequately withstand it, which translates into some problems with the use of such glazing in places where strong wind is a constant phenomenon.
Rubber seals quickly fail.

How to deal with deficiencies?

Reduce the number of problems associated with this kind of glazing, perhaps by choosing the right system. For example, you can use PVC blocks or use wooden frames, which makes the structure warmer, but it is worth noting that its weight will increase.

If you want to decorate a small private building in a similar way, you can use another glazing method that has a similar appearance - for example, frameless glazing. This design will make the facade attractive, protect it from the wind with dignity, but will not be able to retain heat. The review will be maximum.

The crossbar system is applicable for the decoration of facades of large buildings, for private houses it is used less often due to the complexity and high cost, however, having installed it, you will get a warm, durable facade that does not require additional maintenance, except for replacing the seals.