How to Install
Click a product line from the options below for a detailed list of installation guidelines.
Solera® T and R18 Installation Guidelines
INTRODUCTION
Solera® T insulated translucent glazing units (TGUs) are made of two tiles of glass with a high performance translucent insulating core. A special perimeter spacer is used, along with an interior lite that is smaller than the exterior lite, in order to create a ‘mounting offset’ to facilitate installation in standard curtain wall systems. The Solera® T TGU has a nominal overall thickness of 2.5 inches plus interior and exterior glass lite thicknesses, and a nominal mounting offset thickness of 3/4″ plus exterior lite thickness. All Solera® units use a stainless steel capillary tube vent ( not to be crimped) to maintain both pressure and moisture equilibrium within the glazing unit.
The following guidelines have been developed for specification writers, frame manufacturers and installers to convey the installation requirements of the Solera® unit which will ensure satisfactory, long term performance. It is recommended that this document be read in conjunction with the Solera® Warranty Document, and industry standard recommended practices documented by Insulating Glass Manufacturers Alliance (IGMA). The user is encouraged to contact Advanced Glazings Ltd. directly for advice on specific glazing installations.
INSTALLATION GUIDELINES
- The Solera® TGU is manufactured using a wide range of architectural glass types and thicknesses. The glass specified for the Solera® TGU must be selected by the user to meet project-specific objectives as well as national and local building codes.
- Frame and sash must physically accommodate the thickness of the Solera® TGU. Designers should consider the fitting of the mounting offset into the curtain wall or skylight glazing pocket, clearance of the interior protrusion and any possible interference with features like drip gutters, as well as any other issues that may arise. (See reference drawing 300-3027-12).
- Framing system must be designed to meet project specific objectives as well as national and local building codes.
- The unit must be sealed to the interior to prevent the migration of moisture into the “intra-frame cavity” from the building interior.
- Glazing installation must ensure that the “intra-frame cavity” is drained and vented to the outside. This helps prevent the build up of high-humidity air, allows for the draining of standing water, and ensures pressure equilibrium (reference drawing 300-3005-12). Frame vent holes should meet IGMA’s recommended minimum size requirements.
- Manufacturer’s labeling identifies the orientation required (Inner Lite/This End Up). Proper orientation ensures that the open end of the stainless steel capillary pressure equalization (vent) tube is positioned in a downward direction and located at the top right corner of the unit, as viewed from the building exterior (see drawing 300-3002-12).
- The vent tube must be free of any obstructions. Solera® T vent tubes must not be crimped.
- Interior and exterior lites must be supported by setting blocks, and spacers must be installed on vertical edges. Setting blocks and spacers must be adequate to prevent direct contact between glass and frame in all circumstances.
- The glazing rebate (i.e. clearance between frame and TGU) must be clear of any protrusion except for glass support setting blocks or spacer shims. The setting blocks that support the exterior lite should be designed or positioned to allow water passage to the weep or vent holes.
- The glazing stops must provide plane, continuous and uniform supports for the surfaces of the unit.
- Frame joints must be adequately sealed to prevent water and air infiltration.
- Under no circumstances should the edge of the TGU be allowed to sit in water.
- Edge clamping pressure must be sufficient to achieve an air and water tight seal but must not exceed 10 lbs. per linear inch to avoid risk of unit damage.
- Frame members must be structurally designed to withstand the wind loads and dead loads transferred by the Solera® TGU. Each frame member should be stiff enough not to deflect more than the lesser of length/175 or 3/4“ at full design load. All edges of the sealed unit must be supported to resist wind and other loads. The minimum bite on exterior lite and the mounting offset should be 13mm (½”) in order to firmly support the insulating glass unit when exposed to static and dynamic loads.
- In vertical installations, the gap between the edge of the interior lite and the frame may be finished by use of a dry gasket (reference drawing 300-3028-12), or a glazing stop (reference drawing 300-3034-12). Alternatively a bead of sealant may be used to finish the gap.
- Sloped overhead installations require use of a glazing stop (reference drawing 300-3034-12) in order to positively retain the interior lite in the event of unit failure. Dry gasket finish may not be used.
- The use of structurally adequate thermally broken frames is recommended with the Solera® TGU to improve energy performance and minimize condensation on interior surfaces in cold weather. The thermal stress on the TGU is also reduced when thermally broken frames are used.
- Glazing clearances must be sufficient to accommodate manufacturing tolerances in the unit size and overall thickness and to ensure that the unit “floats” within the retaining system (reference drawing 300-3002-12).
- In certain circumstances, Solera® T units may be glazed in curtain wall systems without the use of pressure caps by means of a structural glazing adhesive. Architects or contractors must contract Advanced Glazings Ltd. for approval of any non-clamped, structurally-glazed installations.
- For a complete and finished look, available is a three sided and sill rubber gasket that can be purchased with your order. It is sold per linear foot. For installation, run a bead of compatible adhesive along the gasket. See document 300-3051-12. Three sided gasket is to be placed on both sides and top of TGU and sill gasket is placed along the bottom of the TGU.
For more information please contact Advanced Glazings Technical Support at 888-GLAZING (1-888-452-9464)
Solera® S and R9 Installation Guidelines
INTRODUCTION
Solera® S insulated translucent glazing units (TGUs) are made of two tiles of glass with a high performance translucent insulating core. The Solera® S TGU has a nominal thickness of 2.5 inches plus interior and exterior glass lite thicknesses, and uses a stainless steel capillary tube vent (not to be crimped) to maintain both pressure and moisture equilibrium within the glazing unit.
The following guidelines have been developed for specification writers, frame manufacturers and installers to convey the installation requirements of the Solera® unit which will ensure satisfactory, long term performance. It is recommended that this document be read in conjunction with the Solera® Warranty Document, and industry standard recommended practices documented by IGMA. The user is encouraged to contact Advanced Glazings Ltd. directly for advice on specific glazing installations.
INSTALLATION GUIDELINES
- The Solera® TGU is manufactured using a wide range of architectural glass types and thicknesses. The glass specified for the Solera® TGU must be selected by the user to meet project-specific objectives as well as national and local building codes.
- Frame and sash must accommodate the thickness of the Solera® TGU (reference drawing 300-3001-12).
- Framing system must be designed to meet project specific objectives as well as national and local building codes.
- The unit must be sealed to the building to prevent the migration of moisture into the “intraframe cavity” from the building interior (reference drawing 300-3003-12).
- Glazing installation must ensure that the “intra-frame cavity” is drained and vented to the outside . This helps prevent the build up of high-humidity air, allows for the draining of standing water, and ensures pressure equilibrium (reference drawing 300-3005-12). Frame vent holes should meet Insulating Glass Manufacturers Alliance (IGMA’s) recommended minimum size requirements.
- Manufacturer’s labeling identifies the orientation required (Inner Lite/This End Up). Proper orientation ensures that the open end of the stainless steel capillary pressure equalization (vent) tube is positioned in a downward direction and located at the top left corner of the unit, as viewed from the building interior (see drawing 300-3002-12). Other orientations must be approved by the manufacturer in order to maintain warranty coverage. As well, ‘inner lite’ ensures proper orientation of inside and outside lites where a difference exists.
- The vent tube must be free of any obstructions. Solera® S vent tubes must not be crimped, which would limit the free flow of air in and out of the vent tube.
- Interior and exterior lites must be supported by setting blocks, and spacers must be installed on vertical edges to prevent direct contact between glass and frame. Setting blocks and spacers must be adequate to prevent direct contact between glass and frame in all circumstances.
- The glazing rebate (i.e. clearance between frame and TGU) must be clear of any protrusion except for glass support setting blocks or spacer shims. The setting blocks should be designed or positioned to allow water passage to the weep or vent holes.
- The glazing stops must provide plane, continuous and uniform supports for the surfaces of the unit.
- Frame joints must be adequately sealed to prevent water and air infiltration.
- Under no circumstances should the edge of the TGU be allowed to sit in water.
- Edge clamping pressure must be sufficient to achieve an air and water tight seal but must not exceed 10 lbs. per linear inch to avoid risk of unit damage.
- Frame members must be structurally designed to withstand the wind loads and dead loads transferred by the Solera® TGU. Each frame member should be stiff enough not to deflect more than the lesser of length/175 or 3/4“ at full design load. All edges of the sealed unit must be supported to resist wind and other loads. The minimum bite on the glass edge should be 13mm (½”) to firmly support the insulating glass unit when exposed to static and dynamic loads.
- The height of glass stops may vary depending on the area of the TGU, external forces and functions. A stop height of approximately 19mm (3/4 inch) is commonly used. The minimum bite on the glass edge should be 13mm (½”) to firmly support the insulating glass unit when exposed to static and dynamic loads.
- The use of structurally adequate thermally broken frames is recommended with the Solera® TGU to improve energy performance and minimize condensation on interior surfaces in cold weather. The thermal stress on the TGU is also reduced when thermally broken frames are used.
- Glazing clearances must be sufficient to accommodate manufacturing tolerances in the unit size and overall thickness and to ensure that the unit “floats” within the retaining system (reference drawing 300-3002-12).
- For a complete and finished look, available is a three sided and sill rubber gasket that can be purchased with your order. It is sold per linear foot. For installation, run a bead of compatible adhesive along the gasket. See document 300-3051-12. Three sided is to be placed on both sides and top of TGU and sill gasket is placed along the bottom of the TGU.
For more information please contact Advanced Glazings Ltd. Technical Support at 888-GLAZING (1-888-452-9464)
Solera® L and R5 Installation Guidelines
INTRODUCTION
Solera® L insulated translucent glazing units (TGUs) are high performance sealed light diffusing insulating glazing units that consist of a minimum of two lites of glass, plus spacer/sealant as well as interior components that diffuse light and insulate. Units are totally sealed. [Note that in certain circumstances, stainless steel pressure equalizing capillary tubes may be installed to accommodate changes in altitude between plant and job site and must be crimped before installation. (See item 16).]
The following guidelines have been developed for specification writers, frame manufacturers and installers to convey the installation requirements of the Solera® unit which will ensure satisfactory, long term performance. It is recommended that this document be read in conjunction with the Solera® L Warranty Document, supporting Solera® L materials in our product binder and industry standard recommended practices documented by IGMA. The user is encouraged to contact Advanced Glazings Ltd. directly for advice on specific glazing installations.
INSTALLATION GUIDELINES
- The Solera® TGU is manufactured using a wide range of architectural glass types and thicknesses. The glass specified for the Solera® TGU must be selected by the user to meet project-specific objectives as well as national and local building codes.
- Frame and sash must accommodate the thickness of the Solera® TGU. Overall thickness is a function of glass lite thickness and spacer thickness, and these must be specified by the user at order time.
- Installer must ensure that framing systems are designed to meet project specific objectives as well as national and local building codes.
- Glazing installation must ensure that the “intra-frame cavity” is drained and vented to the outside. Frame vent holes should meet IGMA’s recommended minimum size requirements.
- Manufacturer’s labeling identifies the required orientation for installation (Exterior Lite/Top).
- Interior and exterior lites must be supported by setting blocks of appropriate size at quarter points, and spacers must be installed on vertical edges to prevent direct contact between glass and frame. Setting blocks and spacers must be adequate to prevent direct contact between glass and frame in all circumstances. Installer must ensure that setting blocks are compatible with the sealant used on Solera® units.
- The glazing rebate (i.e. clearance between frame and TGU) must be clear of any protrusion except for glass support setting blocks or spacer shims. The setting blocks should be designed or positioned to allow water passage to the weep or vent holes
- The glazing stops must provide plane, continuous and uniform supports for the surfaces of the unit.
- Frame joints must be adequately sealed to prevent water and air infiltration.
- Under no circumstances should the edge of the TGU be allowed to sit in water.
- Edge clamping pressure must be sufficient to achieve an air and water tight seal but must not exceed 10 lbs. per linear inch to avoid risk of unit damage.
- Frame members must be structurally designed to withstand the wind loads and dead loads transferred by the Solera® TGU. Each frame member should be stiff enough not to deflect more than the lesser of length/175 or 3/4“ at full design load. All edges of the sealed unit must be supported to resist wind and other loads. The minimum bite on the glass edge should be 13mm (½”) to firmly support the insulating glass unit when exposed to static and dynamic loads.
- The height of glass stops may vary depending on the area of the TGU, external forces and functions. A stop height of approximately 19mm (3/4 inch) is commonly used. The minimum bite on the glass edge should be 13mm (½”) to firmly support the insulating glass unit when exposed to static and dynamic loads.
- The use of structurally adequate thermally broken frames is recommended with the Solera® TGU to improve energy performance and minimize condensation on interior surfaces in cold weather. The thermal stress on the TGU is also reduced when thermally broken frames are used.
- Glazing clearances must be sufficient to accommodate manufacturing tolerances in the unit size and overall thickness and to ensure that the unit “floats” within the retaining system (reference drawing 300-3002-12).
- If units are equipped with breather tubes (also known as capillary tubes), the tubes must be closed off with a dab of sealant once the units have been received at the job site. If the capillary tube is not properly closed off, the tube can potentially cause excess moisture to enter the unit leading to reduced longevity of the unit. DO NOT TWIST, PULL OUT OR CUT OUT this tube from unit.
For more information please contact Technical Support at 888-GLAZING (1-888-452-9464).