44 terms that come up on Florida commercial glass projects. Written for architects, GCs, owners, and anyone reading shop drawings for the first time.
American Society of Civil Engineers structural design standard. ASCE 7-22 is the current wind load reference for Florida Building Code.
Test standard for impact-resistant glazing outside HVHZ — covers missile impact and cyclic pressure. Required in Florida WBDR.
An aluminum-and-glass framing system installed span-by-span between floor and ceiling, typically for single-story commercial use up to 14 feet tall.
Standard untreated float glass. Not safety glass. Used as the base for tempering or lamination, or directly in non-hazardous locations.
A finishing process for aluminum that creates a durable oxide layer. Class I anodize carries 10-year warranty on commercial work.
Inert gas filled between insulated glass lites to reduce heat transfer. Standard on energy-rated insulated units.
Building-Integrated Photovoltaics. Solar-active glass that generates electricity. Used in some Florida commercial curtain walls.
Multi-layer laminated glass tested to UL 752 Level 1-10. Used in vestibules, banking, and security applications.
Heavy-duty door hinge running the full height of the door. Standard on commercial entries — replaces traditional 3-hinge installations.
A non-load-bearing exterior wall system hung from the building structure. Spans multiple floors. Distinct from storefront.
The wind load a glass assembly is rated to resist, measured in pounds per square foot (PSF). Both positive (pressure) and negative (suction) values matter.
Installing glass with pre-formed gaskets rather than wet sealants. Faster and cleaner than wet glazing.
Florida Building Code. The state-wide building code. Current edition: 8th Edition (2023).
The standard manufacturing process for flat glass. Molten glass is floated on molten tin to produce a flat, polished sheet.
Ceramic ink fired onto glass surface for decorative or solar-control patterns. Can be digital, dot, gradient, or stripe.
The process of installing glass — or the glass assembly itself. A 'glazier' is a worker who installs glass.
High-Velocity Hurricane Zone. Florida's strictest wind code zone — Miami-Dade, Broward, parts of Palm Beach County.
Glass tested to resist debris impact during hurricanes. Required in HVHZ and Florida WBDR zones. Always laminated.
Two or more glass lites separated by a spacer and sealed at the edges, with air or argon in the cavity. Standard for energy-rated commercial windows.
Major manufacturer of commercial aluminum framing systems. Series 451T, 501T, 601T are commonly specified.
Two layers of glass bonded to a plastic interlayer (PVB or SGP). Holds together when broken. Required for impact-rated assemblies.
A single pane of glass. An 'insulated glass unit' contains two or more lites.
Glass with a microscopic metal oxide coating that reflects heat. Standard for energy-efficient commercial glazing.
Notice of Acceptance issued by Miami-Dade County certifying a product passes HVHZ testing. Required in HVHZ counties.
A vertical or horizontal aluminum member in a storefront or curtain wall framing system.
A horizontal divider within a single glass opening. Decorative or structural.
Polyvinylidene fluoride architectural coating (Kynar 70%/30%). 20-year warranty on commercial aluminum framing.
Standard interlayer in laminated glass. Holds the glass together when broken. Used in impact-rated assemblies.
Solar Heat Gain Coefficient. Fraction of solar energy that enters through the glass. Lower is better in Florida (typical target ≤0.25).
Premium interlayer for laminated glass (made by Kuraray). 100x stiffer than standard PVB. Used in high-performance impact assemblies.
Small rubber blocks at the bottom of a glass lite that distribute the glass weight onto the frame. Critical for proper glazing.
An opaque infill panel in a curtain wall, typically positioned at floor lines to conceal interior structure.
An opaque section of glass or panel between vision-area lites in a curtain wall. Conceals slab edges and ceiling cavities.
Curtain wall installation method where individual aluminum members are assembled on-site. Distinct from unitized.
Aluminum-and-glass framing system for ground-floor commercial use. Span-by-span, single-story, typically up to 14 feet tall.
Three tests required by Miami-Dade HVHZ: large missile impact (TAS 201), uniform static air pressure (TAS 202), and cyclic wind pressure (TAS 203).
Heat-treated glass that is 4-5x stronger than annealed and breaks into small dull pieces. Required in 'hazardous locations' by code.
A non-conductive isolator (typically polyamide) inside aluminum framing that reduces heat transfer. Required by Florida Energy Code.
Rate of heat transfer through a glass assembly, measured in BTU/hr·sq ft·°F. Lower is better in all climates (typical Florida target ≤0.50).
Curtain wall installed as prefabricated panels assembled in a shop and installed by crane. Faster and more weather-tight than stick-built.
Fraction of visible light that passes through the glass. Higher is generally preferred (typical commercial target 35-70%).
Wind-Borne Debris Region. The portion of Florida (and other coastal states) where impact-rated assemblies or shutters are required by code.
Installing glass with field-applied silicone sealants rather than gaskets. Used for structural silicone glazing and renovation work.
Major manufacturer of commercial aluminum framing systems. YHS 50 TU, YOW 250 TU are common storefront systems.