In structural silicone glazing, a silicone bead of engineered width and thickness bonds the glass to the mullions and carries wind and sometimes dead load, on two or four sides. It gives a flush, capless look. Only structural-grade silicones are used, with adhesion and compatibility testing on project materials, controlled cleaning, and quality checks such as deglazing samples and pull tests.
It's four-sided SSG, so the glazing shop logs every unit's clean, prime and silicone batch.
In structural glazing, every batch of two-part silicone gets a butterfly test for mix and a snap-time test for cure, and the results go in the job log.
Also heard as
- structural glazing
- structural silicone
- 4-sided SSG
Related terms
Silicone
A sealant with a silicon-oxygen backbone, prized for UV resistance and high movement capability.
Compatibility test
A lab check that a sealant and the materials it touches do not react, discolor or lose adhesion together.
Curtain wall
A non-load-bearing exterior wall of glass and metal framing hung off the building structure floor by floor.
Setting block
A small rubber block under the bottom edge of the glass that carries its weight and keeps it off the frame.