Durability and life-cycle assessment. The durability of any selected product should be considered against the expected use. The new LEED credit – Life Cycle Assessment of Building Assemblies and Materials – is available for new construction and healthcare projects, using the Athena Institute’s EcoCalculator to calculate and compare the environmental impacts of various material assemblies, as well as the USGBC LEED Credit Calculator, which creates LCA Impact Scores and generates LEED Credits for the design under consideration.

For glass wall partitions, room dividers, closet doors and wall-slide doors (an alternative to the common pocket door), the selected products and assemblies should be reviewed with the following criteria in mind:

• Source: Glass wall systems sold through mass-market channels, such as big-box retailers, should be checked to ensure they are commercial grade; many are not. It is also helpful to compare local and national suppliers, as some prefab systems – even if shipped from overseas – may be more cost-effective than systems provided by local fabricators.
• Materials: Doors or partitions should be constructed with a sturdy aluminum frame and gliding mechanisms that assure the movable panels will not leave the tracks.
• Lead time: Some products may have long lead-time due to the various design options and types of sliding hardware used.

In general, two types of sliding door assemblies are used: a bottom floor-track rolling system, and top-hung suspended doors. Price points vary between the system types. The bottom-track systems are favored by some architects because they can eliminate some safety and liability issues. Another recent innovation is a sliding clamp device that prevents sliding doors from leaving their tracks. Known as wheel-to-track locking mechanisms, these proprietary hardware features help secure panels within the track system.

Panel safety mechanisms vary depending on the manufacturer and product design. Assemblies sourced from European manufacturers should be reviewed, as different product safety laws may allow systems without panel safety mechanisms. In all cases, safety features may be incorporated into the LCA study, with attention to reduced liability as well as occupant injuries. In addition to reducing hazards associated with hardware and door operation, the architect may review glass safety issues.

Glass selection and specification. Modular metal and glass walls as well as knockdown storefront systems need suitable hardware and frames, but the glass choice is just as critical.Finishes and coatings, as well as glass safety design, are all considered in the specification.

In terms of performance and safety, tempered glass is typical for the interior applications – but not all suppliers offer it. Some manufacturers supply 5mm-thick as a standard offering for the walls and doors, while others employ 3mm or 4mm glass, some without tempering. As an option, some applications may benefit from using 7mm-thick laminated glass panels.

The desired look and anticipated use of the assemblies drives other aspects of the spec; glass finish options include clear, frosted, or a combination of both. Other visual options include opaque panels and novel glass textures such as “linen” or “smoked” surfaces.

In terms of structural approach, the modular partitions and sliding glass walls may be hung by their aluminum or steel frame from the ceiling or they can be supported from the floor. Door and fixed panel weights vary, but typically run from about 35 pounds to up to 70 pounds or more for a door section of aluminum and tempered glass.

 

Applications and Options for Modular Glass Partitions

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Partition and divider types. The panel system itself has multiple options to consider. For example, the structural approach may be to hang the aluminum or steel frame from the ceiling or to support it from the floor. Door and fixed panel weights vary, but typically run from about 35 pounds to up to 70 pounds or more for a door section of aluminum and tempered glass. The location and size of the wall panels may be based on standard sizes and frame opening patterns, or the panels can be custom designed and built based on the architect’s design.

From full-height frames with no cross-membersto divided frames in various custom or prefabricated styles, the partitions allow the use of proportion, scale and other design considerations for a specific visual effect. Another technique is the use of support dividers, which separate glass sections so that, for example, the upper portions of a wall may have greater transparency to share daylight as needed.

Last, architects can select among a variety of door types, including sliding and swinging operable panels as well as fixed and stationary sections. Many manufacturers offer hardware and door construction that meets the standards and codes for room doors, closet doors and space dividers.

Size and scale. The system supplier or manufacturer should provide guidance on the maximum width and height for glass panels and for various operable sections, including swing, sliding and fixed-panel options. Standard widths are readily available, and range from 24 inches to 40 inches, for door heights of 80 inches or 96 inches. Using these standard dimensions, a large doorway or storage space, for example, may use three sliding sections of 24 inches each to enclose the opening.

Sliding closet doors are usually fit from floor to the top of the opening. If the opening height is greater than 9 feet or 10 feet, additional modular sections may be added as an upper tier of sliding or fixed panels. In all cases, the following should be considered:

• Swing doors must not exceed 40 inches in width.
• Closet doors and room dividers cannot exceed 120 inches height for some glass options.
• For room dividers, conference room partitions and the like, the maximum standard height may be about 120 inches.
• Panels that exceed 120 inches may require special shipping and handling, adding to the product cost.

Frame components, hardware and metal finishes. In addition to the dimension considerations above, modular glass-and-metal walls are also available with half-wall doors and full-wall doors. In both cases, the panel sections can be floor-mounted on a track assembly either (a) recessed and flush with the finished floor, or (b) with a surface-mounted track – typically about 3/8 inches high, meeting ADA requirements – with a ramp threshold intended to prevent tripping.

The second option, using the ramp assembly with a surface-mounted floor track, is beneficial for applications where frequent removal and reinstallations are anticipated. With this track option, reconfigurations and minor renovations can be handled by facilities personnel rather than specialized installers.

In all cases, the frame and gliding mechanisms should be detailed or specified carefully to ensure they are properly anchored and that moving parts stay in their tracks. According to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), all moving partitions and doors must have a calibrated push pressure of 5 lbs. or less.

When specifying glass interior partitions, it is important that all frame and gliding mechanisms are detailed to remain properly anchored with all moving parts staying in their tracks. According to the ADA, all moving partitions and doors must have a calibrated push pressure of 5 lbs. or less.