Seismic Protection

The performance of architectural glazing under seismic conditions is highly dependent upon the design and structural components of the glazing system. When designing buildings in geographical areas prone to seismic activity, laminated glass offers two major forms of protection. Most importantly, it protects people from dangers due to falling glass. Ordinary glass used in windows and storefronts does not perform well under severe racking conditions. The glass tends to fall out of the frame and shatter onto the street or sidewalk. Laminated glass, however, remains in its frame when broken, reducing or eliminating falling glass. Laminated glass can also help maintain building envelope integrity by helping to keep the building secure and weather-tight until repairs are completed.

The behavior of laminated and annealed glass can be analyzed when subjected to two dynamic cyclic spectra.