Masonry Magazine October 1995 Page. 44
FIFS
EXT. GRADE SHEATHING
SEALANT (TYP)
PC GLASSBLOCK UNIT
PANEL ANCHOR
HORIZ PANEL REINFORCING
SOLID BLOCKING
EXPANSION STRAP
STL TUBE
STL STUD FRAMING
INSULATION
INT. FINISH
FIGURE 1-Recommended detailing for an aesthetically pleasing and safe glass block panel system.
Two types of earthquake g-forces push on glass block panel systems. The first type of g-force is pushing perpendicular to the face of the panel. The force is like a wind force and the total force is proportional to the total surface area of the wall. In the UBC the maximum surface dimensions of the glass block between supports are limited to 144 square feet or 15 feet in any dimension for exterior walls and 250 square feet or 25 feet in any dimension for interior walls.
With the use of structural framing around these 144 square-foot or 250 square-foot areas, the total surface of the glass block panel can become quite large and is only controlled by architectural constraints.
The second type of g-force that pushes is in the plane of the glass block panel and this force produces a racking action on the panel. These forces are resisted by the mortar material and the horizontal steel wire reinforcing located in the bed area between the glass blocks.
The UBC requires that horizontal steel reinforcing be spaced a distance of not more than sixteen inches. Detailing of the vertical zone between the glass block and vertical support members is very important because the in-place g-force imparted to the glass blocks can be reduced to the very small values by proper edge detailing.
Glass block panels inherently have two attributes that make them very safe in earthquakes. One attribute is their rigidity relative to a tall build-
Bon Tool Co.
America's Finest Quality
Supplying the tools that build America
4430 Gibsonia Rd., Gibsonia, PA 15044 (412) 443-7080
NOBODY
GETS MORTAR
TO THE WALL
FASTER THAN
SPEC MIX
A factory-produced dry, preblended mortar that provides quality, efficiency, consistency EVERYTIME.
SPEC MIX
INC.
Quality Consistent Mortar Everytime.
CALL (612)490-1665 for a Local Manufacturer
44 MASONRY-SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER, 1995