Glass Blocks and Accessories
Product Classification: 04270
Sweet's Catalog Code: 04270/PIT
Pittsburgh Corning
800 Presque Isle Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15239-2799
Tel: 800-992-5769
Tel: 724-327-6100
Fax: 724-327-5890
Web site: http://www.pittsburghcorning.com
How to Use This Electronic Presentation
For information on additional products, accessories, technical guidelines and CAD details, open the Manufacturer's Showcase at this time.
Note: This electronic presentation contains all the detailing and specifying information found in our printed brochure "Pittsburgh Corning Glass Block Products Specification Guidelines" GB-185.
Selection
The family of Pittsburgh Corning Glass Block products incorporates rectangular, square, hollow, solid, filter insert, corner, finishing, paver, and customized "signature" block. There's a product for virtually any glass block need...and product selection is the key to attractive, efficient, functional designs.
The Premiere Series offer the widest variety of sizes, shapes, and patterns for the ultimate in design flexibility.
Made in America
All Pittsburgh Corning Glass Block Products are made in the United States of America.
Premiere Series Pittsburgh Corning Glass Block Products
ARGUS® Pattern
Rounded perpendicular flutes. Maximum light transmission/medium degree of privacy.
DECORA® Pattern
With its distinctive wavy undulations. Maximum light transmission/subtle distortion.
DECORA® Pattern "LX" Filter
Fibrous glass insert adds moderate thermal and light characteristics. Maximum privacy.
ESSEX® AA Pattern
A fine grid of closely spaced ridges. Moderate light diffusing/maximum privacy.
Edge Coatings
Pittsburgh Corning Glass Block products are offered with our standard edge coating. Black and Brown edge coatings are available as an option. Contact Pittsburgh Corning for additional information on minimum quantities and cost information.
Premiere Series Pittsburgh Corning Glass Block Products
IceScapesÔ Pattern
Non-directional pattern provides maximum light transmission with a medium to maximum degree of privacy.
VUE® Pattern
Smooth, undistorted faces allow maximum light transmission and ultimate visibility.
ARGUS® Parallel Fluted Pattern
Rounded parallel flutes on each face. Maximum light transmission/medium privacy.
SPYRAÔ Pattern
Complements a variety of glass block patterns. Many options for decorative designs. Maximum light transmission/minimal privacy.
THICKSET® Block, DECORA® Pattern
Thicker faced version of this popular pattern with its distinctive wavy undulations. Maximum light transmission, subtle distortion.
THICKSET® Block, ENDURA™ Pattern
Ideal where thick-faced, heavier glass block is needed. Narrow flutes provide moderate light transmission/maximum privacy.
THICKSET® Block, VUE® Pattern
Modest distortion, thicker-faced block. Maximum light transmission/good visibility.
VISTABRIK® Solid Glass Block
With 3" of solid glass, high impact strength provides enhanced vandal resistance. Excellent light transmission/good visibility.
VISTABRIK® Solid Glass Block, Stipple Finish
Solid 3" thickness of glass with a stippled finish to add privacy. Good light transmission/medium privacy.
EndBlockÔ Finishing Units, DECORA® Pattern
For finishing horizontal or vertical edges of interior panels. Available for use with Premiere Series units.
TRIDRON 45° Block®, DECORA® Pattern
Create angles or configurations from 45-360° for columns, alcoves, and undulating panels.
HEDRON® Corner Block, DECORA® Pattern
Hexagonal corner unit allows you to form 90° corners resulting in a gently rounded continuous glass face. Can be used in combination with any other finishing unit.
ENCURVE® Finishing Unit, DECORA® Pattern
With arched, soft edges to round out your design options or finish panels. Use with 8" x 8" EndBlock™ Finishing Units for a stepped panel.
ARQUEÔ Block, DECORA® Pattern
Allows for construction of smooth, tightly curved walls with consistent mortar joints.
PC® Signature Block
PC® Signature Block is custom-manufactured with your corporate logo or other design pressed into one or both inside surfaces of an 8"-square Premiere Series Glass Block unit. Contact Pittsburgh Corning for additional information on design considerations and minimum order quantities.
Pittsburgh Corning Glass Block Products Physical & Design Data
The following data is applicable to interior and exterior Pittsburgh Corning Glass Block panels for design purposes.
Installed Panel Weight. Panels of Pittsburgh Corning Glass Block products in the Premiere Series weigh approximately 20 lbs./sq. ft. installed; THICKSET® Block panels weigh approximately 30 lbs./sq. ft. installed; VISTABRIK® Solid Glass Block panels weigh approximately 40 lbs./sq. ft. installed. Local building codes should be checked for any limits on panel sizes or installation details.
Non-load Bearing. Glass block panels are non-load bearing; adequate provision must be made for support of construction above these panels. Panels are mortared at the sill, with jamb and head details designed to provide for building movement and lintel deflection.
Detailed Drawings. Structural members illustrated on CAD drawings indicate principles of construction. Member size should be determined by structural analysis to avoid excessive deflections. Maximum deflection should not exceed L/600.
Premiere Series. All glass block illustrated on CAD drawings are Premiere Series Glass Block units. Modify as necessary for VISTABRIK® Solid Glass Block.
Fire Resistance
All sizes (exceptions listed below) of Premiere Series Glass Block products in panels up to 120 sq. ft. in masonry walls or 94 sq. ft. in non-masonry walls are classified by Underwriters Laboratories® for use as 45-minute-rated window assemblies. The Uniform Building Code (U.B.C.) limits the area of 45-minute-rated window assemblies to 84 sq. ft. with no dimension exceeding 12 feet. These panels are usually acceptable as window assemblies for use in fire separation walls requiring ratings of one hour or less.
THICKSET® and VISTABRIK® Solid Glass Block are all listed for use as 45-, 60- or 90-minute fire-rated window assemblies in panels up to 100 sq. ft.
Refer to the latest issue of UL® Building Materials Directory as well as your local building codes.
- Underwriters Laboratories® Classification: R2556 (for Glass Block)
- Underwriters Laboratories of Canada File: CR 1715
- In accordance with NFPA 80, Chapter 14
- Underwriters Laboratories® Classification: R18572 (for Plastic Spacers)
For additional information, ask for Pittsburgh Corning’s "Glass Block Fire Rating Facts" bulletin.
Fire-Rated Glass Block Window Assemblies
Pittsburgh Corning Glass Block products listed below have been tested and classified by Underwriters Laboratories® (UL®) for use as fire-rated window assemblies to panel sizes and dimension limitations listed below:
Where permitted by Building Codes, glass block fire-rated window assemblies having a fire resistance rating of not less than 45 minutes may be used as "opening protectives" and to not exceed 25% of the wall areas separating a tenancy from a corridor or a corridor from an enclosed vertical opening or one fire-rated area from another fire-rated area.
Exception: Although glass block masonry units have been tested as window assemblies (not wall assemblies), they may be used as a one-hour fire partition as required for corridors in the enclosure of atriums only when sprinkler protection is provided on occupied sides.
45- and 60-Minute Rated Construction: All 45- and 60-minute rated Pittsburgh Corning Glass Block products may be used in both masonry and non-masonry (steel or wood stud gypsum board) walls. These rated glass block windows may be framed and anchored with either PC® Panel Anchor construction or channel-type restraints. The use of a fire retardant type sealant for head and jamb locations is required. Specifications and construction details of such panels are as per Pittsburgh Corning Corporation recommendations.
Non-masonry, fire-rated steel stud/gypsum board walls must conform to UL® listed wall assembly #U465. Framing and support of the rated glass block window assembly shall be provided with double-studding with height of supporting wall limited to no more than 3 feet.
90-Minute Rated Construction: Where permitted by building codes, all 90-minute rated Pittsburgh Corning Glass Block products may be used in masonry walls only; framed and anchored with 1/4 in. thick steel (not aluminum) channel-type restraints or masonry chases. The use of panel anchor construction is not permitted. Specifications and construction details of such panels are as per Pittsburgh Corning Corporation recommendations.
Exception: In 90-minute rated glass block window assemblies, twice the thickness (3/4 in. total) of expansion material is required at head and jamb locations, as well as the use of a fire-retardant type sealant.
45-Minute Rated Curved Construction: The glass blocks noted under 90-minute "rating" and those 8" x 8" x 4" sized glass blocks noted under 45-minute "rating" are classified for use in masonry walls as curved window assemblies provided that the maximum allowable curvature does not exceed a ratio of 2:1 with respect to length of radius to length of assembly width.
Pittsburgh Corning Glass Blocks that are not fire-rated:
- All 12" x 12" Sizes
- All DELPHI® pattern block
- All HEDRON® Corner Block, TRIDRON 45°; Block® units, EndBlockÔ /ENCURVE® finishing units
- All paver units
- ARQUEÔ
Block
Refer to the latest issue of UL® Building Materials Directory as well as your local building codes and officials.
City and State Code Approvals:
- New York City Board of Standards and Appeals Calendar #820-38-SM
- New York City Materials and Equipment Acceptance MEA 406-90-M, Vol. II
- Los Angeles Research Report RR-24486
- San Francisco General Approval 177P59.1
- Eugene, OR, "Approved Glass Products, Storm Windows, and Insulated Window Units"
- Dade County Acceptance Numbers 98-0527.03 and 95-0908.03
- Texas Department of Insurance WIN #'s 62, 63 & 64
Building Code and National Standards References:
- The BOCA® National Building Code (NBC)
- The Standard Building Code (SBCCI)
- The Uniform Building Code (UBC)
- Canadian Standards Association (CSA) A371-94 "Masonry Construction for Buildings"
- Canadian Standards Association (CSA) S304.1-94 "Masonry Design for Buildings"
- ACI 530/ASCE 5/TMS 402 "Building Code Requirements for Masonry Structures"
- ISO 9002 Certification: The final inspection and testing of Pittsburgh Corning Glass Block Products manufactured by Pittsburgh Corning Corporation.
Seismic Forces Design
Pittsburgh Corning Glass Block products when installed according to manufacturer’s recommendations meet the requirements of Section 1630.2, (vol. 2) of the 1994 Uniform Building Code which governs seismic design of nonstructural components supported by structures.
Resistance to Surface Condensation
Refer to the CAD portion of this screen for the Condensation Resistance graph for Pittsburgh Corning Glass Block Products.
Wind Load Resistance
Refer to the CAD portion of this screen for the Wind Load Resistance graph for Pittsburgh Corning Glass Block products.
Curved Panel Construction
Refer to the CAD portion of this profile for illustrations showing recommended placement of joints and supports in curved Pittsburgh Corning Glass Block construction.
It is recommended that curved areas be separated from flat areas by intermediate expansion joints and supports as shown on these CAD drawings.
When straight, ladder type reinforcing is used on curved walls, the innermost parallel wire may be cut periodically and bent to accommodate the curvature of the wall.
Maximum Panel Dimensions
Refer to the Tabular Data Element of this profile for maximum panel dimensions when using Pittsburgh Corning Glass Block products.
Mortar Mix Design
An optimum mortar mix of installing Pittsburgh Corning Glass Block units is:
By Parts:
Portland Cement - 1 part
Lime - 1/2 part
Sand - 4 parts
By Volume (Weight):
Portland Cement - 1 cu. ft. (1 bag/94 lbs.)
Lime - 0.5 cu. ft. (20 lbs.)
Sand - 4.0 cu. ft. (320 lbs.)
Number of Block for 100 Sq. Ft. Panel
For nominal block sizes, number of block per 100 sq. ft. panel:
6": 400
8": 225
12": 100
4" x 8": 450
6" x 8": 300
Cu. Ft. of Mortar for 100 Sq. Ft. Panel
Based on 1/4" exposed mortar joint unless noted otherwise. For each Series, by nominal block size, cu. ft. of mortar per 100 sq. ft. panel:
Premiere Series (4" nom. thick)
6": 5.4
8": 4.0
12": 2.7
4" x 8": 6.1
6" x 8": 4.7
VISTABRIK® (3" actual thick - using 3/8" exposed mortar joints)
8": 2.3
THINLINE Series (3" nom. thick)
6": 4.3
8": 3.3
4" x 8": 4.9
6" x 8": 3.8
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