History and Update on the Use of
ASTM E1300 for Glass Strength
Jeffery E. Haberer 1, A. William Lingnell, P.E. 2
1
Cardinal Glass Industries
2
Lingnell Consulting Services
Keywords
1=Glass Strength 2=Standard
Abstract
This paper is an overview of the history
and usage of ASTM E 1300, Standard
Practice for Determining Load Resistance
of Glass in Buildings. This standard is
used throughout the United States
for determining uniform lateral load
resistance (i.e. snow and windload) of
glass used in buildings. It is referenced
by the model building codes in the US,
Standards and Measurements for Mechanical Strength of Glass
Canada, and other countries. Origins
of the standard will be discussed along
with historical and recent updates to the
standard.
The standard offers a practical
approach to lateral loading that
addresses many, if not most, of the
glazing types offered today.
The paper also discusses the
progress made in the standard to
provide the user with advancements in
load resistance of glass based on the
development of additional charts for
non-factored loads, glass thicknesses,
glass type factors, load sharing and
increased load magnitudes to meet glass
industry needs.
Introduction
Architects and Engineers have obvious
needs to know and understand the
strength of glass. Windload, snowload
and self weight are the primary
concerns when it comes to glass for
use in buildings. As architects push
the envelope on challenging designs
there is a growing need to evaluate
point load and line load glass designs,
among other designs that are beyond
the typical vertical window with four
side structural support to the glass.
Throughout the long history of using
glass in buildings, users have increased
the thickness of the glass in order to
meet the resistance of lateral forces
that would tend to break glass. The
need has always been for a practical
and convenient way to evaluate when
to increase the thickness for added
strength to meet the load.
This paper provides a history and
update of a standard that is currently in
use in North America for determining
the lateral strength of glass. ASTM
E 1300 is a practice which lays out
a methodology for evaluating glass
strength.
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3=Load Resistance 4=Windload 5= Snowload
Early Beginnings discussions within ASTM on glass
strength for buildings. This work is
Prior to the promulgation of ASTM
documented well elsewhere [1], [2]. In
E1300 there were other methods used
brief, the theory addresses the reason
in the United States to evaluate glass
for the high coefficient of variation in
strength for buildings. From the 1960s
glass strength; which is the orientation
to the 1980s most architects and
and density of surface flaws in the glass.
engineers used one simple chart which
The theory employs the work of
described the assumed strength of each
Weibul [3] who offered a statistical
glass thickness. These charts expressed
failure analysis for predicting the
maximum load capability versus glass
strength of brittle materials. The glass
area with a line for each thickness of
failure prediction model uses two
glass. An example is shown in figure
parameters called m and k, which
1. The charts were based on empirical
relate to the surface flaw conditions.
results from testing to failure thousands
These two parameters are used in a risk
of various sized plates of annealed glass
function equation that employs plate
for each thickness.
dimensions, elasticity of the glass, load
In the 1970s efforts were made by
duration, distribution of stress in the
glass manufacturers to improve on the
understanding of glass strength and
better predict the statistical nature of
glass. Most notable was work by PPG
Industries, Inc. This work employed a
maximum stress approach coupled with
finite element analysis that considered
plate geometry rather than just total
plate area. From this work a series of
glass thickness charts were created.
See example in figure 2. While these
were considered by many to be an
improvement over the earlier straight
line charts, they did yield somewhat
different results. Because of this, the
charts were deemed controversial and
did not attain uniform acceptance by
code bodies, and practicing architects
and engineers.
Around the same time Beason
introduced a glass failure prediction Figure 1 Straight line glass strength charts from
model. This became the basis for initial 1980s
Figure 2 PPG glass
strength charts, 1979
GLASS PERFORMANCE DAYS 2011 | www.gpd.fi
17.1.2012 11:41:34
 plate, and magnitude of applied load.
This very complicated function was then
synthesized into a series of charts for
each glass thickness. The charts have
plate width and height on separate axes
to accommodate the effect of aspect
ratio (long side /short side).
Enter ASTM
As noted above ASTM E1300 was
born out of controversy in the
industry when new approaches
to glass strength yielded different
results from the conventional, so
called, straight line charts of the
1960s and 1970s. Being a consensus
organization ASTM (now ASTM
International) was perhaps uniquely
suited to address the controversy.
Unlike other standards organizations
such as BSI, DIN, AFNOR, and CEN;
ASTM is a not a national standards
body. Membership and participation
is open to anyone, anywhere in the
world. Membership is initiated by
the participants own request; not by
appointment or invitation. Committees
its behavior is different for long term
loading.
For the 1997 version of the standard,
the ASTM task group began to address
other needs. These included evaluation
of asymmetric IG units where each lite
of glass in the unit has a different glass
type and/or thickness. An example
would be a unit with an exterior 3mm
tempered lite, and a roomside lite
of 6mm annealed, laminated glass.
This type of construction is especially
common in sloped glazing, but up
until this point there had never been
any standardized way of evaluating its
strength.
A major restructuring of the
strength adjustment factors was done
to accomplish this. In the asymmetric
IG example cited above, the thicker
roomside lite takes more of the load
than the exterior thinner lite. The
proportion that each lite shares needs to
be known. Secondly, differences in glass
type (ex. tempered versus annealed
laminated) entails examining each lite
individually according to its type and to
its determined share of the applied load
changing how wind speed and pressure
(windload) were addressed in the US.
Previously, windload was averaged
over a 60 second duration. In 2002,
the American Society of Civil Engineers
changed their standard on determining
design loads (ASCE 7) from 60 seconds
to a 3 second gust. After much debate
and discussion about this topic within
the ASTM task group, it was decided
to rework all twelve of the existing load
charts, making adjustments for 3 second
load duration.
In addition, there had also been
extensive work to show that the factors
for laminated glass currently used in
E1300 were too conservative. This work
resulted in establishment of separate
load charts for laminated glass.
Previously, the document assumed
that glass was always supported on 4
sides. In the 2002 revision, charts were
added to address design loads in 1, 2,
and 3 side support conditions. With
this revision the document expanded
to 59 pages containing 42 load charts,
5 tables of factors, and 13 procedures
covering various glass constructions. In

Standards and Measurements for Mechanical Strength of Glass

are balanced so that no more than
50% of the participants are producers.
The remainder must be consumers or
general interest, including consultants,
architects, and academics, and members
representing public interest.
With this organizational structure,
the task was set to come to a consensus
agreement on how to determine glass
strength. Initial work took nearly 10
years of debate and discussion until an
approved document was produced. The
Glass Failure Prediction model, noted
above, was agreed to be the basis
for the new standard. Agreed upon
values for the surface flaw parameters
m and k came after thorough
discussion. These were chosen to reflect
the strength of weathered glass and
helped resolve the controversy in the
industry. Values for the parameters are
given in the standard.
The Standard and its revisions
The first version of the standard
(ASTM E 1300-89) was released 1989.
This version only covered annealed
monolithic glass, of rectangular shape,
with support on all four edges, and with
lateral load duration of 60 seconds.
Twelve US glass thicknesses designations
were covered from 2.5 mm to 22.0
mm. A chart for each thickness was
provided. Optional procedures for center
deflection and estimating probability of
failure were included in an appendix.
Obviously, more than monolithic
annealed glass was used by the industry.
In 1994, a second version of the
standard was issued that offered type
factors for annealed, heat-strengthened,
fully tempered, laminated, and two
pane insulating glass (IG) containing
lites of the same type and thickness.
This revision also included type factors
for a 30 day load duration typical of a
snowload. Careful consideration was
taken for laminated glass factors as
to define the load resistance of the IG
unit.
To accomplish all this, an assumption
was first made that load sharing is
proportional to the stiffness of the lites.
Stiffness is estimated by taking the
ratio of the cube of the thicknesses.
Discussion of this can be found in the
appendix of the standard.[6] Tables of
load share (LS) factors were created
that laid out all possible combinations
of glass thicknesses; one for short term
(60 second) loads and one for laminated
glass under long term loading (30 days).
Since laminated glass has a different
stiffness behavior under long term
loading, this second table assigned load
share for each individual glass ply in the
laminated layup.
The addition of the asymmetric IG
analysis was a major step forward.
While based on assumptions that were
not completely perfect, the results were
judged to still be conservative within the
realm of the stated breakage potential
of less than 8/1000. The advantage was
that more common IG constructions
could be evaluated with a standardized
consensus practice.
The 1998 and 2000 revisions to the
standard improved clarity and chart
interpolation. In addition, conversion
factors were added for load durations
other than 60 seconds or 30 days.
Related to this was the addition of
how to combine loads of different
durations. But probably the most
important addition to the 2000 revision
was the inclusion of a consensus set of
maximum values for edge stress and
surface stress. These were needed for
the growing amount of design work
requiring independent analysis of point
load support, non-rectangular shapes,
and designs requiring computer analysis.
Several major changes occurred in
the 2002 version of the standard. In
that same year, the industry began
addition, deflection charts were added
beneath each strength chart to provide
the user with convenient determination
of center deflection. There was much
concern at the time about complexity
and the need for a computer program
to keep track of the logistics required
to follow a procedure. As a result, of
the 2002 version, computer programs
became commercially available which
emulated the E1300 charts, making it
easier to use the standard.
Minor editorial changes and
revised glass type factors were made
in the 2003 version of the standard.
Recognizing that interlayers besides PVB
were being used, the 2004 revision,
included a procedure for establishing
equivalency of other interlayers to
PVB. The basis for equivalency was to
provide evidence through a standardize
test (ASTM D 4065), that the non-
PVB interlayer has an equal or greater
Youngs Modulus and shear modulus of
1.5 MPa, and 0.4 MPa, respectively.
In 2007, definitions for the
designations of laminated glass were
revised. Since there are many layup
combinations of laminated glass
with varying glass ply thickness and
interlayer thickness, a designated
laminated glass thickness is necessary
for determining which load chart is
appropriate. In addition, the load charts
were adjusted once again. This time
the change was to accommodate larger
size glass plates in the thicker glasses.
Sizes as large as 120 x 250 (3050 mm
x 6350 mm) and larger could now be
evaluated.
At the time of this writing the
most recent version of the standard is
2009. This revision added a procedure
for analyzing triple glazing. This
procedure again assumed load share
is proportional to stiffness of the plate
and determined load share factors
based on the cube of the thickness. Also

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 added was a procedure for determining
the effective thickness of laminated
glass. This procedure is provided for
use in independent stress analysis
for laminated glass design situations
not covered in the main document of
E1300.
Usage
The first occurrence of a reference
to E1300 in a building code is found
in 2000 version of the International
Building Code (IBC). This is the model
building code used in the US. This code
continues to reference the standard and
updates to later revisions as adopted by
its committees.
In addition, while no reference is
made to E1300, in the 1999 Uniform
Building Code (a precursor to the IBC), it
is clear that the load charts in this code
derive from E1300.
Earlier it was noted that the 2000
version of E1300 added a consensus set
of maximum values for edge stress and
surface stress to the appendix. These
stress limits now provide a standardized
Standards and Measurements for Mechanical Strength of Glass
source of values for more consistent
analysis of building glass designs not
covered by the main body of the E 1300
standard. These are in current use by
consultants, architects, and engineers
on a regular basis.
While its difficult to evaluate the
complete extent of the standards use,
it is safe to say the vast majority of
engineers, architects, consultants, and
glass fabricators, at least in the US, use
E 1300 exclusively for rectangular glass
strength evaluation. Further, the success
of the standard can be considered to lie
in its flexibility to evolve with the needs
of the market and to cover increasingly
more complex applications. The history
presented above is testament to that
flexibility.
Its also appropriate to discuss the
accuracy of the standard. Evaluation
of this characteristic is more difficult
since the strength of glass has a wide
coefficient of variation and E 1300 is
based on strength after the glass has
weathered. The latter is supported in
existing literature where evaluations of
weathered glass have been made. [5]
What is covered by the standard?
The existing standard is now quite
comprehensive. The main body of the
standard covers a incredible number
of glass types, thicknesses, and
combinations of the two. It addresses
single, double, and triple glazing. Lites
can be monolithic or laminated. They
can be annealed, heat-strengthened, or
fully tempered glass types. Orientation
can be vertical or sloped.
Currently the standard only supports
analysis of rectangular shapes. Edge
supports are assumed to be continuous
and not deflect more than1/175 of their
edge length. However, edge supports of
1, 2, 3, or 4 sides can be analyzed with
the respective charts contained in the
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Monday-saturday-sunday_UUSI.indd 470
standard.
Loads need to be uniform and lateral
to the glass. Duration is for either a
short term load of 3 seconds (windload)
or a long term load of 30 days
(snowload). Other load durations can be
converted to these equivalent durations
via tables in the appendix.
The results presented by using the
standard include the load resistance
(LR) and deflection of a specified size
of glass product comprised of one or
more combinations of glass types. The
load needs to be a uniform lateral load
of short or long duration. The LR is
presented for the given size and glass
type(s) based on a specified probability
of breakage of less than or equal
8/1000.
How to use the standard
The basic procedure entails first
selecting a glass type, thickness, and
construction. The user needs to know
the specified load duration, and design
load for the project. These values are
predetermined inputs to the standard
and are normally determined from
the local building code or provided
by a professional who can interpret
applicable regulations.
The next step is to select the
appropriate procedure for the given
glass construction, support conditions,
and load duration. Each procedure
directs the user to determine a non-
factored load (NFL) from the appropriate
load chart for the glass thickness, load
support conditions, and whether the
glass is laminated or monolithic. See
figure 3 for a typical chart.
Next determine the glass type factor
(GTF) from the appropriate table. See
figure 4 for one of these tables. If
the glass is an IGunit (double or triple
glazing) then a load share factor (LSF)
is determined from one of 2 tables, or
by a calculation for triple glazing. See
figure 5 for a load share table.
A load resistance (LR) for each lite is
then determined by multiplying the NFL
by the GTF and the LSF (if applicable).
This is repeated for each lite in double
or triple glazing IG. The lowest LR of all
Figure 3 Typical E
1300 Non-Factored
Load chart
GLASS PERFORMANCE DAYS 2011 | www.gpd.fi
lites in the IG is the LR for the unit. The
given glass construction is considered
to be acceptable for use, if the final LR
is greater than or equal to the specified
load.
Example calculations are included in
the annexes of the document. [6] These
are recommended for the user to review
prior to performing a manual calculation
for the first time. Of particular note
is example 3, which evaluates long
duration loading of a double glazing
unit with one lite tempered monolithic,
and one lite annealed laminated. The
analysis of this construction requires
determination of both long duration
and short duration loads because the
monolithic-like behavior of laminated
glass in short duration loads can give a
lower LR than the layered behavior of
long duration loading.
The user is also pointed to examine
Example 5, which evaluates a triple
glazing construction with asymmetric
lite thicknesses. The important point
here, is that for triple glazing the load
share factor is determined for each lite,
not by using a table, but by calculating
the ratio of the cube of the thicknesses.
Equations for doing this are provided
in the procedure and shown in the
example.
While manual calculations are
certainly accomplished from the
document alone, for extensive practical
use, calculations are easier and quicker
when a computer simulation of the
standards charts and tables is used.
There is at least one program that is
commercially available and has been
found to consistently yield the same
results as that from a manual calculation
and interpretation of the load charts.
Future
The ASTM task group continues
to revise, expand the scope and
incorporate improvements as they
become available. Currently an
evaluation is underway to review the
need to include separate load charts for
heat-strengthened and fully tempered
glass types. Also needed are procedures
for determining proper factors for wired
17.1.2012 11:41:34

Figure 5 Typical E 1300 Load Share Factor table
glass, pattern glass, etched glass, and
sandblasted glass.
Conclusion
The ASTM E1300 standard provides
users with a very comprehensive,
technically sound, and consensus
based approach to glass strength.
For over 15 years it has been used
widely and successfully in designing
for glass in buildings. To date, there
is no knowledge of projects which
have exceeded the design breakage
potential when designed to this
standard. The governing organization,
ASTM International, was uniquely
suited to promulgate this standard,
providing an open, voluntary forum,
of industry experts, consultants, and
engineers. The task group overseeing
the standard is active and vigilant in
monitoring industry needs, assimilating
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Monday-saturday-sunday_UUSI.indd 471
Figure 4 Typical E 1300
Glass Type Factor table
Standards and Measurements for Mechanical Strength of Glass
new research, and incorporating it
into the standard. The standard will
continue evolve and guide the industry
in evaluation of glass strength.
References
[1] Beason, W. L., A Failure Prediction Model For
Glass, 1980;
[2] Beason, W. L., Kohutek, T. L., and Bracci, J.
M., Basis for ASTM E1300 Glass Thickness
Selection Procedure, Civil Engineering
Department, Texas A & M University, 1996.
[3] Weibull, W., A Statistical Theory for the
Strength of Materials, Hand. Ing. Vet. Akad.
(Proc. Royal Swedish Institute for Engineering
Research, Stockholm), Nr. 151, 1939.
[4] ASTM E 1300-09, Standard Practice for
Determining Load Resistance of Glass
in Buildings, ASTM International, West
Conshohocken, PA
[5] H. S. Norville, J. E. Minor, Strength of
Weathered Window Glass, 1985
[6] ASTM E 1300-09, Standard Practice for
Determining Load Resistance of Glass
in Buildings, ASTM International, West
Conshohocken, PA
471
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