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IQ Glass Solutions LTD, Sky House, Raans Road, Amersham, HP6 6FT
Specification
Invisio Thermally Broken Fixing Details
Glass Specification
Maximum Sizes
Integrated Opening Windows/Doors
Performance
CAD Details
Triple Glazed Structural Glass
What Is A Glass Wall?
A glass wall is a large area of vertical glazing used to create bright, open spaces. Glass walls can be designed as internal partitions or external elevations, with framed, frameless, fixed and sliding configurations available depending on the project.
A structural glass wall is an architectural glazing solution where large insulated glass units form the main visual element of the elevation. The panes are connected using minimal structural silicone joints, creating the appearance of a frameless curtain wall with no visible framing between each individual glass unit. This makes structural glazing particularly suited to large glass walls and floor-to-ceiling elevations.
At IQ Glass, our bespoke structural glass walls use the thermally broken Invisio structural glazing system. The head and base fixings can be concealed within the surrounding building finishes while maintaining high levels of thermal insulation, resulting in clean sightlines, expansive views and virtually uninterrupted glazing.
Frameless Glass Facades
With structural glazing you are not limited in terms of glass size, thickness, weight or shape like you are with traditional glass façade systems. Our Invisio structural glass facades can be designed almost any shape and size, with access to the opening being the only real limitation on size.
The fixing details for our Invisio system can be bespoke and are detailed to each project-specific requirement. However, you can download the typical CAD details of the Invisio system here.
We can easily adapt the glass specification of the glass wall to suit the performance requirements, including the inclusion of laminated glass units, upgrading to triple glazing or any other additional specification request.
These large elevations of frameless glass bring in floods of natural light and help connect internal spaces with the outside with no interrupting frames.
Structural Glass Walls At Our Showroom
The newly renovated IQ Glass architectural glazing showroom uses various specifications of structural glass walls around the office, from a double-height thermally broken glass wall at the front of the new building to glass boxes with structural glass walls.
The double-height glass wall at the front and centre of the new showroom reaches a staggering 6.5m tall and has a slim framed aluminium pivot door integrated into the middle for access. In the ground floor office space, there is a large structural glass box extension, with Invisio glass walls supported by glass fins.
Here you will be able to see the interface of structural glazing with the floor, showing a hidden fixing detail as most preferred on the projects we work on.
You will also be able to view the vertical silicone joint of a glass wall as well as a glass to glass corner. The glass that is used to create the glass walls at our showroom has various specifications to enable you to make an informed choice about your glazing specification.
If you would like to see these Invisio structural glass walls in person, click here to book your showroom visit.
Frameless Glass Walls with Timber and Other Materials
Frameless structural glass walls can be designed to work alongside timber, stone, brick, concrete and specialist metalwork, allowing the surrounding architecture to remain the dominant visual feature. With minimal framing and concealed structural connections, the glazing can sit quietly within the wider design rather than competing with it.
This approach is particularly effective for timber and glass walls, where large areas of clear glazing can expose the texture, structure and craftsmanship of the timber while maintaining uninterrupted views and high levels of natural light.
At IQ Glass, each architectural glazing detail is developed around the individual building and material palette. Structural glass, fixing methods and interfaces are designed together to create a clean junction between the glazing and surrounding structure, whether the glass wall is intended as a feature or to visually recede into the architecture.
High Performance Glass Walls
IQ can design structural glass walls to achieve any thermal performance requirement you have. We operate a ‘glass first’ approach to structural glass designs which means we will design the glass specification to the performance you need, and then approach the fixing details.
This allows us to create glass walls which extremely high performance from high levels of insulation and also high levels of wind loading.
Internal Glass Partitions & Dividers
IQ Glass creates internal glass partitions for residential and commercial projects, including slim-framed aluminum, steel-framed, and sliding, pivot, hinged, or bifold doors. Configurations include inline walls, pocket sliders, and corners.
Sliding systems use 10mm toughened glass that can vanish into concealed pockets. Pivot doors feature decorative or laminated finishes, while hinged or bifold options flexibly manage space. Steel frames allow glazing bars or fire-rated glass.
Frame finishes range from RAL or anodized coatings to powder-coated steel, with door heights exceeding three meters. The MIRO Minimal Interior System offers slim framing, reinforced rails, and optional privacy or decorative glass.
Check out our Internal Glazing here!
Specification
Invisio Thermally Broken Fixing Details
We use our exclusive Invisio thermally broken fixing system for these structural glass walls. The Invisio structural glass fixing detail is fully thermally broken which improves the thermal performance of a structural glass wall and eliminates any risk of thermal bridging.
The specially designed structural glass fixing system is able to be fully hidden within your building finishes resulting in a completely frameless glass design. Each system and installation has tailored detailing within the design phase to ensure our proposed fixing details work with your design intent and building structure.
Structural glass walls are fixed to the building on all outer edges of the elevation construction, with a structural silicone joint between each pane providing the weather-sealed joint. This vertical silicone joint is black. As a result, we provide structural glass units with black warm edge spacer bars as standard unless specified otherwise.
You can request the typical CAD details of the Invisio structual glazing here.
Glass Specification
The Invisio structural glass fixing channel is designed to fix insulated glass units up to 41mm thick. If deeper or thicker glass units are required on the project we can provide a bespoke and engineered fixing solution to suit.
All glass specifications are provided in conjunction with your technical specification or performance requirements. As standard, we use insulated double-glazed units to create an insulated frameless glass wall. However, triple glazing is very possible to create large glass walls with improved thermal performance.
Additional glass options can be included in your glass specification including solar control glass, bird protection glass, low maintenance coatings and low iron glass to name a few.
We always include toughened laminated glass to the inner pane of the insulated glass unit as standard for all-glass walls that are over 2.4m tall, unless otherwise requested.
Maximum Sizes
The advantage of using structural glass to create your glass wall or facade is that there are no pre-prescribed maximum sizes.
Structural glass units can be detailed and engineered to create elevations compromising of very large panes of glass. We are able to safely install very large glass units of 20m long in a single unit and have extensive experience in the logistical considerations for installation of such large elements of glazing.
Each structural glass pane within your glass facade can be designed to any shape or size you require. The only considerations are of course cost as well as the site access and any installation restrictions that may limit glass sizes.
The team at IQ will be able to offer more advice on the maximum pane of glass that will be feasible for your project. Just visit the contact us page to find out the ways you can get in touch with our technical team or submit the below enquiry form.
Integrated Opening Windows/Doors
The design purpose of a structural glass wall is to create a large elevation of glass that is uninterrupted by frame or steel. However, if opening elements are required within your structural glass facade this can be detailed.
Each integration of framed opening elements into a structural glass installation must be approached on an individual basis but your three main options are as below:
- Integration of minimal windows® sliding doors within a wall of structural glass
- By far the most minimal way to include an opening element within your structural glass wall. The slim 21mm framing of the minimal windows® sliding door offers a matching sightline to the frameless silicone joint of structural glazing. The result is a large glass elevation with opening elements within it whilst maintaining a minimal design.
- The Invisio Floating Window
- As seen at the IQ Glass Showroom in Amersham. We have engineered a new window solution which allows us to install a thermally broken aluminium window within a double glazed structural pane. This allows an opening window within your glass facade with no additional steelworks required.
- The inclusion of additional steel/timber posts
- If a larger casement / pivoting door opening is required within your structural glass wall, then we can include a slim steel/timber supporting post detail to successfully create an opening within the structural glass in which to install the opening door. The resulting design will have slightly larger sightlines around the opening element. These can be designed to be covered in aluminium pressings or back-painted glass.
Performance
As the Invisio is a systemised approach to structural glazing we have been able to undertake a host of testing.
The thermally broken structural glazing system has been fully tested for thermal insulation and acheives Uw values from 1.1 W/m2K. The thermal break within the fixing profile removes the issues of thermal bridging associated with some traditional structural glazing installations.
Two wind loads of 0.8 kN and 1.6 kN have also been tested to showcase how the system will work under different weather conditions.
CAD Details
Due to this more systemised approach to structural glazing, it is now possible to share typical CAD details with architects.
These are available for you to download by clicking here and filling in your details.
Please note that these are the typical CAD details that you can integrate into your drawings. Our in-house design team will draw the bespoke fixing details specifically for your project when your order is placed with us.
If you have any questions about our typical CAD details please contact the team at IQ who will be happy to help.
Triple Glazed Structural Glass
Glass walls can be constructed with triple glazing for enhanced thermal and acoustic performance. IQ Glass uses the Invisio+ structural glazing system, whose deeper profiles allow for high-performance triple glazed units while maintaining a minimal, frameless appearance.
Glass walls FAQ
What is the difference between a structural glass wall and a glass partition?
A structural glass wall is typically designed as part of the building envelope or architectural structure, using large glass units to create an external or internal glazed elevation. Glass partitions are generally used internally to divide rooms or create separate zones while maintaining light and visual connection between spaces.
What types of glass walls are available?
Glass walls can be designed as fixed, sliding, folding, framed or frameless systems. The right option depends on whether the wall needs to form a permanent glazed elevation, divide an internal space or open completely to connect two areas. Structural glass walls are generally used where large, minimal areas of glazing are required.
How large can a structural glass wall be?
IQ's glass walls can be designed across very large elevations, although the size of individual glass units will depend on factors including glass specification, structural loads, access, transportation and installation requirements. Large glass walls are therefore usually engineered specifically around the dimensions and conditions of each project.
How much does a bespoke glass wall cost?
The cost of a bespoke glass wall depends on its dimensions, whether it is internal or external, the glass specification, structural requirements, fixing system and installation access. Large structural glass walls are normally designed and priced specifically for the project rather than supplied at a standard square-metre rate.