Glass Floor Plate Design for Sustainable Building Operation

Abstract

Large glass floor plates are usually designed as laminates of three or more glass leaves, bonded together with an interlayer. This means that, in the event of accidental breakage, the entire plate must be replaced, sometimes at considerable cost. In addition, where access is difficult, the costs and the disruption to the owner’s operations are increased. Finally, it is difficult to recycle laminated glass. An alternative is outlined whereby a sacrificial layer is loose laid on top of the structural laminate. In the event of breakage, only this top layer is replaced, with the lower structural laminate remaining in place to provide safety throughout the operation. This design differs from the conventional construction where the top sheet is bonded to the rest. An in situ trial was carried out, and this proved the effectiveness of the loose laid approach.