1 Scope
NOTE This standard covers complete frameless all-glass entrance assemblies — glass panels, patch and rail hardware, pivots, floor and overhead concealed closers, pulls, locks, thresholds, and weatherstripping — supported entirely by hardware fastened through or clamped to the glass, with no perimeter frame around the panel. (1.1)
NOTE "All-glass" means the glass panel has no perimeter frame: hardware attaches directly to holes drilled through the panel or clamps the panel edge, and the glass itself is the structural and visual element. This is the defining distinction from a framed door, where a continuous frame carries the glazing. (1.2)
NOTE The assembly addressed here includes the following configuration families. (1.3)
- Single swing patch-fitting door — corner patch fittings top and bottom, overhead pivot, floor closer.
- Double swing (pair) patch-fitting doors — meeting-stile patches, a floor closer per leaf, coordinated header.
- Continuous-rail all-glass door — glass captured in extruded top and bottom rails for taller leaves.
- Tempered laminated all-glass door — laminated panels where post-breakage retention is required.
- Sliding all-glass panel — overhead track and floor guide, no floor pivot.
- Folding (bi-fold) all-glass system — multiple hinged panels that stack to one or both sides.
NOTE Where an automatic operator is added to an all-glass door, the glass and operating hardware are specified under this standard and the operator, sensors, and controls are specified under
Automatic Entrance Doors.
(1.4) 2 Referenced Standards
2.1Materials, fabrication, hardware, and installation shall comply with the latest adopted edition of each of the following unless a specific edition is cited or a more recent edition is mandated by the authority having jurisdiction.
2.2Where referenced standards conflict, the more stringent requirement shall govern unless the Engineer of Record directs otherwise in writing.
| Standard |
Title |
| ASTM C1048 |
Heat-Strengthened and Fully Tempered Flat Glass |
| ASTM C1172 |
Laminated Architectural Flat Glass |
| ASTM E1300 |
Determining Load Resistance of Glass in Buildings |
| ASTM E283 |
Rate of Air Leakage Through Exterior Windows, Curtain Walls, and Doors |
| ASTM E330 |
Structural Performance of Exterior Windows, Doors, Skylights, and Curtain Walls Under Uniform Static Air Pressure |
| ASTM E331 |
Water Penetration of Exterior Windows, Skylights, Doors, and Curtain Walls by Uniform Static Air Pressure |
| ANSI/BHMA A156.4 |
Door Closers and Pivots |
| ANSI Z97.1 |
Safety Glazing Materials Used in Buildings — Performance and Methods of Test |
| 16 CFR Part 1201 |
Safety Standard for Architectural Glazing Materials (CPSC) |
| IBC Chapter 24 |
International Building Code — Glass and Glazing |
| IBC Section 2406 |
International Building Code — Safety Glazing |
| NFPA 80 |
Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives |
| AAMA 101 |
Performance Requirements and Test Procedures for Windows, Skylights, and Glass Doors |
NOTE The GANA (Glass Association of North America) Glazing Manual and the National Glass Association guidance are recommended-practice references for installation workmanship; they are advisory and do not supersede code or this standard. (2.3)
3 Submittals
3.1 Action Submittals
3.1.1The Contractor shall submit the following action submittals for review before fabrication:
- Product data for each glass type, patch fitting, rail, pivot, closer, pull, lock, threshold, and weatherstrip.
- Shop drawings showing each opening elevation, glass panel sizes and thicknesses, hardware locations and drill-hole patterns, swing direction, and clearances.
- Glass thickness calculations per ASTM E1300 for the project design wind pressure, signed by a licensed engineer where panels exceed standard manufacturer tables.
- A hardware finish schedule designating one finish family for all exposed patch fittings, rails, pulls, locks, and thresholds.
- Samples of each exposed hardware finish and of each glass type, including any edgework and tint.
☑ Product data (glass, hardware, closers, thresholds)
☑ Shop drawings (elevations, hardware locations, drill patterns)
☑ Glass thickness calculations per ASTM E1300
☑ Hardware finish schedule
☑ Glass and finish samples
3.1.2Shop drawings shall be coordinated with the floor closer recess and slab construction, and shall show the cast-in floor can dimension and required slab depth at each floor closer.
3.2.1The Contractor shall submit the following informational submittals:
- Glass fabricator certification that tempered and laminated glass complies with ASTM C1048 and ASTM C1172.
- Safety glazing certification confirming each panel bears a permanent label per 16 CFR Part 1201 and ANSI Z97.1.
- For exterior assemblies, test reports for air infiltration (ASTM E283), water penetration (ASTM E331), and structural load (ASTM E330) or an AAMA 101 performance classification.
- Closer and pivot test reports establishing the ANSI/BHMA A156.4 grade.
☑ Glass fabricator certification (ASTM C1048 / C1172)
☑ Safety glazing certification (16 CFR 1201 / ANSI Z97.1)
☐ Air, water, and structural test reports (exterior)
☑ Closer and pivot grade test reports
3.3 Closeout Submittals
3.3.1The Contractor shall submit the following closeout submittals:
- Operation and maintenance data for closers, pivots, locks, and weatherstripping, including adjustment and lubrication intervals.
- Written warranties for glass, hardware, and the installed assembly.
- A record set of approved shop drawings marked to show as-installed conditions.
☑ Operation and maintenance data
☑ Written warranties (glass, hardware, assembly)
☑ Record (as-built) shop drawings
4 Quality Assurance
NOTE Frameless all-glass entrances combine a structural glass element with precision hardware drilled and clamped to that glass; fabrication tolerance, glass strength, and installation workmanship are interdependent, so single-source responsibility and qualified installers are essential. (4.1)
4.2The glass fabricator shall be a firm regularly engaged in fabricating tempered and laminated architectural glass with a documented record of all-glass entrance work.
4.3The installer shall be trained and approved by the hardware manufacturer for the specific patch, rail, pivot, and closer systems supplied.
4.4A single supplier shall be responsible for the complete assembly — glass, hardware, closers, and thresholds — so that glass thickness, hardware drill patterns, and closer capacity are coordinated as one system.
4.5All glazing in the assembly shall qualify as safety glazing under IBC Section 2406, and all glazing within 24 in. of a door in the plane of the door shall also be safety glazing.
4.6 Mock-Ups
4.6.1Where directed, the Contractor shall provide a full-size operating mock-up of one representative door assembly, including glass, hardware, closer, threshold, and weatherstripping, for review of operation, finish, and clearances before fabricating the remaining openings.
4.6.2The approved mock-up shall establish the standard of workmanship and finish for the work and may remain as part of the work if undamaged and accepted in writing.
5 Environmental and Service Conditions
NOTE Entrance assemblies must perform under the wind, water, thermal, and traffic conditions of their location; an exterior lobby door on a tall building sees very different loads than an interior glass divider, and the glass thickness, closer grade, and weatherstripping follow from those conditions. (5.1)
5.2The assembly shall be designed for the project design wind pressure derived from the ASCE 7 design wind speed and exposure for the building location and opening height.
5.3Exterior assemblies shall be designed to resist air and water infiltration at the specified test pressures without leakage, distortion, or permanent deformation.
5.4The closer and pivot system shall be selected for the expected daily traffic so that cycle life is not exceeded over the warranty period.
○ Interior (conditioned, no weather exposure)
● Exterior (weather-exposed storefront opening)
Per drawings — design wind pressure on the structural drawings
Low (under 100 openings/day)
Moderate (100 to 500 openings/day)
High (over 500 openings/day)
6 Glass Panels
NOTE The glass panel is the structural element of an all-glass door: it carries wind load, transfers operating forces from the hardware, and must survive impact as safety glazing. Glass type and thickness are therefore the first decisions, and they govern hardware compatibility and maximum panel size. (6.1)
6.2 Glass Type
NOTE Monolithic fully tempered glass, Kind FT per ASTM C1048, is the standard panel for all-glass swing doors and is the default unless post-breakage retention is required. (6.2.1)
NOTE Tempered laminated glass per ASTM C1172 is specified where the panel is overhead or sloped, or where post-breakage retention is required for security, hurricane, or fall-protection reasons; the two glass plies are bonded to an interlayer so the panel holds together if broken. (6.2.2)
6.2.3Door and panel glass shall be fully tempered, Kind FT per ASTM C1048, or tempered laminated per ASTM C1172 as scheduled.
6.2.4Where the glass is overhead or sloped, the panel shall be tempered laminated or shall be protected by a screen in accordance with IBC Section 2404; monolithic tempered glass alone shall not be used overhead.
6.2.5Each glass panel shall bear a permanent safety glazing label identifying the fabricator and compliance with 16 CFR Part 1201 and ANSI Z97.1; the label shall not be removable.
● Monolithic fully tempered (ASTM C1048, Kind FT)
○ Tempered laminated (ASTM C1172)
6.2.6Where tinted, low-iron, or coated glass is scheduled, the appearance shall match the approved sample and shall be consistent across all panels in an opening.
Clear
Low-iron (ultra-clear)
Tinted (gray, bronze, or blue)
Acid-etched / satin
6.3 Glass Thickness
NOTE Glass thickness is driven by door height, design wind load, and the engagement depth the patch or rail hardware requires; thicker glass resists wind and supports larger leaves but adds weight that the closer must overcome. 1/2 in. (12 mm) fully tempered is the 80% case for standard commercial swing doors 36 to 42 in. wide and 84 to 96 in. tall. (6.3.1)
6.3.2Glass thickness shall be determined per ASTM E1300 for the project design wind pressure and panel size, and shall not be less than the value scheduled.
6.3.3Doors exceeding 42 in. wide or 108 in. tall shall use 3/4 in. (19 mm) glass or thicker as required by ASTM E1300, with thickness confirmed by a licensed engineer.
6.3.4Tempered laminated panels shall be not less than 1/2 in. nominal (two 1/4 in. plies) to satisfy ASTM C1172 fabrication requirements.
3/8 in. (10 mm)
1/2 in. (12 mm)
5/8 in. (16 mm)
3/4 in. (19 mm)
6.3.53/8 in. (10 mm) glass shall not be used for exterior high-traffic swing doors; it is insufficient for typical wind loads and provides marginal patch-fitting engagement.
6.4 Panel Size and Edgework
NOTE Maximum leaf size for patch-fitting systems is typically 48 in. wide by 120 in. tall; larger leaves require custom engineering and confirmation against manufacturer load tables. (6.4.1)
6.4.2Exposed glass edges shall be flat-ground and polished, free of chips, vents, and shells.
6.4.3Edge finish shall be consistent on all exposed edges of an opening.
6.4.4Drilled holes and cut-outs for hardware shall be located, sized, and finished per the hardware manufacturer's templates and shall be completed before tempering.
7 Hardware System
NOTE All-glass door hardware does the work that a frame would otherwise do: it grips the glass, carries the pivot and closer reactions, and provides the pull, lock, and seal. The hardware family — corner patches, continuous rails, or minimal pivot-only — is chosen for door height, appearance, and the loads to be transferred. (7.1)
7.2 Patch Fittings and Rails
NOTE Patch fittings are corner castings (typically 9-1/2 in.) clamped over drilled holes at the top and bottom corners of the panel; they suit standard-height doors and give the most minimal frameless appearance. (7.2.1)
NOTE Continuous top and bottom rails capture the full panel width in an extruded channel and integrate the pivot and closer; they are used for taller doors, generally 84 to 120 in., where corner patches alone cannot carry the load. (7.2.2)
7.2.3Patch fittings and rails shall be aluminum or stainless steel sized by the manufacturer for the glass thickness and panel size supplied.
7.2.4Setting material between hardware and glass shall be a resilient gasket or structural setting compound that isolates the glass from metal-to-glass contact.
● Corner patch fittings (top and bottom)
○ Continuous top and bottom rails
○ Patch fittings with bottom rail only
Stainless steel
Anodized aluminum
7.3 Pivots and Closers
NOTE The closer controls the door's swing and closing speed and provides the latching action; on an all-glass door it is concealed in the floor or overhead so no frame-mounted closer is visible. The pivot establishes the swing axis and clearance. (7.3.1)
NOTE A floor closer is a closer body recessed into a can cast into the floor slab; it is the standard choice for swing doors and requires slab coordination during the concrete pour. (7.3.2)
NOTE An overhead concealed closer is housed in the header above the door and is used where a floor recess is not feasible or where slab depth is insufficient. (7.3.3)
7.3.4Closers shall comply with ANSI/BHMA A156.4 and shall be the grade required for the expected daily traffic.
7.3.5Floor closers shall be ANSI/BHMA A156.4 Grade 1 (2 million cycles) for entrances exceeding 100 openings per day; Grade 2 (1 million cycles) is acceptable only for low-traffic interior doors.
7.3.6The floor closer can shall be cast into the slab during the concrete pour; core drilling the closer recess after the pour shall not be permitted unless accepted in writing by the Engineer of Record.
7.3.7Pivots shall be offset or center-hung as scheduled and shall be selected for the door weight and swing clearance.
● Floor closer (recessed in slab)
○ Overhead concealed closer (in header)
● ANSI/BHMA A156.4 Grade 1 (2 million cycles)
○ ANSI/BHMA A156.4 Grade 2 (1 million cycles)
Offset pivot
Center-hung pivot
7.4 Pulls, Locks, and Latches
NOTE Pulls and locks are mounted to the glass through drilled holes or to a patch fitting; the pull is the primary operating point and the lock secures the door, typically through a bottom-rail or patch-mounted mortise lock engaging the floor or an adjacent leaf. (7.4.1)
7.4.2Pulls shall be tubular or square stainless steel of the scheduled length, through-bolted to the glass with isolating bushings so no metal contacts the glass directly.
7.4.3Door locks shall be a mortise or patch-mounted deadlock engaging the floor strike or the opposite leaf, keyed as directed.
7.4.4Where electrified hardware is scheduled, an electric strike or electromagnetic lock shall be provided and coordinated with the access control and power supply under the electrical work.
Tubular round pull
Square / rectangular pull
Ladder pull (full-height)
Offset / D-pull
Mortise deadlock to floor strike
Patch-mounted deadlock
Electric strike (access-controlled)
Electromagnetic lock
None (push/pull only)
7.5 Hardware Finish
NOTE A consistent hardware finish across patch fittings, rails, pulls, locks, and thresholds is critical to the frameless aesthetic; mismatched finishes specified from different sources are a common and visible defect. Brushed #4 stainless is the commercial default. (7.5.1)
7.5.2All exposed hardware in an opening — patches, rails, pulls, locks, and threshold — shall be a single designated finish; mixed finishes shall not be accepted.
7.5.3Exterior stainless steel hardware shall withstand a minimum 1,000 hours of salt-spray exposure per ASTM B117 without objectionable corrosion, and shall be Type 316 stainless in coastal or de-icing-salt environments.
Brushed stainless (#4)
Polished stainless (#8)
Clear anodized aluminum
Dark bronze anodized aluminum
Satin brass
● Type 304
○ Type 316 (coastal / de-icing salt)
8 Configuration and Operation
NOTE The door configuration — single, pair, sliding, or folding — sets the opening geometry, the hardware count, and the closer arrangement. Swing doors are the common lobby case; sliding and folding systems serve dividers and open-front applications. (8.1)
8.2The assembly shall be furnished in the scheduled configuration with hardware, closers, and seals appropriate to that configuration.
8.3For paired swing doors, the two leaves shall be coordinated through a common header and meeting-stile patches, with a floor closer at each leaf.
8.4Sliding all-glass panels shall run on an overhead track with a floor guide and shall not use a floor pivot or floor closer.
8.5Folding all-glass systems shall use hinged panels that stack to one or both sides as scheduled, with a carrier track sized for the panel count and weight.
● Single swing
○ Double swing (pair)
○ Sliding single
○ Sliding biparting
○ Folding / bi-fold
Single-acting (one direction)
Double-acting (both directions)
8.6 Accessibility
NOTE Heavy glass doors with large leaf area often cannot meet the ADA opening-force limit with a manual closer alone; where a power-assist or automatic operator is required, it is specified under
Automatic Entrance Doors.
(8.6.1) 8.6.2Where the accessible route requires it, a power-assist or automatic operator shall be provided.
8.6.3On an accessible route, the door opening force at the latch side shall not exceed 5 lbf, in accordance with the ADA Standards Section 404.2.9 and IBC Section 1010.1.3.
8.6.4Where a manual closer cannot achieve the 5 lbf limit for the scheduled leaf, a power-assist or low-energy automatic operator shall be provided.
8.6.5Operating hardware shall be operable with one hand without tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist.
● Yes (5 lbf max opening force)
○ No
None (manual)
Power-assist
Low-energy automatic operator
9 Thresholds and Weatherstripping
NOTE Because an all-glass door has no frame face, every air and water seal lives in the threshold, header, and jamb stops; if the weatherstripping is not fully detailed the exterior assembly will fail air and water testing. This is a frequent omission. (9.1)
9.2Exterior assemblies shall be provided with a threshold and a continuous weatherstripping system at the head, jambs, and sill that maintains the specified air and water performance.
9.3The threshold shall be set in a continuous sealant bed and shall provide a smooth transition to grade not exceeding the height permitted on the accessible route.
9.4Weatherstripping shall be brush, fin, or compression seal as scheduled, replaceable without removing the glass or primary hardware.
Recessed (flush-to-floor)
Surface-mounted low-profile
Saddle threshold with sealant bed
Brush / pile seal
Fin seal
Compression seal
NOTE Exterior all-glass entrances are tested as assemblies for air, water, and structural performance the same way storefronts are; specifying the performance class up front sets the glass thickness, hardware capacity, and weatherstripping detail. (10.1)
10.2Exterior assemblies shall meet the scheduled performance class for air infiltration, water penetration, and structural load, demonstrated by test per ASTM E283, ASTM E331, and ASTM E330 or by an AAMA 101 classification.
10.3Air infiltration shall not exceed 0.25 cfm/ft² at 1.57 psf (75 Pa) per ASTM E283 for Commercial Window (CW) performance.
10.4There shall be no water leakage at a static pressure of 15% of the design wind pressure, minimum 6.24 psf, when tested per ASTM E331.
10.5Under structural test per ASTM E330 at the design wind pressure, no glass breakage or permanent deformation that impairs operation shall occur.
R (Residential)
LC (Light Commercial)
CW (Commercial Window)
AW (Architectural Window)
0.10.5
Default: 0.25 cfm/ft²
11 Fire Rating
NOTE Standard frameless all-glass entrances are not fire-rated; monolithic tempered glass and patch hardware do not carry a fire rating. Where an opening requires fire protection, a different, rated assembly must be substituted — this is a substitution, not an add-on. (11.1)
11.2Where the opening is required to be a fire-rated opening protective, a frameless tempered all-glass door shall not be used; a fire-rated assembly complying with NFPA 80 and bearing the required listing shall be provided instead.
11.3The Contractor shall confirm with the authority having jurisdiction whether any all-glass opening occurs in a location requiring a fire rating before fabrication.
● No (non-rated all-glass assembly)
○ Yes (substitute rated assembly per NFPA 80)
12 Testing
NOTE Both shop and field testing confirm that the glass, hardware, and seals perform as specified; field operation testing also catches closer adjustment and clearance problems that only appear after installation. (12.1)
12.2Exterior assemblies shall be tested for air, water, and structural performance per ASTM E283, ASTM E331, and ASTM E330 as required to demonstrate the scheduled performance class.
12.3After installation, each operating door shall be tested for smooth operation, correct closing speed and latching, and opening force, and shall be adjusted as required.
12.4Where field water testing is directed, exterior assemblies shall be field-tested per ASTM E1105 or AAMA 501.2 at the scheduled openings without leakage.
☑ Operation and opening-force test (each door)
☐ Field water test (exterior, directed openings)
13 Installation
NOTE Installation of an all-glass entrance is precision work: the glass is heavy and unforgiving, the floor closer must align with a recess cast earlier, and the seals depend on accurate setting. Sequencing with the slab and surrounding construction is critical. (13.1)
13.2The installer shall verify that floor closer recesses, header supports, and jamb conditions are correct and within tolerance before installing glass.
13.3Glass panels shall be set plumb, level, and true, with uniform clearances at head, jambs, and meeting stiles.
13.4No metal-to-glass contact shall occur at any glass interface; isolating gaskets or bushings shall be provided between the metal hardware and the glass at every point of contact.
13.5Hardware shall be installed per the manufacturer's templates and torque values, with isolating gaskets or bushings at every glass interface.
13.6Closers shall be adjusted so that closing speed, latch speed, and opening force comply with this standard and with the accessibility requirements.
13.7Thresholds and weatherstripping shall be installed continuous and sealed so the assembly meets the specified air and water performance.
13.8On completion, each door shall operate freely, close and latch fully, and seal without binding or excessive force.
14 Delivery, Storage, and Handling
NOTE Tempered glass cannot be cut, drilled, or edge-worked after tempering, so a damaged panel is a total loss; site handling and storage conditions are the primary risk factor for breakage losses. (14.1)
14.2Glass panels and hardware shall be delivered in protective packaging that prevents edge damage, scratching, and corner chipping.
14.3Glass shall be stored upright on edge on resilient supports, indoors, protected from impact, moisture, and contact between panels.
14.4Damaged, chipped, or scratched glass and damaged hardware shall be rejected and replaced; field repair of tempered glass edges shall not be permitted.
15 Warranty
NOTE Lobby entrances are long-service-life assemblies; glass, hardware, and the installed assembly are commonly warranted on separate terms with differing periods. (15.1)
15.2The Contractor shall warrant the installed assembly against defects in materials and workmanship, including hardware operation and weather seals, for the scheduled period.
15.3Glass shall be warranted against spontaneous breakage and, for laminated glass, against delamination for the scheduled period.
15.4Hardware closers and pivots shall be warranted to the cycle-life rating of their ANSI/BHMA A156.4 grade for the scheduled period.
5 years
10 years
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16 Spare Parts
NOTE Stocking a small set of wear and seal parts keeps a high-traffic glass entrance serviceable without waiting on custom hardware lead times. (16.1)
16.2The Contractor shall furnish the scheduled spare parts, packaged, labeled, and turned over to the Owner at closeout.
☑ Replacement weatherstrip / brush seal (one full set per opening)
☐ Spare floor closer cover plate
☑ Spare pivot / closer adjustment keys
☐ Replacement pull bushings and isolating gaskets