Interior Glazing and Glass Partitions

Revision 1 · SynC Standards Team — Specifier, SynC (SynC Platform Team / Platform Standards) ✓ Official · Jun 13, 2026 +594 −0

Initial publication
Showing changes from Initial revision to Rev 1 in Interior Glazing and Glass Partitions.
+---
+title: Interior Glazing and Glass Partitions
+category: Architectural / Openings
+toc_depth: 3
+description: >
+ When to use: interior glass partition systems and borrowed lites in commercial
+ office fit-outs, institutional buildings, and tenant improvements — full-height
+ and partial-height framed aluminum, frameless structural-silicone-set, and
+ clip/patch-fitting glass walls; fixed sidelites and clerestory/borrowed lites
+ adjacent to interior doors and corridors; single-pane tempered, laminated, and
+ insulating-glass-unit configurations in non-load-bearing interior framing, where
+ the driver is daylighting, visual openness, and acoustic separation — not
+ exterior weathering.
+ Not intended for: exterior curtain wall and window wall (use
+ [[sync/glazed-curtain-walls]]); exterior storefront and perimeter glazing (use
+ [[sync/glazing]]); furniture-grade reconfigurable demountable partitions (use
+ [[sync/demountable-partitions]]); fire-rated/smoke glazing assemblies (IBC
+ Chapter 7 / NFPA 80); operable folding and sliding accordion glass walls;
+ exterior glazed doors and hollow metal frames (use
+ [[sync/exterior-doors-and-frames]]); and all-glass door hardware, pivots, patch
+ fittings, and closers (use [[sync/door-hardware]]).
+---
+
+# Scope {toc}
+
+## This standard covers interior glass partition systems and borrowed lites used to subdivide commercial office fit-outs, institutional buildings, and tenant improvement spaces. {note}
+
+## It addresses framed aluminum partitions (full-height and partial-height), frameless structural-silicone-set glass walls, and minimal-profile clip and patch-fitting systems, together with fixed sidelites and clerestory or borrowed lites adjacent to interior doors and corridors. Glass construction may be monolithic tempered, laminated, or insulating glass unit (IGU). The unifying condition is a non-load-bearing interior application whose drivers are daylighting, visual openness, and acoustic separation — not resistance to wind, water, or thermal cycling. {note}
+
+## The following are outside the scope of this standard and are governed elsewhere. {note}
+- Exterior curtain wall and window wall glazing — see [[sync/glazed-curtain-walls]].
+- Exterior storefront and building-perimeter glazing — see [[sync/glazing]].
+- Furniture-grade reconfigurable demountable partitions with opaque or partial-glass panels — see [[sync/demountable-partitions]].
+- Fire-rated glazing serving as a fire barrier or smoke partition — governed by IBC Chapter 7 and NFPA 80; refer to the fire protection specifications.
+- Operable and movable glass walls (folding or sliding accordion type) — a distinct product category not covered here.
+- Exterior glazed doors and hollow metal frames — see [[sync/exterior-doors-and-frames]].
+- Door hardware for all-glass interior doors, including pivots, patch fittings, and closers — see [[sync/door-hardware]].
+
+## The Contractor shall provide interior glazing complete with glass, framing or fittings, glazing accessories, perimeter seals, and anchorage to adjacent construction.
+
+## The "interior glazing system" is the assembly as installed — glass plus its support, perimeter seal, and anchorage — and not the glass unit alone. Acoustic, safety, and seismic performance are properties of the assembly; specifying only the glass leaves the governing performance unverified. {note}
+
+## Work of this standard shall be coordinated with adjacent partition, door, ceiling, and electrical work so that interfaces, dimensions, and clearances are resolved before fabrication.
+
+## Interior glazing rarely stands alone: it terminates against gypsum partitions, abuts door frames, dies into suspended ceilings or structural soffits, and may carry switchable-glass wiring. Each interface is a coordination point addressed in the relevant section below. {note}
+
+# Referenced Standards {toc}
+
+## Materials, fabrication, and installation shall comply with the latest adopted edition of each of the following unless a specific edition is cited.
+
+## Where referenced standards conflict, the more stringent requirement shall govern unless the Engineer of Record directs otherwise in writing.
+
+| Standard | Title |
+|----------|-------|
+| ASTM C1036 | Standard Specification for Flat Glass |
+| ASTM C1048 | Standard Specification for Heat-Strengthened and Fully Tempered Flat Glass |
+| ASTM C1172 | Standard Specification for Laminated Architectural Flat Glass |
+| ASTM C920 | Standard Specification for Elastomeric Joint Sealants |
+| ASTM E90 | Laboratory Measurement of Airborne Sound Transmission Loss of Building Partitions and Elements |
+| ASTM E413 | Classification for Rating Sound Insulation |
+| ASTM E1300 | Standard Practice for Determining Load Resistance of Glass in Buildings |
+| ANSI Z97.1 | Safety Glazing Materials Used in Buildings — Safety Performance Specifications and Methods of Test |
+| CPSC 16 CFR 1201 | Safety Standard for Architectural Glazing Materials |
+| IBC 2024 Chapter 24 | International Building Code — Glass and Glazing |
+| ASCE 7-22 | Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures (Section 13.5.9) |
+| GANA Glazing Manual | Glass Association of North America Glazing Manual (current edition) |
+| SGCC | Safety Glazing Certification Council Certification Program |
+
+# Submittals {toc}
+
+## Action Submittals {toc}
+
+### The Contractor shall submit the following action submittals for review before fabrication:
+- Product data for each glass type, interlayer, framing system, fitting, and sealant proposed.
+- Shop drawings showing elevations, partition heights, lite sizes, joint and butt-joint locations, head and sill details, door integration, and seismic clearance details.
+- Glass schedule identifying each lite by location, glass type (annealed, Kind HS, or Kind FT), construction (monolithic, laminated, IGU), thickness, and edge treatment.
+- Samples of glass (including any frit, etch, or privacy interlayer), frame finish, and exposed sealant color.
+- Acoustic test data (ASTM E90 / ASTM E413) for each rated partition assembly proposed.
+- Safety glazing certification (SGCC label or third-party certificate to ANSI Z97.1 / CPSC 16 CFR 1201) for each safety-glazed lite.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Action Submittals
+type: checkbox
+options:
+ - Product data (glass, interlayer, framing, fittings, sealant)
+ - Shop drawings (elevations, heads, sills, door integration, seismic clearance)
+ - Glass schedule (location, type, construction, thickness, edge)
+ - Samples (glass, frit/etch/interlayer, frame finish, sealant color)
+ - Acoustic test data (ASTM E90 / E413)
+ - Safety glazing certification (SGCC / ANSI Z97.1 / CPSC 16 CFR 1201)
+default:
+ - Product data (glass, interlayer, framing, fittings, sealant)
+ - Shop drawings (elevations, heads, sills, door integration, seismic clearance)
+ - Glass schedule (location, type, construction, thickness, edge)
+ - Samples (glass, frit/etch/interlayer, frame finish, sealant color)
+ - Safety glazing certification (SGCC / ANSI Z97.1 / CPSC 16 CFR 1201)
+```
+
+## Informational Submittals {toc}
+
+### The Contractor shall submit the following informational submittals:
+- Structural calculations or manufacturer load tables per ASTM E1300 for each lite size and aspect ratio where required by the Engineer of Record.
+- Manufacturer installation instructions, including edge clearance, bite, and setting-block placement.
+- Field measurement verification confirming opening dimensions before fabrication.
+- For switchable (PDLC or electrochromic) glass, power, controls, and wiring connection details.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Informational Submittals
+type: checkbox
+options:
+ - Glass load resistance calculations (ASTM E1300)
+ - Manufacturer installation instructions
+ - Field measurement verification
+ - Switchable glass power and controls data
+default:
+ - Manufacturer installation instructions
+ - Field measurement verification
+```
+
+## Closeout Submittals {toc}
+
+### The Contractor shall submit the following closeout submittals:
+- Warranty documentation for glass, framing finish, and any switchable-glass components.
+- Cleaning and maintenance instructions for glass, finishes, and sealants.
+- Record documents reflecting as-installed lite locations and glass types.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Closeout Submittals
+type: checkbox
+options:
+ - Warranty documentation
+ - Cleaning and maintenance instructions
+ - Record documents
+default:
+ - Warranty documentation
+ - Cleaning and maintenance instructions
+```
+
+# Quality Assurance {toc}
+
+## Safety glazing shall be certified by a third-party program participating in the SGCC program and shall bear a permanent SGCC label visible after installation.
+
+## The SGCC label is the only field-verifiable evidence that a lite meets ANSI Z97.1 and CPSC 16 CFR 1201. A specification that requires only "tempered to ASTM C1048" without the label permits unverified product to be substituted, because temper quality cannot be confirmed by inspection alone. {note}
+
+### Each safety-glazed lite shall bear a permanent SGCC label, or be accompanied by a third-party certificate, confirming compliance with ANSI Z97.1 Category II for interior locations.
+
+### Glass manufacturer shall be regularly engaged in producing architectural flat glass meeting ASTM C1036, ASTM C1048, and ASTM C1172 as applicable to the products supplied.
+
+### Framing and fitting manufacturer shall have produced interior glazing systems of comparable scope and configuration for a minimum of five years.
+
+### Glass shall be obtained from a single manufacturer for each type to maintain consistent color, clarity, and surface quality across the work.
+
+## Installer Qualifications {toc}
+
+### Installer shall be trained or approved by the framing or fitting manufacturer for the system being installed.
+
+### Frameless structural-silicone-set and patch-fitting assemblies shall be installed only by an installer experienced in structural glazing, given the absence of mechanical edge capture.
+
+## Mockups {toc}
+
+### A representative mockup of each major partition type shall be provided where directed, including a typical head, sill, vertical joint, and door jamb condition.
+
+### The approved mockup shall establish the standard of workmanship for glass alignment, joint width, sealant tooling, and finish, and may remain as part of the work if undamaged.
+
+# Environmental and Service Conditions {toc}
+
+## Interior glazing is an interior, non-load-bearing assembly and is not designed to resist wind, water penetration, or thermal cycling. {note}
+
+## Unlike exterior glazing, the governing loads are human-impact safety, occasional positive pressure between adjacent spaces, and — in seismic design categories C and above — interstory drift transmitted through the building frame. Acoustic separation and daylight transmission are the primary service properties. {note}
+
+### Interior glazing shall be designed for a minimum uniform human-impact pressure of 5 psf where a specific differential pressure is not otherwise indicated.
+
+### Full-height partitions in Seismic Design Category C and above shall accommodate the design story drift without glass-to-frame contact, in accordance with ASCE 7-22 Section 13.5.9 and IBC 2024 Section 2403.5.
+
+## Acoustic Flanking {note}
+
+## A high-STC glass partition that terminates at a suspended ceiling with an open plenum above provides little real privacy, because sound flanks over the partition through the plenum. The rated assembly value is only achieved when flanking paths are closed. {note}
+
+### Where an acoustic rating is required and the partition terminates at a suspended ceiling, the plenum above shall be closed with a continuous acoustic barrier, or the partition shall extend to the structural deck.
+
+# Glass Type and Construction {toc}
+
+## Glass type is selected from the hazardous-location classification under IBC 2024 Section 2406, and glass construction is selected from the acoustic and privacy targets. {note}
+
+## All glass within 24 in. horizontally of a door edge and below 60 in. above finished floor in a sidelite is a hazardous location and must be safety glazing. Tempered (Kind FT) glass satisfies the safety requirement and is the most common choice for interior partitions; laminated glass satisfies it as well and adds acoustic and post-breakage retention benefits. Heat-strengthened (Kind HS) glass is stronger than annealed but is not safety glazing on its own. {note}
+
+### All glass at hazardous locations defined by IBC 2024 Section 2406 shall be safety glazing certified to ANSI Z97.1 and CPSC 16 CFR 1201.
+
+### Annealed glass shall not be used at any hazardous location, including sidelites within 24 in. of a door and below 60 in. above finished floor.
+
+### Tempered (Kind FT) glass shall comply with ASTM C1048.
+
+### Tempered (Kind FT) glass in vision areas shall be horizontally roller-wave processed to minimize optical distortion.
+
+### Laminated glass shall comply with ASTM C1172 and shall use a polyvinyl butyral (PVB) or ionoplast (SGP) interlayer appropriate to the acoustic or safety function required.
+
+### Insulating glass units shall be dual-sealed.
+
+### Insulating glass units shall use a thermally improved or stainless spacer suitable for interior service.
+
+### Heat-strengthened (Kind HS) glass shall be used only where added strength is needed at a non-hazardous location and shall not be substituted for safety glazing where safety glazing is required.
+
+### Laminated glass used for safety glazing shall retain glass fragments on impact and shall meet ANSI Z97.1 Category II for the lite size installed.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Glass Type
+type: radio
+options:
+ - Fully tempered (Kind FT, ASTM C1048)
+ - Heat-strengthened (Kind HS, ASTM C1048)
+ - Annealed (ASTM C1036) — non-hazardous locations only
+ - Laminated safety glass (ASTM C1172)
+default: Fully tempered (Kind FT, ASTM C1048)
+```
+
+```datasheet
+label: Glass Construction
+type: radio
+options:
+ - Monolithic single pane
+ - Laminated (PVB acoustic interlayer)
+ - Laminated (SGP structural interlayer)
+ - Insulating glass unit (dual-pane IGU)
+default: Monolithic single pane
+```
+
+## Glass Thickness {toc}
+
+## Nominal glass thickness shall be selected for the lite size, aspect ratio, and use, and verified for load resistance per ASTM E1300.
+
+## A 1/4 in. (6 mm) tempered lite serves most framed office partitions up to roughly 35 sq ft. Larger lites, exposed frameless panels, and all-glass doors require greater thickness for stiffness and edge strength. Patch-fitting doors in particular are engineered for specific glass thicknesses and must not be glazed with thinner glass. {note}
+
+### Glass thickness shall be confirmed by load resistance analysis per ASTM E1300 for the applicable design pressure, lite area, and aspect ratio.
+
+### All-glass swing doors on patch fittings shall be a minimum of 3/8 in. (10 mm) fully tempered glass.
+
+### Patch-fitting doors wider than 48 in. shall be a minimum of 1/2 in. (12 mm) fully tempered glass.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Nominal Glass Thickness
+type: select
+options:
+ - 1/4 in. (6 mm)
+ - 3/8 in. (10 mm)
+ - 1/2 in. (12 mm)
+ - 6 mm + interlayer + 6 mm laminated
+unit: in.
+default: 1/4 in. (6 mm)
+```
+
+## Edge Treatment {toc}
+
+## Glass edge treatment is selected from whether the edge is exposed. {note}
+
+## A polished or ground edge adds cost and serves a visual purpose only where the edge is seen; concealing a polished edge in a frame rabbet is wasted cost. Frameless and exposed edges must be ground or polished both for appearance and to remove the surface flaws that initiate breakage; framed edges require a seamed edge minimum. {note}
+
+### Exposed glass edges in frameless and clip-glazed systems shall be flat-ground or polished.
+
+### Concealed glass edges captured within a frame rabbet shall be seamed minimum.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Exposed Edge Treatment
+type: radio
+options:
+ - Seamed (concealed framed edges)
+ - Flat-ground (exposed edges)
+ - Polished (exposed feature edges)
+default: Seamed (concealed framed edges)
+```
+
+## Privacy and Decorative Treatment {toc}
+
+## Vision-control and decorative treatments range from clear glass to switchable glass and are selected from the privacy requirement. {note}
+
+## Frosted or acid-etched glass, applied film, and ceramic frit provide static privacy and visual interest; switchable (PDLC or electrochromic) glass provides on-demand opacity but introduces a powered, wired component. Switchable units require low-voltage wiring that must be coordinated with the electrical design and concealed in the frame. {note}
+
+### Switchable (PDLC or electrochromic) glass shall be coordinated with the electrical design for low-voltage power and controls, with wiring concealed within the framing.
+
+### Ceramic frit and acid-etch patterns shall be applied to a tempered or laminated substrate so the safety classification is preserved.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Privacy / Decorative Treatment
+type: select
+options:
+ - Clear
+ - Frosted / acid-etched
+ - Applied privacy film
+ - Ceramic frit pattern
+ - Switchable (PDLC / electrochromic)
+default: Clear
+```
+
+# Framing and Support Systems {toc}
+
+## The framing or support system establishes how the glass is captured, the visual profile, and the means of accommodating movement. {note}
+
+## Aluminum-framed systems capture the glass mechanically in a glazing pocket and are the most forgiving of tolerance and movement. Frameless structural-silicone-set systems carry the glass on a base-shoe channel or spider fittings with silicone butt joints, giving a minimal visual profile at the cost of installation precision. Clip and patch-fitting systems expose the glass edge with concealed anchorage. The choice is driven by the desired appearance and the acoustic target, since a continuous captured perimeter seals better than a butt joint. {note}
+
+### Aluminum extrusions shall be 6063-T5 or T6 alloy and shall provide a glazing pocket sized for the specified glass with the required bite and edge clearance.
+
+### Frameless structural-silicone joints shall use a structural silicone complying with ASTM C920, Type S, Grade NS, Class 50, Use NT, applied by the manufacturer's qualified procedure.
+
+### Base-shoe and patch-fitting anchorage shall be designed to transfer glass dead load and lateral load to the structure without exceeding allowable glass edge stress.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Framing / Support System
+type: radio
+options:
+ - Full-height framed aluminum (wet-glazed)
+ - Full-height framed aluminum (dry-glazed)
+ - Frameless structural-silicone-set (base shoe)
+ - Frameless structural-silicone-set (spider fittings)
+ - Minimal-profile clip / patch-fitting
+default: Full-height framed aluminum (dry-glazed)
+```
+
+## Glazing Pocket, Bite, and Clearance {toc}
+
+## Glazing pocket dimensions follow the GANA Glazing Manual, providing enough bite to retain the glass and enough perimeter clearance to allow movement without edge contact. {note}
+
+## Too little bite lets the glass walk out of the pocket; too little perimeter clearance lets the glass edge contact the frame and crack under movement or thermal change. The values below are minimums for interior framed systems; full-height lites use the larger bite for stiffness margin. {note}
+
+### Glass bite in an aluminum frame shall be a minimum of 3/8 in. (10 mm), and 1/2 in. (13 mm) is preferred for full-height lites.
+
+### Perimeter clearance between the glass edge and the frame rabbet shall be a minimum of 1/8 in. (3 mm) on all sides.
+
+### Setting blocks shall be located and sized per the GANA Glazing Manual.
+
+### Setting blocks shall not bridge a butt joint or interlayer.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Glass Bite in Frame
+type: range
+min: 10
+max: 19
+step: 1
+unit: mm
+default: 13
+```
+
+```datasheet
+label: Perimeter Edge Clearance (each side)
+type: range
+min: 3
+max: 6
+step: 1
+unit: mm
+default: 3
+```
+
+## Frame Finish {toc}
+
+## Frame finish is coordinated with the interior design palette and is selected from durable architectural finishes. {note}
+
+## Clear and dark bronze anodized finishes are common and durable; painted PVDF fluoropolymer and powder-coat finishes broaden the color range. The finish is a visual coordination item with no acoustic or structural effect. {note}
+
+### Anodized finishes shall comply with the architectural class appropriate to interior service (AA-M12C22A31 minimum for clear and color anodize).
+
+### Painted finishes shall be a factory-applied PVDF fluoropolymer coating or an architectural powder coat over a properly pretreated substrate.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Frame Finish
+type: select
+options:
+ - Clear anodized
+ - Dark bronze anodized
+ - PVDF fluoropolymer painted
+ - Powder coat
+default: Clear anodized
+```
+
+## Minimum frame depth for an acoustic insulating glass unit shall be 2 in. (51 mm) nominal to accommodate the dual-pane unit with proper edge clearance.
+
+# Acoustic Performance {toc}
+
+## The acoustic rating is a property of the assembled partition, not the glass unit alone, and is specified by an STC target tied to the application. {note}
+
+## STC is derived per ASTM E413 from sound transmission loss measured per ASTM E90. A bare open-office partition may carry no rating; a standard conference room targets STC 35 to 38; an executive office targets STC 42 to 45; a boardroom or sensitive use targets STC 45 and above. Field performance routinely falls 6 to 10 points below the rated glass unit because of perimeter leakage, head and sill gaps, and outlet penetrations — so the rating must be carried by a sealed, detailed assembly, not by the glass alone. {note}
+
+### The specified STC rating shall be demonstrated for the complete assembly by an ASTM E90 test report classified per ASTM E413, not by the glass-unit rating alone.
+
+### Acoustic partitions shall have a continuous perimeter seal at head, sill, and jambs, and electrical outlets shall be located and detailed to avoid breaching the seal.
+
+### Where an acoustic rating is required, laminated glass with an acoustic PVB interlayer or a dual-pane IGU shall be used as needed to meet the target.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Acoustic Performance Target (STC)
+type: select
+options:
+ - No rating (open office)
+ - STC 35-38 (standard conference / private office)
+ - STC 42-45 (executive office)
+ - STC 45-50 (boardroom / high privacy)
+default: STC 35-38 (standard conference / private office)
+```
+
+# Configurations {toc}
+
+## Panel height and assembly configuration are selected from the program: partitions may run sill-to-ceiling or stop at a partial height, and may be single-pane, dual-pane, or laminated. {note}
+
+## Full-height (sill-to-ceiling) partitions give the most open feel and require a backup structure at the head where they meet a suspended ceiling. Partial-height partitions (commonly 42 in. or 60 in. sill height) pair a solid base or open condition with glass above and are common in healthcare and education where acoustic and durability rules apply at the base. Single-pane tempered is the budget default; laminated and IGU constructions raise the acoustic rating. {note}
+
+### Full-height partitions shall be supported at the head by structure or supplemental framing capable of carrying the partition head reaction; this backup shall be shown on the structural and architectural documents.
+
+### Partial-height partitions shall have the sill height, base condition, and infill above coordinated with the architectural drawings.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Panel Height
+type: radio
+options:
+ - Full-height (sill-to-ceiling)
+ - Partial-height, 42 in. sill
+ - Partial-height, 60 in. sill
+default: Full-height (sill-to-ceiling)
+```
+
+```datasheet
+label: Partition Assembly
+type: select
+options:
+ - Single-pane 1/4 in. tempered (STC 28-32)
+ - Dual-pane IGU (STC 35-40)
+ - Laminated acoustic (STC 38-45)
+default: Single-pane 1/4 in. tempered (STC 28-32)
+```
+
+## Borrowed Lites and Sidelites {toc}
+
+## Borrowed lites and sidelites are fixed glazed openings set into adjacent partition framing or beside a door, and they are among the most common safety-glazing hazard locations. {note}
+
+## A borrowed lite glazes a fixed opening in a gypsum board wall to share daylight or sight lines between spaces; a sidelite is the same condition immediately adjacent to a door. Because a sidelite within 24 in. of a door and below 60 in. above finished floor is a hazardous location, its glass must be safety glazing regardless of partition type. {note}
+
+### Borrowed lite and sidelite frames shall be a stop-and-bead or snap-on-bead aluminum frame set plumb and square into the adjacent wall framing.
+
+### Sidelite glass within 24 in. of a door edge and below 60 in. above finished floor shall be safety glazing certified to ANSI Z97.1.
+
+## Door Integration {toc}
+
+## Glazed partition runs frequently incorporate a door, and the door type must be matched to the glass thickness and to the door hardware standard. {note}
+
+## A run may carry an all-glass swing door on patch fittings, a framed aluminum door, a sliding top-hung glass door, or a hollow metal door within the glass wall. Patch fittings are engineered for a specific glass thickness; glazing 1/4 in. glass into hardware sized for 3/8 in. or 1/2 in. is a non-conforming condition. Door hardware itself — pivots, patch fittings, closers, locks — is specified under [[sync/door-hardware]]. {note}
+
+### All-glass and patch-fitting doors shall be glazed with the glass thickness for which the selected hardware from [[sync/door-hardware]] is rated.
+
+### Door operation, swing, and clearances within the glass partition shall be coordinated with the architectural drawings and the door hardware schedule.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Door Integration Within Run
+type: select
+options:
+ - No door in glass run
+ - All-glass swing door (patch fittings)
+ - Framed aluminum swing door
+ - Sliding top-hung glass door
+ - Hollow metal door within glass wall
+default: No door in glass run
+```
+
+## Sill Condition {toc}
+
+## The sill condition determines how the partition base transfers load and meets the floor finish. {note}
+
+## A structural floor channel or base shoe anchors the glass to the slab; a raised platform detail accommodates a finish transition. The base detail must be structurally adequate for the partition reaction and must coordinate with the floor finish so the transition is clean and the anchorage is concealed. {note}
+
+### The sill anchorage shall be adequate to transfer the partition base reaction to the structural floor.
+
+### The sill-to-floor-finish transition shall be coordinated with the floor finish so anchorage is concealed and the joint is sealed against acoustic leakage where a rating applies.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Sill Condition
+type: radio
+options:
+ - Structural floor channel
+ - Base shoe
+ - Raised platform detail
+default: Base shoe
+```
+
+# Seismic Drift Accommodation {toc}
+
+## In Seismic Design Category C and above, a full-height glass partition must accommodate building story drift, or the glass will break when the frame moves relative to it. {note}
+
+## ASCE 7-22 Section 13.5.9 and IBC 2024 Section 2403.5 require glazed partitions to either tolerate the design drift with clearance or be designed to fall safely. A fixed head condition with no slip joint transmits drift directly into the glass and is a recurring cause of in-service breakage. The remedy is a slip-joint or clearance detail at the head track sized for the calculated drift. {note}
+
+### Full-height partitions in Seismic Design Category C and above shall provide a head slip-joint or clearance detail of not less than 1/2 in. (13 mm), sized for the calculated design drift.
+
+### The head detail shall allow relative movement between the glass and the supporting structure without imposing edge contact or in-plane load on the glass.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Head Slip-Joint Clearance
+type: range
+min: 13
+max: 38
+step: 1
+unit: mm
+default: 13
+```
+
+# Sealants and Glazing Accessories {toc}
+
+## Sealants are selected by function: a perimeter weatherless joint sealant versus a structural silicone that carries load. {note}
+
+## Perimeter joints between the frame and adjacent construction take a movement-class joint sealant; structural-silicone-set glazing takes a higher-class structural silicone qualified to carry the glass. Both are ASTM C920 silicones but at different class and use designations, and they are not interchangeable. {note}
+
+### Perimeter joint sealant shall comply with ASTM C920, Type S, Grade NS, Class 25, Use NT.
+
+### Structural silicone for frameless glazing shall comply with ASTM C920, Type S, Grade NS, Class 50, Use NT.
+
+### Setting blocks, edge blocks, and glazing gaskets shall be compatible with the glass, the framing, and the sealants in contact with them.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Perimeter Joint Sealant
+type: radio
+options:
+ - Silicone, ASTM C920 Type S NS Class 25 Use NT
+ - Silicone, ASTM C920 Type S NS Class 50 Use NT (structural)
+default: Silicone, ASTM C920 Type S NS Class 25 Use NT
+```
+
+# Coordination with Adjacent Work {toc}
+
+## Interior glazing interfaces with several other trades, and the most expensive failures come from interfaces resolved too late. {note}
+
+## The recurring late-stage problems are a full-height partition with no head structure, a high-STC partition defeated by an open plenum, a glass module that does not align with an adjacent demountable partition grid, and a switchable lite with no power provision. Each is cheap to coordinate in design and costly to fix in the field. {note}
+
+### Full-height partition head structure shall be confirmed on the design documents before fabrication; supplemental steel required to carry the partition head reaction shall be shown and not deferred to the field.
+
+### Where glass partitions interface with a [[sync/demountable-partitions]] system, the glass lite module shall be coordinated with the demountable panel module (commonly 24 in. or 48 in.) so that mullions and joints align.
+
+### Switchable-glass power and control conductors shall be coordinated with the electrical design so that a power source and concealed wiring path are provided to each switchable lite.
+
+### Acoustic partition runs shall be coordinated with the ceiling, mechanical, and electrical layouts so that the continuous perimeter seal is not breached by diffusers, light fixtures, or outlets.
+
+# Testing {toc}
+
+## Acoustic ratings shall be substantiated by an ASTM E90 laboratory test of the proposed assembly, classified to an STC value per ASTM E413.
+
+## Glass load resistance shall be verified per ASTM E1300 for each lite size, aspect ratio, and design pressure where required by the Engineer of Record.
+
+## Field verification shall confirm that installed glass is free of edge damage, that perimeter sealant is continuous, and that lites are plumb, level, and aligned.
+
+## There is no field acoustic or impact test for a typical interior partition; field quality is confirmed by inspection. The critical observations are edge condition (a chipped edge is a future break origin), seal continuity (the determinant of field STC), and alignment (the determinant of appearance). {note}
+
+### Installed glass with edge chips, scratches, or surface flaws in vision areas shall be rejected and replaced.
+
+### Perimeter sealant shall be inspected for continuity and adhesion, and discontinuities shall be repaired before acceptance.
+
+# Installation {toc}
+
+## Installation sequence and tolerance control determine whether the assembly achieves its rated acoustic and safety performance and its intended appearance. {note}
+
+## Glass is cut to the verified opening, so a field-measurement error becomes a mis-sized lite that cannot be corrected without refabrication. Setting frames true before glazing, maintaining clearance during setting, and curing structural silicone before loading are the three sequence controls that prevent the most common defects. {note}
+
+## Openings shall be field-measured and verified against the shop drawings before glass is fabricated.
+
+## Frames and base shoes shall be set plumb, level, and square within the manufacturer's tolerance before glass is set.
+
+## Glass shall be set on setting blocks with the specified bite and perimeter clearance maintained on all edges.
+
+## Maintaining the perimeter clearance during setting is what prevents the edge-contact breakage that the clearance dimension is designed to avoid. Setting blocks position the glass within the pocket so the clearance is not consumed by the glass resting against one rabbet. {note}
+
+### Glass shall not be set so that any edge bears directly on the frame rabbet; the specified perimeter clearance shall be maintained continuously.
+
+### Structural-silicone joints shall be tooled and cured per the manufacturer's procedure, and shall not be loaded until the silicone has achieved its rated cure.
+
+### Protective films and labels, other than required permanent safety-glazing labels, shall be removed at completion and the glass cleaned per the manufacturer's instructions.
+
+# Delivery, Storage, and Handling {toc}
+
+## Glass is fragile at its edges and vulnerable to surface staining, so delivery, storage, and handling discipline directly affects the rejection rate at installation. {note}
+
+## Edge chips from poor handling are the leading cause of field breakage well after installation, and packing-material stains can permanently mar a vision lite. Storing glass upright on edge and protected from moisture is the simplest way to avoid both. {note}
+
+## Glass shall be delivered in protective packaging and stored upright on edge in a dry, ventilated interior location.
+
+## Glass shall be protected from edge damage, surface contact with hard objects, and prolonged contact with moisture or packing materials that can stain the surface.
+
+## Framing, fittings, and finished components shall be stored to protect finishes from scratching, staining, and impact.
+
+# Warranty {toc}
+
+## The Contractor shall warrant the installed glazing against defects in materials and workmanship for the project warranty period, and longer where a manufacturer warranty applies.
+
+## Insulating glass units shall carry a manufacturer warranty against seal failure and internal condensation for not less than ten years.
+
+## Switchable glass components shall carry a manufacturer warranty covering the glass, the switchable interlayer, and the control electronics.
+
+# Spare Parts {toc}
+
+## The Contractor shall provide spare materials where directed, including replacement lites of each glass type and spare sealant and gasket stock matching the installed work.
+
+## Replacement lites of less common glass types — laminated acoustic, frit, or switchable — have long lead times, so carrying a small spare stock lets an early breakage be repaired without a multi-week delay and a visible mismatched temporary panel. {note}
+
+### Spare lite quantities, glass types, and storage location shall be as directed by the Owner.

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