Skylight Testing

Glazing Vision are about to embark on their 30th year, “our reputation is based on delivering a quality service and prestigious skylights” Jon Shooter (Managing Director)

This blog is about the processes Glazing Vision have gone through to ensure a quality product is delivered every time, no matter where the product is going. After all, putting something on a roof, sometimes on high rise buildings is never the easiest of operations. Sometimes rigorous testing is required to test how our skylights perform in high pressure, upward wind loads and severe downpours of rain, you’ll see some examples further on in this blog.

General testing to meet codes

The testing requirement for skylights is very limited, Glazing Vision generally have to test against window and door standards as well as commercial glazing standards.

Flushglaze
The standard Flushglaze unit has been thoroughly tested and has achieved the following classification results:
Size: 72” span x 156-3/4” width, Pitch: 5/8” : 12”
Performance Grade 50 (PG 50) Test Standard Declared Value Air permeability ASTM E283 ±600 Pa (±12.53 psf) Watertightness ASTM E331 and E547 600 Pa (12.53 psf) Wind resistance ASTM E330 ±2400 Pa (±50.13 psf) Serviceability +4800 Pa (+100.25 psf), -3600 Pa (-75.19 psf) Safety

Pitchglaze
The product has been thoroughly tested in accordance with AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/1.S.2/A440-17, and has achieved the following classification results:
Size: 39-3/8” span x 118-1/8” width Pitch: 3-1/4 : 12
Performance Grade 35 (PG 35) Test Standard Declared Value Air permeability ASTM E283 ±750 Pa (±15.66 psf) Watertightness ASTM E331 750 Pa (15.66 psf) Wind resistance ASTM E330 ±2400 Pa (±50.13 psf) Serviceab

Skydoor
The product has been thoroughly tested and has achieved the following classification results:
Size: 51-3/4” span x 135-3/4” width Pitch: 5/8” : 12”
Performance Grade 30 (PG 30) Test Standard Declared Value Air permeability ASTM E283 ±600 Pa (±12.53 psf) Watertightness ASTM E331 and E547 600 Pa (12.53 psf) Wind resistance ASTM E330 +2400 Pa (+50.13 psf), -1600 Pa (-33.42 psf) Serviceability +3600 Pa (+75.19 psf), -2400 Pa (-50.13 psf) Safety

Skybox
The product has been thoroughly tested and has achieved the following classification results:
Size: 137-3/4” span x 94-1/2” width x 59” height Pitch: 0” : 12”
Test Standard Declared Value Air permeability ASTM E283 ±300 Pa (6.27 psf) Watertightness ASTM E331 300 Pa (6.27 psf) AMMA 501.1 600 Pa (12.53 psf) Wind resistance ASTM E330 +2400 Pa (+50.13 psf), -1200 Pa (-25.06 psf) Serviceability +3200 Pa (+66.83 psf), -1250 Pa (-26.11 psf) Safety

An example of test sequencing for the Flushglaze Fixed Skylight

The test sequence for the fixed skylight:
1) Air permeability (ASTM E283)
2) Watertightness (ASTM E331)
3) Watertightness (ASTM E547)
4) Wind resistance – serviceability (ASTM E330)
5) Air permeability (ASTM E283)
6) Watertightness (ASTM E331)
7) Watertightness (ASTM E547)
8) Wind resistance – serviceability (ASTM E330)

Client specific testing

Glazing Vision are occasionally requested to perform client specific testing to prove performance under severe conditions. These tend to be client specific and because the client wishes to create something unique. The skylights are more often than not going to be installed in extreme conditions either in high altitude with severe weather conditions or on top of a high-rise tower.

One installation that required both air permeability and water tightness was in Aspen, Colorado. The tests were to simulate air being sucked into the skylight, this would also bring in any water if the skylight isn’t sealing properly. The tests can only simulate the pull of air into a building by setting up a rig with a large propellor engine (see video at the bottom of this page), once fully sealed the Skylight must withstand the wind and rain which is being targeted at the opening sections (see image below)

This particular testing involved:
• Uniform load tests to meet AAMA A440
• Air permeability ASTM E283
• Watertightness ASTM E331 and E547
• Wind resistance ASTM E330

Custom Client Skylight Testing

Another popular client test is to test the skylight glass for impacts. Glazing Vision have tested various glass specifications to check the integrity of the glass when in the frame. Large weight (sandbags) is dropped onto the glass. The weight must not pass through the glass, otherwise the skylight would fail the test. The tests then involve dropping further weight onto the glass. Doing these mimics another person coming to rescue someone that has fallen on the glass. Again, the skylight must stay together and not let the weight through.

State specific codes
Our latest round of testing with the International Construction Council (ICC) is to achieve Los Angeles Dept of Building Safety (LADBS) acceptance. The test reports will be passed to the ICC for verification that our products meet the Los Angeles Building Code (LABC) and Los Angeles Residential Codes (LARC)

The ICC is a nonprofit, limited liability company, ICC-ES is the United States’ leading evaluation service for innovative building materials, components, and systems. ICC-ES evaluation (ESRs), Building Product Listings provide evidence that products and systems meet requirements of codes and technical standards. This will allow us to offer our range within the Los Angeles area and provide architects and clients the peace of mind that our products perform to the standards/regulations required.

ISO9001
We employ a Quality Team who ensure every piece of material used passes our strict standards, whether that be the glass, the framework or the paint finish. We QC components as well as a different stages of production and final QC. Electric skylights are open and closed 100 times to ensure there quality operation. Their performance is monitored and the running characteristics are noted and passed to site installers so they can see how the skylight was performing in the factory.

Glazing Vision are regularly independently audited and we are proud that our in house auditing is more severe than any external auditors.

Want to learn more or have a skylight project you are working? Contact us today!