Seismic Earthquakes
What is Seismic Glass?
Laminated glass performs very well in seismic applications because the plastic interlayer holds most of the glass fragments following cracking, which significantly reduces the potential of glass falling to the ground. In addition, the complete glass unit tends to be retained in the frame.
Where should I use it?
Earthquake-resistant glass should be used in all fenestration in seismic-prone areas. Applications include storefronts, curtain walls and other commercial glazing.

Characteristics [-]
Seismic Earthquakes Characteristics
The following constructions of laminated glass are most commonly specified in earthquake-prone regions. As with all laminated glazing, the glass can be supplied tinted or reflective for light and solar control purposes. The lites of glass can be either annealed or heat-strengthened. Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope™ does not recommend tempered glass be laminated for seismic applications because of “wet blanket” fallout concerns.
When insulating glass is required for thermal performance in earthquake-prone regions, Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope™ recommends that both lites of the IG unit be laminated to provide maximum glass retention both inside and outside the building envelope.
Construction | Thickness | Weight | |||
Designation | Glass – PVB – Glass | inches | mm | lbs/ft2 | kg/m2 |
110100 | 1/8″–0.060″–1/8″ | 5/16 | 8 | 3.58 | 17.5 |
110110 | 3/16″–0.060″–3/16″ | 7/16 | 11 | 5.21 | 25.4 |
110120 | 1/4″–0.060″–1/4″ | 9/16 | 14 | 6.83 | 33.3 |
Description [-]
Seismic Earthquakes Desciption
Two major factors need to be examined in any consideration of earthquake-induced glass damage:
• How the glass system performs and responds to racking-type earthquake-induced building deflections such as interstory drift;
• How the glass performs after it has been cracked by frame movements.
The frame is, therefore, an integral part of an earthquake-resistant glazing system. Frames prone to racking during earthquake-induced building movements can cause glass components to crack, and, for some types of glass, to fall in fragments.
Glass Colors [-]
Laminated Glass Colors
Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope® offers a comprehensive line of laminated glazing solutions including security glazing. The glass types listed below are included in the Laminated Glass offering. Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope® offers a variety of glass products to meet your architectural glazing design needs. Please contact Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope® for product availability and performance data as this information is subject to change without notice.
Laminated architectural glass can be fabricated using various glass types, including low-e, clear, low-iron, tinted, reflective, patterned or wired glass to achieve desired aesthetics or to improve solar control and thermal performance. Mass pigmented and decorative interlayers can also be use to provide a wide range of effects.
For monolithic, laminated or insulating glass unit performance data, please go to SystemSelect™, our on-line glass performance calculator.
The tables below include a selection of the most common colors available. For full details of the decorative interlayers including Vanceva® Color, Pattern, Metallic and Image see the decorative section
Assistance Options:
- Call toll-free, 866-653-2278.
- Send e-mail to Technical Support.
Clear Glass Products |
Laminated 1/8″ Clear – 0.030″ Clear PVB – 1/8″ Clear |
Laminated 1/8″ Clear – 0.060″ Clear PVB – 1/8″ Clear |
Laminated 1/8″ Clear – 0.090″ Clear PVB – 1/8″ Clear |
Laminated 1/8” Clear – 0.035” SentryGlas® – 1/8” Clear |
Laminated 1/8” Clear – 0.060” SentryGlas® – 1/8” Clear |
Laminated 1/8” Clear – 0.090” SentryGlas® – 1/8” Clear |
Laminated 1/8″ Clear – 0.100″ Saflex® HP Clear PVB – 1/8″ Clear |
Laminated 1/8″ Clear – 0.075″ StormGlass™ – 1/8″ Clear |
Laminated 3/16″ Clear – 0.030″ Clear PVB – 3/16″ Clear |
Laminated 3/16″ Clear – 0.060″ Clear PVB – 3/16″ Clear |
Laminated 3/16″ Clear – 0.090″ Clear PVB – 3/16″ Clear |
Laminated 3/16” Clear – 0.035” SentryGlas® – 3/16” Clear |
Laminated 3/16” Clear – 0.060” SentryGlas® – 3/16” Clear |
Laminated 3/16” Clear – 0.090” SentryGlas® – 3/16” Clear |
Laminated 3/16″ Clear – 0.100″ Saflex® HP Clear PVB – 3/16″ Clear |
Laminated 3/16″ Clear – 0.075″ StormGlass™ – 3/16″ Clear |
Laminated 1/4″ Clear – 0.030″ Clear PVB – 1/4″ Clear |
Laminated 1/4″ Clear – 0.060″ Clear PVB – 1/4″ Clear |
Laminated 1/4″ Clear – 0.090″ Clear PVB – 1/4″ Clear |
Laminated 1/4” Clear – 0.035” SentryGlas® – 1/4” Clear |
Laminated 1/4” Clear – 0.060” SentryGlas® – 1/4” Clear |
Laminated 1/4” Clear – 0.090” SentryGlas® – 1/4” Clear |
Laminated 1/4″ Clear – 0.100″ Saflex® HP Clear PVB – 1/4″ Clear |
Laminated 1/4″ Clear – 0.075″ StormGlass™ – 1/4″ Clear |
White Glass Products |
Laminated 1/8″ Clear – 0.015″ Vanceva® Polar White (220700) PVB + 0.015″ Saflex® Clear PVB – 1/8″ Clear |
Laminated 1/8″ Clear – 0.030″ Vanceva® Arctic Snow (216500) White PVB – 1/8″ Clear |
Laminated 1/8″ Clear – 0.030″ Vanceva® Cool White (218000) PVB – 1/8″ Clear |
Laminated 1/8″ Clear – 0.030″ Butacite® Translucent White (2165) White PVB – 1/8″ Clear |
Laminated 1/8″ Clear – 0.030″ Butacite® Soft White (2180) White PVB – 1/8″ Clear |
Grey Glass Products |
Tint |
Laminated 1/8″ Clear – 0.030″ Saflex® Medium Gray (654400) PVB – 1/8″ Clear |
Laminated 1/8″ Clear – 0.015″ Vanceva® Evening Shadow (835000) PVB + 0.015″ Saflex® Clear PVB – 1/8″ Clear |
Laminated 1/8″ Clear – 0.015″ Vanceva® Smoke Gray (837800) PVB + 0.015″ Saflex® Clear PVB – 1/8″ Clear |
Laminated 1/8″ Clear – 0.030″ Butacite® Gray (6544) PVB – 1/8″ Clear |
Laminated 1/8″ Gray – 0.060″ Clear PVB – 1/8″ Clear |
Laminated 1/8″ Gray – 0.060″ Clear PVB – 1/8″ Gray |
Laminated 3/16″ Gray – 0.060″ Clear PVB – 3/16″ Clear |
Laminated 3/16″ Gray – 0.060″ Clear PVB – 3/16″ Gray |
Laminated 1/4″ Gray – 0.060″ Clear PVB – 1/4″ Clear |
Laminated 1/4″ Guardian MidnightGray™ High Performance Tint – 0.060” Clear PVB – 1/4″ Clear |
Laminated 1/4″ Pilkington SuperGrey™ High Performance Tint – 0.060″ Clear PVB – 1/4″ Clear |
Laminated 1/4″ Vitro Graylite® II High Performance Tint – 0.060″ Clear PVB – 1/4″ Clear |
Reflective |
Laminated 1/4″ Vitro Solarcool® Gray Reflective #2 – 0.060″ Clear PVB – 1/4″ Clear |
Laminated 1/4″ Vitro Solarcool® Graylite® Reflective #2 – 0.060″ Clear PVB – 1/4″ Clear |
Bronze Glass Products |
Tint |
Laminated 1/8″ Clear – 0.030″ Saflex® Light Bronze (645200) PVB – 1/8″ Clear |
Laminated 1/8″ Clear – 0.030″ Butacite® Bronze (6452) PVB – 1/8″ Clear |
Laminated 1/8″ Bronze – 0.060″ Clear PVB – 1/8″ Clear |
Laminated 1/8″ Bronze – 0.060″ Clear PVB – 1/8″ Bronze |
Laminated 3/16″ Bronze – 0.060″ Clear PVB – 3/16″ Clear |
Laminated 3/16″ Bronze – 0.060″ Clear PVB – 3/16″ Bronze |
Laminated 1/4″ Bronze – 0.060″ Clear PVB – 1/4″ Clear |
Reflective |
Laminated 1/4″ Vitro Solarcool® Bronze Reflective #2 – 0.060″ Clear PVB – 1/4″ Clear |
Green Glass Products |
Tint |
Laminated 1/8″ Green – 0.060″ Clear PVB – 1/8″ Clear |
Laminated 1/8″ Green – 0.060″ Clear PVB – 1/8″ Green |
Laminated 3/16″ Green – 0.060″ Clear PVB – 3/16″ Clear |
Laminated 3/16″ Green – 0.060″ Clear PVB – 3/16″ Green |
Laminated 1/4″ Green – 0.060″ Clear PVB – 1/4″ Clear |
Laminated 1/4″ Guardian TwilightGreen™ High Performance Tint – 0.060″ Clear PVB – 1/4″ Clear |
Laminated 1/4″ Pilkington EverGreen™ High Performance Tint – 0.060″ Clear PVB – 1/4″ Clear |
Laminated 1/4″ Vitro Atlantica® High Performance Tint – 0.060″ Clear PVB – 1/4″ Clear |
Reflective |
Laminated 1/4″ Vitro Solarcool® Solexia® Reflective #2 – 0.060″ Saflex® Clear PVB – 1/4″ Clear |
Laminated 1/4″ Vitro Vistacool® Atlantica® Reflective #2 – 0.060″ Clear PVB – 1/4″ Clear |
Blue-Green Glass Products |
Tint |
Laminated 1/8″ Clear – 0.030″ Saflex® Medium Blue-Green (377300) PVB – 1/8″ Clear |
Laminated 1/8″ Clear – 0.030″ Butacite® Light Blue-Green (3773) PVB – 1/8″ Clear |
Laminated 1/4″ Pilkington Optifloat™ Blue-Green Tint – 0.060″ Clear PVB – 1/4″ Clear |
Laminated 1/4″ Vitro Azuria® High Performance Tint – 0.060″ Clear PVB – 1/4″ Clear |
Reflective |
Laminated 1/4″ Vitro Solarcool® Azuria® (2) – 0.060″ Clear PVB – 1/4″ Clear |
Blue Glass Products |
Tint |
Laminated 1/8″ Clear – 0.015″ Vanceva® Aquamarine (827800) PVB + 0.015″ Saflex® Clear PVB – 1/8″ Clear |
Laminated 1/8″ Clear – 0.015″ Vanceva® Sapphire (825000) PVB + 0.015″ Saflex® Clear PVB – 1/8″ Clear |
Laminated 1/8″ Clear – 0.015″ Vanceva® True Blue (841400) PVB + 0.015″ Saflex® Clear PVB – 1/8″ Clear |
Laminated 1/4″ Pilkington Arctic Blue™ – 0.060″ Clear PVB – 1/4″ Clear |
Laminated 1/4″ Vitro Solarblue® – 0.060″ Clear PVB – 1/4″ Clear |
Laminated 1/4″ Vitro Pacifica® High Performance Tint – 0.060″ Clear PVB – 1/4″ Clear |
Reflective |
Laminated 1/4″ Vitro Solarcool® Pacifica® Reflective #2 – 0.060″ Clear PVB – 1/4″ Clear |
Laminated 1/4″ Vitro Solarcool® Solarblue®Reflective #2 – 0.060″ Clear PVB – 1/4″ Clear |
Laminated 1/4″ Vitro Vistacool® Pacifica®Reflective #2 – 0.060″ Clear PVB – 1/4″ Clear |
Product Details
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