ASTM E998-12

Standard Test Method for Structural Performance of Glass in Windows, Curtain Walls, and Doors Under the Influence of Uniform Static Loads by Nondestructive Method

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
This test method is a standard procedure to determine a stress pattern and estimate a probability of breakage of glass tested under uniform static loads.
Loads on glass in windows, curtain walls, and doors may vary greatly in magnitude, direction, and duration. An understanding of wind loads on the building is required for selection of test loads and interpretation of results with respect to expected exposure at a particular site.
The strength of glass varies with many different factors including surface condition, load duration, geometry, relative humidity, and temperature (1, 2, 3, 4).  
A thorough understanding of the variations of the strength of glass and the nature of loading is required to interpret results of this test method.
The proper use of this test method requires a knowledge of the principles of pressure, deflection and strain measurement, stress/strain relationships, and statistical estimating techniques.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method is a nondestructive test procedure to establish the nature of stresses induced in glass subjected to uniform static loads. A procedure is provided for using this stress information to estimate the probability of breakage of the glass.  
1.2 This test method is applicable to glass of various degrees of temper; for example, annealed, heat-strengthened, fully tempered, laminated, insulating, and combinations thereof.
1.3 This test method describes a process of applying specific test loads to glass. The test may be conducted using the standard test frame specified herein or a test frame of the user's design.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to inch-pound units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific precautionary statements see Section 7.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Mar-2012
• ICS: 81.040.20 - Glass in building
• Technical Committee: E06 - Performance of Buildings
• Drafting Committee: E06.52 - Glass Use in Buildings

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM E998-05(2011) - Standard Test Method for Structural Performance of Glass in Windows, Curtain Walls, and Doors Under the Influence of Uniform Static Loads by Nondestructive Method
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2012
• Replaced By: ASTM E998-19 - Standard Test Method for Structural Performance of Architectural Glass Products Under the Influence of Uniform Static Loads
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2019
• Referred By: ASTM E1233/E1233M-14(2021) - Standard Test Method for Structural Performance of Exterior Windows, Doors, Skylights, and Curtain Walls by Cyclic Air Pressure Differential
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2012
• Referred By: ASTM E330/E330M-14(2021) - Standard Test Method for Structural Performance of Exterior Windows, Doors, Skylights and Curtain Walls by Uniform Static Air Pressure Difference
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2012
• Referred By: ASTM E631-15 - Standard Terminology of Building Constructions
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2012

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:E998 −12
Standard Test Method for
Structural Performance of Glass in Windows, Curtain Walls,
and Doors Under the Influence of Uniform Static Loads by
1
Nondestructive Method
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E998; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3.1.1 For definitions of general terms related to building
construction used in this test method refer to Terminology
1.1 This test method is a nondestructive test procedure to
E631.
establish the nature of stresses induced in glass subjected to
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
uniform static loads. A procedure is provided for using this
3.2.1 aspect ratio—a ratio of long side to short side of the
stressinformationtoestimatetheprobabilityofbreakageofthe
glass lite.
glass.
3.2.2 averagebreakingstress(ABS)—theaveragemaximum
1.2 This test method is applicable to glass of various
principal tensile stress (MPTS) at failure, representative of the
degrees of temper; for example, annealed, heat-strengthened,
glass under test.TheABS is dependent on a number of factors
fully tempered, laminated, insulating, and combinations
including geometry, time history of load, surface condition,
thereof.
and so forth. Glasses with residual surface stresses, such as
1.3 Thistestmethoddescribesaprocessofapplyingspecific
heat-strengthened or fully tempered, must have their residual
test loads to glass. The test may be conducted using the
stresses added to the state of stress at the specified load. As
standardtestframespecifiedhereinoratestframeoftheuser’s
defined for use in the standard, theABS is for annealed glass.
design.
3.2.3 coeffıcient of variation—theratio(decimalfraction)of
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
the standard deviation of the maximum principal tensile stress
standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
(MPTS) at failure to the ABS.
conversions to inch-pound units that are provided for informa-
3.2.4 equivalent design load—a magnitude of a uniform
tion only and are not considered standard.
load and the load duration selected by the specifying authority
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
to represent design loads.
safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.2.5 glass specimen—the glass to be tested, for example, a
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
single lite, an insulating glass unit, laminated glass, and so
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
forth (does not include test frame).
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific
3.2.6 maximum principal tensile stress (MPTS)—a maxi-
precautionary statements see Section 7.
mum calculated tensile stress based on strain gage measure-
2. Referenced Documents
ments.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards: 3.2.7 negative load—a load that results in the indoor side of
a glass specimen being the high-pressure side.
E631Terminology of Building Constructions
3.2.8 permanent set of test frame—a load-induced perma-
3. Terminology
nent displacement from an original position of the test frame.
3.1 Definitions:
3.2.9 positive load—aloadthatresultsintheoutdoorsideof
a glass specimen being the high-pressure side.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E06 on
Performance of Buildings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.52
3.2.10 probability of breakage—the probability that a glass
on Glass Use in Buildings.
specimenbreakswhentestedatagivenequivalentdesignload.
Current edition approved April 1, 2012. Published May 2012. Originally
General industry practice to express probability as lites per
approved in 1984. Last previous edition approved in 2011 as E998–11. DOI:
1000 lites.
10.1520/E0998-12.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
3.2.11 residual stress—aninitial,stateofstressonunloaded,
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
unglazedglassresultingfromthemanufacturingprocess(heat-
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. strengthening, tempering).
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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E998−12
3.2.12 specifying authority—the professional or profession- the test chamber or any other air movement. The air supply
als responsible for determining and furnishing the information opening into the test chamber shall be arranged so that the air
requiredtoperfor
...

This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation:E998–05 (Reapproved 2011) Designation: E998 – 12
Standard Test Method for
Structural Performance of Glass in Windows, Curtain Walls,
and Doors Under the Influence of Uniform Static Loads by
1
Nondestructive Method
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E998; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method is a nondestructive test procedure to establish the nature of stresses induced in glass subjected to uniform
static loads. A procedure is provided for using this stress information to estimate the probability of breakage of the glass.
1.2 This test method is applicable to glass of various degrees of temper; for example, annealed, heat-strengthened, fully
tempered, laminated, insulating, and combinations thereof.
1.3 This test method describes a process of applying specific test loads to glass. The test may be conducted using the standard
test frame specified herein or a test frame of the user’s design.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions
to inch-pound units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use. For specific precautionary statements see Section 67.
2. Terminology Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E631 Terminology of Building Constructions
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 For definitions of general terms related to building construction used in this test method refer to Terminology E631.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 aspect ratio—a ratio of long side to short side of the glass lite.
2.2
3.2.2 average breaking stress (ABS)—the average maximum principal tensile stress (MPTS) at failure, representative of the
glass under test. The ABS is dependent on a number of factors including geometry, time history of load, surface condition, and
soforth.Glasseswithresidualsurfacestresses,suchasheat-strengthenedorfullytempered,musthavetheirresidualstressesadded
to the state of stress at the specified load. As defined for use in the standard, the ABS is for annealed glass.
2.3
3.2.3 coeffıcient of variation—the ratio (decimal fraction) of the standard deviation of the maximum principal tensile stress
(MPTS) at failure to the ABS.
2.4
3.2.4 equivalent design load—a magnitude of a uniform load and the load duration selected by the specifying authority to
represent design loads.
2.5
3.2.5 glass specimen—the glass to be tested, for example, a single lite, an insulating glass unit, laminated glass, and so forth
(does not include test frame).
1
ThistestmethodisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeE06onPerformanceofBuildingsandisthedirectresponsibilityofSubcommitteeE06.51onPerformance
of Windows, Doors, Skylights and Curtain Walls.
Current edition approved Oct.April 1, 2011.2012. Published October 2011.May 2012. Originally approved in 1984. Last previous edition approved in 20052011 as
E998–05.E998–11. DOI: 10.1520/E0998-05R11.10.1520/E0998-12.
2
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the references listed at the end of this test method.
2
ForreferencedASTMstandards,visittheASTMwebsite,www.astm.org,[e-mail] Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

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E998 – 12
2.6
3.2.6 maximum principal tensile stress (MPTS)— a maximum calculated tensile stress based on strain gage measurements.
2.7
3.2.7 negative load—a load that results in the indoor side of a glass specimen being the high-pressure side.
2.8
3.2.8 permanent set of test frame—a load-induced permanent displacement from an original position of the test frame.
2.9
3.2.9 positive load—a load that results in the outdoor side of a glass specimen being the high-pressure side.
2.10
3.2.10 probability of breakage—the probability tha
...