Overview
ISO 11485-3:2014 - Glass in building - Curved glass - Part 3: Requirements for curved tempered and curved laminated safety glass - defines how curved glass products are classified and tested as safety glass for buildings. The standard sets out fragmentation and impact-performance requirements for curved tempered safety glass and curved laminated safety glass, linking classification (by drop height/energy) to reduced cutting and piercing injuries and improved containment during accidental human impact.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and purpose
- Classification of curved tempered and curved laminated glass by mode of breakage and impact performance.
- Safety objective: reduce injury risk and retain fragments.
- Fragmentation test (curved tempered glass)
- Specimen geometry: nominal length 360 mm (500 mm allowed where tempering limits apply) and chord 1 100 mm.
- Radii: two radii tested - the minimum achievable with the production equipment and (5 000 ± 500) mm.
- Quantity: five specimens per radius; samples representative of production.
- Impact: pointed steel tool at midpoint, 20 mm from longest edge, until breakage.
- Assessment: exclude an 80 mm radius area around impact and a 25 mm border; count crack‑free particles within a 150 × 150 mm mask on the concave side (wait 3 minutes after breakage; count up to 10 minutes).
- Minimum particle counts (mask area):
- 3 mm nominal thickness: ≥ 270 particles
- 4–12 mm nominal thickness: ≥ 360 particles
- 15–25 mm nominal thickness: ≥ 270 particles
- Maximum longest fragment length: ≤ 100 mm.
- Pendulum impact performance
- Classification by drop height correlating to energy transmitted; pendulum impact methods are referenced (Annex A and ISO/TS 29584).
- Other physical characteristics
- Thermal durability and mechanical strength criteria are addressed (service temperatures up to 250 °C; unaffected by sub-zero temperatures for tempered glass).
Applications and users
- Who uses this standard:
- Glass manufacturers and tempering/laminating plants - for production control and certification.
- Test laboratories - to perform fragmentation and pendulum impact tests.
- Façade engineers, architects, and structural consultants - to specify compliant curved safety glass in building envelopes, balustrades, canopies, and doors.
- Building inspectors and regulators - to verify safety classification for occupant protection.
- Practical uses:
- Specifying curved safety glass in public buildings, transit hubs, and high-traffic interiors where impact risk exists.
- Ensuring product conformity for contracts, tenders, and safety certification.
Related standards
Keywords: ISO 11485-3:2014, curved glass, curved tempered safety glass, curved laminated safety glass, fragmentation test, pendulum impact, safety glass for buildings.