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GLASS
SHELVES
Recommendations*
The maximum evenly distributed safe load that a shelf
can support depends on the glass type, thickness and distance
between supports as per Table 1. In order to obtain the
working load for a particular shelf, the shelf depth and
the distance between supports is required.
If for example we are using annealed glass with a span of shelf 1000mm
x 200mm wide and a thickness of 6mm, then Table 1 shows maximum uniform
load = 32kg/m2:
 shelf area
= 1000mm x 200mm = 0.2m2;
maximum
load carrying capacity = Maximum uniformly distributed load x shelf area
in m2 = 32 x 0.2 = 6.4kg;
therefore
shelf is capable of supporting a load of 6.4kg evenly distributed
over its surface.
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There
are several factors to consider when using supports:
a
glass shelf must overlap supports by 4mm;
a
shelf must not tip nor the supports fail when a load
equivalent to 50% of the maximum evenly distributed
load and covering an area of 75mm x 75mm, is placed
at any position on it for at least 10 seconds;
there
should be no contact between glass and supports (glass, metal,
stone etc). A suitable plastic grommet or spacer should be
used.
*Acknowledgement:
Furniture Glass recommendations paper. Extracts from Glass
and Glazing Federation United Kingdom,
1978 and 1992. |
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