Seismic Application

SEISMIC MITIGATION

Seismic mitigation in the West coast of Canada, specifically British Columbia, has become a very important issue, especially for the B.C. government.

The B.C. government created the Seismic Mitigation Branch in 1999 to administer the Seismic Mitigation Program. The program’s mandate is to significantly reduce the risk to life and personal safety of those people visiting or working in provincially owned or funded buildings during an earthquake.

Since December of 1999 when the Seismic Mitigation Branch began using the funds for non-structural elements, hundreds of thousands of square feet of glass at our public schools and government buildings have been treated with Glass-Gard safety film in B.C., manufactured by Solamatrix Inc..

GLASS-GARD’S ROLL IN SEISMIC MITIGATION

Glass-Gard safety film is used in seismic mitigation to help reduce human injury due to broken glass caused by seismic activity. During the Mexico City earthquake there was an observed failure rate of 17% of glazing in the affected buildings.

Windows under cyclic racking loads caused by earthquake forces can cause glass to break into shards and potentially harm people not to mention make exit ways unsafe during evacuation.

The potential damage of broken windows includes glass literally exploding out of their frames, sending deadly shards of glass flying through the air like daggers. Glass fragments following the Mexico City earthquake were found embedded in floors and desks.

HOW TO CHOOSE WHICH GLASS-GARD

Glass-Gard is a polyester based product available in a water clear style or a number of colours and shades. The clear Glass-Gard offers an invisible safety component to glass, which also reduces 99% of U.V. rays. Coloured versions of Glass-Gard give additional properties such as heat and glare reduction.

Please see the table below for the most commonly used Glass-Gard films for seismic mitigation in B.C.

		Solar			Peel	Break
		Heat	Glare	UV	Strength	Tensile	Elongation
Product	Description	Rejection	Reduction	Reduction	(lb./inch)	(lb./inch)	at Break
GGL400 Clear	Clear	20%	15%	< 95%	5-7	115	>150%
GGL400 Grey 35	Medium Grey	57%	65%	< 95%	5-7	125	>150%
GGL400 Silver 35	Medium Silver	65%	65%	< 95%	5-7	125	>150%
GGL400 Silver 15	High Silver	78%	85%	< 95%	5-7	125	>150%

* All the above films meet ANSI Z97.1 and CPSC 1201 Category II

Download "Seismic Design Guidelines for residential and Commercial Windows in British Columbia"

For Glass-Gard non-seismic specific testing and standards please got to, please go to GLASS-GARD specifications.

STANDARDS FOR SEISMIC TESTING

Presently there are no standards for seismic testing. However, the Association of Industrial Metallizers Coaters and Laminators (AIMCAL), is looking to accomplish this.

AIMCAL is a non-profit international trade organization, which serves at the global forum for the flexible metallizing, coating and laminating industry by providing resources, services and information. AIMCAL collects and distributes information to increase industry knowledge, while fostering an environment that builds relationships and a spirit of cooperation between member companies worldwide.

Manufacturers of window film may independently produce testing standards, however they are not to be regarded as seismic testing accepted by the industry.

Although there are no standards, guidelines have been created by TBG Seismic Consultants Ltd. in collaboration with the University of British Columbia which are the only published guidelines available in North America.

GLASS-GARD SEISMIC INSTALLATIONS

Glass-Gard Safety/Security film can be found all over British Columbia for seismic mitigation. Literally, hundreds of thousands of square feet of glass at our public schools and government buildings have been treated with Glass-Gard safety film in B.C. From the Mainland to Vancouver Island, Glass-Gard is trusted to protect them. The following list is not complete but is a sampling of where buildings have been protected with Glass-Gard.

Victoria City Hall
Victoria General Hospital

Capilano College, North Vancouver

Fort Langley National Historic Site, Fort Langley

Corporation of the Township of Langley Municipal Hall

School District #42 Maple Ridge – Pitt Meadows

School District #62 Sooke in Victoria

School District #36 Surrey

School District #61 Greater Victoria

Parks Canada Fort Langley Corp.

School District #68 Nanaimo – Ladysmith

School District #48 Howe Sound in Squamish

School District #35 Langley

School District #63 - 23 schools included:
Royal Oak Middle School
Parklands Senior Secondary
Sidney Elementary
Beaver Lake Elementary
North Saanich Elementary
Saanichton Elementary
Stelly's High School
Keating Elementary
Cordova Bay Elementary
Lochside Elementary
Bayside Middle School

..and everyday Glass-Gard is being installed on our our public schools, government buildings, condominiums and homes.

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GLASS-GARD SEISMIC APPLICATIONS

SEISMIC MITIGATION

GLASS-GARD’S ROLL IN SEISMIC MITIGATION

HOW TO CHOOSE WHICH GLASS-GARD

GLASS-GARD SEISMIC INSTALLATIONS