Facade Engineering

From Concept to Completion

Facades with bonded and sealed components — from structural glazing systems to insulating glass units — place high demands on design, material selection, and structural verification. SX Engineering supports architects, facade contractors, and building owners through every project phase: from initial concept advice to structural calculations and on-site support during construction.

Design and Specification of Elastic Bonded Joints and Seals

Elastic adhesive joints and sealant joints must permanently accommodate movement from temperature changes, wind and component tolerances without losing adhesion or weathertightness. We design joint geometries (width, depth, shape factor), select suitable adhesive and sealant systems and check the compatibility of the materials used. The basis for this is the movement capability of the respective system as well as the requirements arising from structural design, building physics and weathering resistance.

Consulting on Bonded Structures and Insulating Glass

For bonded structures and insulating glass edge seals, we provide manufacturer-independent advice on system selection, material combinations, and detailing. This includes questions of compatibility between sealants, coatings, and glass edge seals, as well as the review of tender documents, detail drawings, and system approvals with regard to long-term reliability.

Analysis and Calculation of Load-Bearing Adhesive Joints (Structural Glazing)

In structural glazing facades, the adhesive joint itself takes on load-bearing functions — in particular the transfer of wind loads, imposed loads and, in some cases, dead loads. We calculate the required adhesive cross-sections based on the expected loads, assess redundancy concepts and safety factors, and base this work on internationally recognised guidelines such as ETAG 002 / EAD 090010, EN 13022 and ASTM C1401, as well as the relevant national approvals.

Analysis and Calculation of Insulating Glass Edge Seals

The edge seal of an insulating glass unit fulfils both a sealing function and — in structural glazing applications — a load-bearing function. We analyse the mechanical stress on the secondary sealant, assess moisture and gas tightness over the service life, and incorporate findings from relevant standards such as the EN 1279 series into the calculation.