VS1 FAQs
Explore common questions about our aluminum, glass, timber, and steel curtain wall systems
General FAQs
Common questions about VS1 and Innovation Glass
Q • What services does Innovation Glass offer?
A • Pre-construction design support, engineering, system fabrication and supply, project management, product development, and technical support.
Q • What specific engineering services does Innovation Glass offer?
A • We offer PE-stamped calculations for the VS1 system (always included), glass, embed anchors, thermal, seismic, acoustic, bomb blast, large missile impact.
Q • How does VS1 perform thermally?
A • VS1 offers best in class thermal performance compared to any other curtain wall system in the market. Please contact us for a copy of the official thermal report.
.18 U-Value
with triple IGU glass
Q • What is the largest panel of glass you can support? How thick can the glass be?
A • No size constraints. Theoretically a 10’-10” by 75’ glass panel (the maximum glass available); standard fittings can support glass panels up to 150 sq. ft; custom fittings can accommodate larger glass sizes. Up to 3” thick with standard fittings; thicker glass would require custom fittings.
Q • Does Innovation Glass provide the face glass as part of your package?
A• No, we do not. Our glazing partner sources the glass through their normal supply chain. We exclude the face glass to save the owner from paying an extra markup.
Q • Does Innovation Glass include doors in your package?
A • No. Our glazing contractor partners source these items. Any door hardware can be accommodated by VS1.
Q • Do you offer cladding material?
A • No, but VS1 aluminum can readily accommodate cladding supplied by others if desired.
Q • Can VS1 integrate with automatic sliding doors?
A • Yes, we can integrate with any door system. Innovation Glass provides the rough portal opening, usually in the form of a ¾” thick aluminum portal plate. We exclude doors from our package, so you can specify whichever product you like and the installer will buy it. We then coordinate with the door manufacturers during shop drawing phase.
Q • Will there be field fabrication required by the glazing contractor?
A • No. All VS1 components deliver fully fabricated and finished, and perimeter channels are typically shipped in stock lengths to allow the glazing contractor to correct for field tolerances.
Q • Can VS1 support external sunshades?
A • Yes, VS1 uses through-the-joint T-brackets for attachment of louvers and sunshades.
Q • Can Innovation Glass fulfill a Buy-America clause?
A • Yes, the VS1-A, VS1-T, and VS1-S systems can be fully sourced domestically in the US. Unfortunately, due to supply chain limitations, the structural glass fin component of VS1-G cannot be sourced from the US, so Innovation Glass imports them from Europe.
VS1-A FAQs
Common questions about our aluminum curtain wall system
Q • What is VS1-A’s largest vertical span?
A • VS1-A can span 65’ with no intermediary steel support structure.
Q • Can the shape of the VS1-A mullion be customized?
A • Yes. The design team can create their own original section which Innovation Glass will add to its growing mullion library.
Q • How does the VS1 all-glass corner work?
A • Vertical loads from the corner glass panels are supported by a corner tension rod or corner 1”x1” tube; lateral forces are transferred around the corner via structural silicone. The tension rod option requires the vertical corner glass edges to be offset while the corner tube detail allows standard glass edges to be used.
Q • What finishes does Innovation Glass provide?
A • Paint and powder coat. While paint is more common, we recommend powder as it is more cost effective and environmentally friendly.
Q • Can you accommodate a two-hour slab edge fire separation for multi-story facades?
A • Yes, we offer several engineered judgement details to achieve this.
Q • What is the mullion deflection limit applicable to long span VS1 facades?
A • 1) L/175 for spans up to 20ft, 2) L/140 for spans 20ft to 30ft, and 3) L/110 for spans 30ft to 65ft+
Q • How much does VS1 weigh on average?
A • The weight of a VS1 wall varies depending on mullion profile and glass makeup, but typically the combined weight of the installed VS1 system and face glass is 15 lbs./sq. ft.
Q • Does VS1 incorporate a weep or pressure equalized system for water management?
A • No, VS1 is a barrier system with a silicone weather seal; the system has been extensively mock up tested to validate this strategy; existing VS1 facades are performing without issues.
Q • Can the VS1 mullion be flipped to the exterior of the façade?
A • Yes; designers are free to alternate the position of the mullions at the exterior and interior in the same facade (for instance at a return wall).
Q • Does VS1 require external patch fittings?
A • No, VS1 has the option of incorporating toggle fittings that engage recessed channels in the IGU, resulting in a flush “no exterior metal” façade aesthetic. We also offer the toggle fitting strategy using cassette channel bonded to the inside surface of glass, which allows the use of standard IGUs.
Q • How do you deal with waterproofing issues at the base of a top hung wall?
A • We detail the expansion joint to be at the first horizontal glass joint so that the bottom panel is dead loaded to the sill channel; this eliminates vertical movements at the sill condition.
VS1-G FAQs
Common questions about our glass fin curtain wall system
Q • What is VS1-G’s largest vertical span?
A • VS1-G can span up to 59’ with no intermediary steel support structure. This can be done with one continuous un-spliced glass fin.
Q • Does VS1-G use the same fittings as VS1-A?
A • While it is possible to do so, our standard approach for VS1-G walls utilizes direct SSG between fin and face glass.
Q • Does VS1-G use spider fittings?
A • No. All VS1 systems use through-the-joint fittings that do not require holes to be drilled through the face glass. Standard glass panels can be used.
Q • Does VS1-G require laminated glass fins?
A • Yes. It is standard practice to use laminated structural glass fins. At a minimum, 2-ply is required, but the typical VS1-g fin is 3-ply construction with a SG interlayer.
Q • Who supplies the glass fins?
A • Innovation Glass. Because the fin is the structural element supporting the facade, Innovation Glass supplies them.
VS1-T FAQs
Common questions about our timber curtain wall system
Q • What is VS1-T’s largest vertical span?
A • VS1-T can span up to 40’ with no intermediary steel structural support.
Q • Can VS1-T be flipped to the exterior like the aluminum system?
A • It is not recommended. Given the different material properties and code requirements, it is not advised to have structural wood on the exterior of the façade.
Q • In what species is VS1-T available?
A • VS1-T is offered in two softwoods that are domestic to the US: southern yellow pine and Douglas fir. Innovation Glass can also source a beech hardwood from Germany that is five times stronger than most softwood options.
Q • How does Innovation Glass handle fire safety with a timber mullion?
A • We typically comply with the glulam fire safety requirements outlined in an individual project specification, which tend to differ. VS1-T can be delivered with an intumescent fire retardant to resist flame spread and achieve a specified UL rating.
Fire safety can also be implemented through analysis by designing the glulam section to be larger than may be needed structurally. Because glulam burns at a constant rate from the outside perimeter inwards, you can theoretically control how long a given glulam beam can withstand a fire.
Q • Can the VS1-T mullion be shaped similarly to your aluminum system?
A • Softwood yes, hardwood no.
VS1-S FAQs
Common questions about our steel curtain wall system
Q • Do you provide custom steel systems?
A • Yes. True to its name, Innovation Glass has its roots in solving complex designs with custom approaches, including Steel Facades, Specialty Steel Structures, Tension Based Structures, and All-Glass Structures. The Innovation Glass mission has always been to break new ground and seek inventive solutions to complex challenges.
Custom Steel Facades
Specialty Steel Structures
