ISO 28278-2:2010

Overview - ISO 28278-2:2010 (Structural Sealant Glazing - Assembly Rules)

ISO 28278-2:2010 provides guidelines for the assembly and bonding of glass elements into or onto frames (windows, doors, curtain walls) or directly into buildings using structural sealant glazing (SSG). It defines minimum quality-control and assembly requirements for a single project, including environmental controls, assembly documentation and testing methods to achieve a safe, weatherproof glazing assembly. This is Part 2 of the ISO 28278 series (Part 1 covers supported and unsupported glazing types).

Key technical topics and requirements

• Scope and intended use
  • Applies to SSG systems for façades and roofs (vertical façades <15° from vertical; glass considered unsupported when outer slope >50°).
  • Supports considered: metallic substrates, uncoated glass, coated glass, ceramic-frit enamelled glass.
• Environmental conditions for assembly
  • Surface and ambient temperature: 5 °C to 40 °C.
  • Relative humidity must be below the dew point for the support surface.
  • Assembly area must be dust-free; glass stored/installed vertically must be secured until initial cure.
• Assembly manual requirements
  • Component identification (trade names, types), cleaning/preparation methods, primer use, tooling, extrusion and finishing procedures.
  • Instructions on waiting times for initial cure, further curing, transport/storage after cure, and adhesion control prior to installation.
• Quality-control and organization
  • Minimum assembly/bonding control, inspection and testing tables, and requirement for a management representative responsible for assembly control.
  • Presumption of conformity for assemblers operating under an accredited QMS (e.g., ISO 9001), otherwise the standard’s clauses apply in full.
• Test methods and annexes
  • Annex A: Dynamic peel test (normative)
  • Annex B: Dynamic tensile test (informative)
  • Annex C: Design guidance (normative)
  • Annex D: Adhesion tests (normative)
  • Annex E: Compatibility with adjacent materials (informative)
  • Annex F: Skin‑over time/elastomeric test (normative)

Practical applications

• Use for on-site or workshop assembly of SSG façades, curtain walls and glazed roofs.
• Establishes documentation and test protocols required to verify adhesion, curing and weatherproof performance.
• Guides selection and verification of silicone (organosiloxane) and other sealant types when suitability is demonstrated.

Who should use ISO 28278-2

• Glazing assembly manufacturers and fabricators
• Façade and curtain-wall contractors and installers
• Designers and specifiers of SSG systems
• Test laboratories and quality auditors involved in SSG projects
• Building envelope consultants focused on structural glazing performance

Related standards and references

• ISO 28278-1 (Supported and unsupported glazing)
• ISO 8339, ISO 11600, ISO 4892-2 and ASTM C794 (referenced test/classification standards)

Keywords: ISO 28278-2, structural sealant glazing, SSG, glass in building, assembly rules, quality control, silicone sealant, adhesion tests, assembly manual.