What is BS EN 16758 - Strength of shear connections about?
BS EN 16758 specifies test methods for the determination of bearing capacity (ultimate limit state and serviceability limit state), of connections between curtain walling framing members which cannot be calculated in accordance with current codes or conventional calculations based upon the strength of the materials.
Mechanical performances of the curtain walling connections are already assessed in accordance with the provisions described in EN 13830.
Additional information with respect to the mechanical performance of the connections and direct applications can be determined with this document (see Annex C).
Who is BS EN 16758 - Strength of shear connections for?
BS EN 16758 on curtain walling is useful for:
- Civil engineer
- Construction industry
- Manufacturer, suppliers, or installers of curtain wall
- Architect
- Contractor of building
Why should you use BS EN 16758 - Strength of shear connections?
Curtain walls have the primary purpose of keeping air and water out of the building. A curtain wall is an outer covering of a building in which the outer walls are non-structural, utilized only to keep the weather out and the occupants in. Since the curtain wall is non-structural, it can be made of lightweight materials, such as glass, thereby potentially reducing construction costs. An additional advantage of glass is that natural light can penetrate deeper within the building.
BS EN 16758 helps you to perform a procedure to determine the elastic deformation limit (serviceability limit state) of the shear connection being assessed under vertical and horizontal loadings, by analyzing the force deformation curves recorded.
Based on their test experience, you may decide to use those test results for connections of a similar design, where it has been assessed and demonstrated by calculation, that the shear resistance and the bending resistance are not reduced.
What’s changed since the last update?
BS EN 16758:2021 supersedes BS EN 16758:2016, which is withdrawn
The main changes compared to the previous edition, EN 16758:2016, are listed below:
- New specifications were added in “5.1 General” when using an infill panel to apply the forces
- New sample restraints “S” were added in figures where missing and the direction of application of “S” was modified in order to have the equilibrium of forces applied to samples represented in figures
- New figures for cruciform/half cruciform glass support, showing the application of dead load and the position of DT, were added
- The dimensions of the samples were modified, as described in 5.2
- The deformation speed for vertical and horizontal loading was modified, as specified in 5.3
- New specifications for horizontal loading were added (see 5.3.3.1)
- New subclause (5.3.4) was added, regarding the interpretation of the loading records with reference to Annex A and Annex B
- More detailed information was added in the test report
- In Annex A and Annex B, new reference to ISO 16269-6 and introduction of the variable ταβ as a function of the number of test pieces, in order to determine the design load of the connection