KINGSTAR GLASS
Glass Roof | Structural Overhead Glazing Solutions for Architectural Buildings from KINGSTAR BUILDING GLASS
KINGSTAR BUILDING GLASS Glass Roof solutions are high-performance structural overhead glazing systems engineered to transform architectural spaces through natural daylighting. Designed for both commercial and residential applications, our glass roof panels combine tempered safety glass, laminated interlayers, and insulated glass units (IGUs) to deliver exceptional thermal performance, structural integrity, and visual clarity. Every glass roof solution is engineered to meet international overhead
A glass roof—also referred to as overhead glazing, structural glass roof, or skylight system—is a load-bearing glass construction installed in a building's roof structure to introduce natural daylight into interior spaces. Unlike vertical glazing, glass roofs must withstand significant additional loads including self-weight (dead load), maintenance loads, water accumulation, snow, and wind pressure. Glass roofs are available in fixed (non-opening) configurations, as well as opening or sliding systems, and can accommodate complex geometries including ridgelights, pyramids, domes, barrel vaults, and canopies. When a glass roof forms part of an accessible area, it must be treated as a glass floor with corresponding load-bearing requirements.
KINGSTAR BUILDING GLASS offers multiple glass roof configurations to match different performance requirements, building types, and climate conditions:
| Configuration | Composition | Key Characteristics | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tempered Laminated IGU | Outer tempered pane + PVB interlayer + inner laminated pane + argon-filled cavity | Safety, thermal insulation, UV protection | Commercial skylights, overhead glazing |
| Tempered IGU | Outer tempered pane + argon-filled cavity + inner heat-strengthened laminated pane | Thermal efficiency, solar control | Energy-efficient buildings, Passivhaus projects |
| Laminated Glass Roof | Two or more glass layers bonded with PVB or ionomer interlayer | Post-breakage integrity, safety | Residential skylights, canopies |
| Triple Glazed IGU | Three glass panes with two argon-filled cavities | Maximum thermal insulation | Cold climates, extreme energy performance |
| Point-Supported Glass Roof | Tempered laminated panels with stainless steel point fittings | Frameless aesthetic, large spans | Architectural statement roofs, canopies |
Architects and designers must consider relevant international and local glazing standards for overhead glazing, which classify building types into different load levels and provide guidance on maximum allowable deflections and stresses. KINGSTAR BUILDING GLASS glass roof solutions comply with:
For overhead glazing, safety is paramount. International standards recommend specific glass configurations:
Glass roofs are directly exposed to the sun for a high proportion of the day, making careful glass selection crucial to prevent excessive heat gain from offsetting daylighting benefits. KINGSTAR BUILDING GLASS offers high-performance glazing solutions with:
Thermal Performance Comparison
| Glass Roof Configuration | U-Value (W/m²K) | SHGC | VLT | Typical Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single Clear Glass | 6.2 | 0.80 | 89% | Basic residential skylights |
| Tempered IGU (Clear) | 2.8 | 0.60 | 78% | Standard commercial glazing |
| Low-E Tempered IGU | 1.8 | 0.35 | 62% | Energy-efficient buildings |
| Low-E IGU + Laminated Inner | 1.4 | 0.28 | 55% | High-performance commercial |
| Triple Glazed Low-E IGU | 0.79 | 0.25 | 30-50% | Passivhaus, extreme climates |
Passivhaus-certified glass roof systems can achieve a heat transmission coefficient (UCWi) of 0.79 W/(m²K), corresponding to a minimum interior surface temperature of 14.8°C—ideal for comfort and energy savings.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Glass Thickness | 3mm – 19mm (monolithic); laminated combinations available |
| Maximum Panel Size | Up to 3300mm × 6000mm (annealed); up to 2250mm × 3500mm (tempered) |
| Minimum Panel Size | 300mm × 300mm |
| Roof Pitch Range | Flat (2° minimum for drainage) up to 90° |
| Glass Types | Clear Float, Low-Iron, Tinted, Patterned, Low-E Coated |
| Interlayer Options | PVB (0.38mm, 0.76mm, 1.52mm), Ionomer (SGP), EVA |
| Cavity Gas Fill | Air, Argon (90%), Krypton |
| Cavity Width | 6mm, 9mm, 12mm, 14mm, 16mm |
| Safety Glass Types | Tempered (EN12150), Heat-Strengthened, Heat-Soak Tested, Laminated |
| Available Configurations | Monolithic Laminated, Tempered IGU, Laminated IGU, Triple Glazed |
| Processing Options | Cutting, Edge Grinding, Drilling, Notching, Tempering, Laminating, IGU Assembly, Silk-Screen Printing, Bending |
| Certifications | EAD 220025, EN12150, EN12600, EN13031-1, CE, ISO 9001, JGJ255, JG/T231 |
| Lead Time | 15-25 days after order confirmation |
| Packaging | Interleaving paper, protective film, wooden crates, edge protectors |
KINGSTAR BUILDING GLASS offers extensive design flexibility for glass roof projects:
Ready to bring natural light into your next project with a high-performance glass roof? Share your design requirements with our technical team for custom overhead glazing solutions. We'll provide structural calculations, thermal performance simulations, and a competitive quote tailored to your specifications—with fast turnaround times backed by a decade of architectural glass expertise.
Q1: What is the difference between a glass roof, a skylight, and a glass canopy?
A: A glass roof typically refers to a structural overhead glazing system that forms part of the building's primary roof structure—often spanning large areas and supporting significant loads. A skylight is generally a smaller, localized opening in the roof designed to bring light into a specific area. A glass canopy is an overhead glass structure that projects from a building facade, typically covering entrances, walkways, or outdoor areas without forming part of the primary building envelope. All three can be manufactured using similar glass technologies (tempered laminated IGUs), but differ in scale, structural requirements, and application.
Q2: What safety glass configurations are required for overhead glazing?
A: For overhead glazing, international standards require specific safety configurations. For single glazing, laminated safety glass that remains in position post-breakage is recommended. For insulating glass units (IGUs), the internal pane must be laminated glass (preferably heat-strengthened) and the outer pane must be fully tempered. For skylights, the outer pane should be toughened, heat soak tested, and laminated—typically with three glass layers for a total thickness of 25mm to 49mm. In China, when the glass roof is more than 3 meters above the ground, laminated glass or laminated IGUs with the interlayer on the underside are required.
Q3: What U-value and SHGC should I specify for my glass roof project?
A: The optimal U-value and SHGC depend on your climate zone, building orientation, and energy code requirements. In warm climates where roof glazing is exposed to the sun year-round, a maximum SHGC of 0.25 is recommended to limit overheating. For visual comfort and reduced glare, VLT of 24-30% is recommended. For cold climates or Passivhaus projects, U-values as low as 0.79 W/m²K are achievable. KINGSTAR BUILDING GLASS can provide thermal performance simulations tailored to your specific project location and requirements.
Tempered or toughened glass is a type of safety glass processed by controlled thermal or chemical treatments to increase its strength compared with normal glass. Tempering puts the outer surfaces into compression and the interior into tension. Such stresses cause the glass, when broken, to shatter into small granular chunks instead of splintering into jagged shards as ordinary annealed glass does. The granular chunks are less likely to cause injury.
No tong marks on the glass as adopts the horizontally tempering process.
5 times harder than ordinary annealed glass.
Once breakage occurs, the glass disintegrates into small cubical fragments which are relatively armless to human body.
It withstands abrupt change of temperature. For example, a piece of 5mm tolerate the temperature variations within the range of 200°C.
Tempered glass should under go heat soak test to improve safety in use.
Thickness: 3-19mm
Size: Min size 300*200mm,Max size 3300*15000mm
Tempered glass is used for its safety and strength in a variety of applications, including passenger vehicle windows, shower doors, aquariums, architectural glass doors and tables, refrigerator trays, mobile phone screen protectors, bulletproof glass components, diving masks, and plates and cookware.