At the Fenestration & Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) Fall Conference in Calgary, AB, Dr. Stephen Morse, Michigan Technological University associate professor, delivered a critical update on the load resistance and durability of vacuum insulated glass (VIG) units. According to the FGIA bulletin covering the session, the study was conducted in partnership with FGIA and the National Glass Association (NGA), and it bridges a critical gap in architectural data by evaluating commercial-sized VIG units rather than idealized laboratory samples.
“We want to be able to inform engineers, architects and specifiers how to design these units to go in structures,” said Morse. The presentation marked the first time commercial-scale VIG load-resistance data has been shared with the fenestration and glazing industry in this format, according to the FGIA bulletin.
For Canadian glazing professionals, the Calgary venue was significant. Specifiers and fabricators who work within CSA A440 and NAFS performance frameworks have had limited independent data on VIG units, and the findings arrive as building energy performance expectations continue to tighten across Canadian jurisdictions. The bulletin does not tie the research to specific code changes, but it places the data directly in front of Canadian design teams.
Methodology: Uniform Pressure to Failure on Commercial Sizes
For the process, Morse and his team created a frame in which they glazed specimens. Then, they applied a uniform pressure on the units until they failed. The pressure was measured along with the deflection. The research used ASTM E997/ASTM E998 tests on sample sets of VIG units from various manufacturers, constructions and geometries in order to assess their load resistance to uniform pressure, the FGIA bulletin reported.
Three different specimen sizes were tested, ranging from sizes used in residential and commercial applications. Both annealed and tempered glass samples were tested. “We wanted to do these bigger sizes because no one has really done a commercial size with the thickness we used,” said Morse.
- Test method: ASTM E997/ASTM E998
- Specimens: VIG units from various manufacturers, constructions and geometries
- Sizes: three specimen sizes spanning residential to commercial
- Glass types: annealed and tempered
- Measurement: uniform pressure and deflection
The choice to test commercial-sized units matters for architects and specifiers. According to Morse, until now openly published data on VIG units has been scarce, and testing larger specimens provides information that can be used directly in building design rather than relying on idealized laboratory samples. By measuring both pressure and deflection, the research team is building a foundation for design guidance that reflects real-world installation conditions.
Why the Calgary Data Matters for Canadian Specifiers
Morse described VIGs as tending to be very thin, with an insulating factor far beyond single glazed units and the double insulating glass that has traditionally been used. That combination of high thermal performance and reduced weight could be particularly relevant for Canadian building retrofits and new construction, where fenestration systems must meet strict energy requirements while minimizing structural loads. The weight advantage is especially relevant for retrofit projects, where adding heavy triple glazing can require structural reinforcement. VIG units, which Morse described as very thin, may offer a lower-weight path to high thermal performance.
“Even though manufacturers are making [VIGs], engineers and architects don’t know how to use it for their projects,” said Morse. “This research will open up the market to allow for use of this much more efficient unit, in terms of thermal performance but also its weight.”
The Calgary presentation put early findings directly in front of Canadian specifiers and fabricators who routinely reference CSA A440 for windows and doors and NAFS for structural performance. The independent, non-manufacturer nature of the data distinguishes it from supplier literature, Morse said, and the study’s impartiality is central to its value for the design community.
Morse’s comments in Calgary highlighted the practical barrier that independent data can remove. Although manufacturers are producing VIG units, design professionals have lacked clear guidance on how to use them. The research program is intended to fill that void by publishing test results from an impartial source, rather than from a manufacturer with a commercial stake.
The bulletin notes that the study was conducted in partnership with FGIA and NGA, and that the funding from both associations made the work possible. That support is critical because it allows the data to enter the public domain without the filter of a supplier’s marketing claims. For Canadian architects and engineers, that distinction can make the difference between cautious exploration and confident specification.
Next Steps: Design Model, ASTM Standard and Further Testing
Once enough data is collected, Morse said researchers will use that information to build a model to assist with the design of glass for the durability and performance of VIG units. Eventually, a new ASTM standard will be developed based upon the research, providing a new tool for engineers and architects and establishing initial load resistance performance.
“Until now, there wasn’t really any openly published data,” said Morse. “Thanks to funding from FGIA and NGA, we are able to get the ball rolling on publicly available info from a non-manufacturer, and from an impartial party.”
A report will be submitted to both Associations within the next few months, which will help inform next steps. “For example, should we use different sizes?” posed Morse. “Different construction? There may be other manufacturers who want us to repeat our tests with their products to add to that body of knowledge. We need enough data to be confident in a standard down the road.”
The Calgary session gave Canadian specifiers and fabricators an early opportunity to hear Morse explain the research directly and ask questions about how VIG data may eventually influence future standards. While the bulletin does not specify a publication date for the report, the next few months will help determine whether researchers test different sizes, different constructions, or additional manufacturers’ products.
Canadian architects, engineers and fabricators who missed the Calgary session can still access the bulletin through FGIA. The independent data provides a foundation for confident use of VIG units in Canadian projects as the ASTM standard develops. For more information about FGIA and its events, visit FGIA’s events page.