Third Party Verification Claim

Attachment 3: Finite Element Modelling
Figure 2: Element numbering – full panel and close-up of elements surrounding three spigots
Two load cases were run to estimate the stresses surrounding the spigot:
1. An 81 psf wind load that is equivalent to a 139 mph unfactored load (180 psf factored load).
Figure 3;
2. The loading-to-failure test: 820# loaded at 42” above the spigots (see attachment 4 for an
explanation of this). Figure 4.
The wind load created a surface tensile stress (, pulling the face of the glass apart, which is the failure
mechanism for a brittle material) of 15,979 psi. See Figure 3. The test-to-failure created tensile stress of
35,767 psi. This shows the panel has a factor of safety of 2.24 against failure due to Florida’s highest
winds of 180 mph (factored). See Figure 4.
The FEM model is available for review, upon request.