Wind Load for Glazing: What You Actually Need to Know Before You Build
This blog from ANANTA highlights the critical role wind load plays in architectural glazing systems. It explains the types of wind loads, how they're calculated, and why accounting for them early in the design process is essential for safety, compliance, and efficiency.
The Insights
When you're working with architectural glazing systems, design usually starts with aesthetics, clean lines, daylighting, thermal performance.
All important.
But if your system can't withstand wind pressure, none of that matters.
Wind load isn’t just a technical detail — it’s a structural requirement. It affects what systems you can use, how they're anchored, and whether your project passes inspection or gets flagged.
At ANANTA, we account for wind load early in the shop drawing and engineering process, because skipping it later costs time, money, and credibility. Here's what every project team should know.
What is Wind Load?
Wind load is the pressure the wind exerts on a building surface — glass, metal panels, structure, you name it. For glazing systems, it directly impacts which profiles, anchors, and glass specs are safe to use.
Three Types of Wind Load:
Uplift: Acts upward, mostly on horizontal elements like canopies and roof edges.
Shear: Horizontal force on vertical elements like walls, potentially causing cracks or structural drift.
Lateral: Pushes the building sideways — affects anchoring to the foundation.
What determines the wind load on your project?
Location – Wind speeds vary by region (and yes, local code matters).
Building height and shape – Taller, exposed facades = higher load.
Terrain around the site – Are you surrounded by trees or fully exposed?
According to ASCE 7 Site fall into Exposure Categories:
Exposure B: Urban or wooded — lowest risk.
Exposure C: Open terrain, scattered obstructions.
Exposure D: Coastal or open water — highest risk.
Why this matters for your glazing systems
Not all systems are rated for the same conditions. Some are designed for the minimum 500 Pa; others need to handle double or triple that — especially on coastal, high-rise, or open-terrain projects.
Picking the wrong system can lead to:
Failed inspections
Anchor or glass failure
Redesigns and lost time
At ANANTA, we run wind load calculations as part of our engineering process — auto-generating shop drawings that are code-compliant and field-ready.