3M™ VHB™ Tapes for Architectural Applications

Structural Glazing and Cladding Design Guidelines

3M™ VHB™ Acrylic Foam Tapes are a high performance bonding material commonly used in architectural
applications. These viscoelastic adhesives have proven to be very capable bonding products since 1980 in a
wide variety of demanding applications, providing an often ideal combination of performance, durability, and
ease of use. More specifically, 3M™ VHB™ Structural Glazing Tape (3M™ VHB™ SGT) was developed as an
alternative to structural silicone sealants to bond glass to metal frames in exterior curtain wall/commercial
windows and interior glazing applications. Unlike structural silicone sealants, 3M™ VHB™ SGT is fully cured
allowing glass to be set and handled/moved immediately following the bonding process. 3M has a long history
with thousands of successful projects for structural glazing (since 1990) and architectural panel applications
(since 1984) replacing screws, rivets, spot welds, etc. with 3M™ VHB™ Architectural Panel Tapes . The most
typical uses of 3M™ VHB™ Acrylic Foam Tapes in architectural applications include:
Structural Glazing:
Bonding of glass to glazing frames with 3M™ VHB™
Structural Glazing Tapes. The tape is a single
bonding component replacing two bonding
components (structural silicone and spacer
tape/gasket) in structural glazed systems.

Architectural Panel:
(exterior and interior applications) 3M™ Stiffener
a. Stiffener Bonding - bonding of stiffeners to VHB™
the backside of architectural panels with Tape

3M™ VHB™ Architectural Panel Tapes.

b. Architectural Panel Bonding - bonding of
architectural panels to a frame system with Architectural
3M™ VHB™ Architectural Panel Tapes. Panel Frame System
Stiffener Bonding Architectural Panel Bonding

Design Guidelines:
a. Dynamic Load Design Stress (wind load): = 85 kPa (12 psi)
b. Static Load Design Stress (dead load): = 1.7 kPa (0.25 psi)
c. Allowable Shear Strain (300% tape thickness):
1. 3M™ VHB™ Structural Glazing Tapes G23F/B23F = 6.9 mm (0.27”)
2. 3M™ VHB™ Architectural Panel Tape G16F = 4.8 mm (0.19”)
3. 3M™ VHB™ Architectural Panel Tape G11F = 3.3 mm (0.14”)

Thermophysical Properties:
a. 3M™ VHB™ Structural Glazing Tapes G23F = 0.1295 W/m•K
b. 3M™ VHB™ Structural Glazing Tapes B23F = 0.1215 W/m•K
Design Criteria:
a. Structural Glazing System Requirements

• Bond (Bite) Area must be flat with no grooves or

Glazing
Pocket Depth reglet for spacer gaskets.
• “Glazing Pocket” Depth is less than a typical
Weather
Sealant silicone or dry gasket glazed system due to 2.3
mm (0.090”) thick 3M™ VHB™ Structural Glazing
Bond (Bite) Tape.
Width • Bond (Bite) Width must be properly sized to
accommodate required width of 3M™ VHB™
Structural Glazing Tape per calculation.
Flat Bond • 3M™ VHB™ Structural Glazing Tape is not a
Area primary weather seal, although the closed cell
nature will allow it to act as a secondary weather
seal.
b. Stiffener Bonding Examples

3M™ VHB™ 3M™ VHB™

Architectural Architectural
Panel Tape Panel Tape

I-Beam Hat Channel

3M™ VHB™
Architectural
Panel Tape

3M™ VHB™
Architectural
Panel Tape

U-Channel Square Tube

Other Project Considerations:

a. Contact a 3M Representative when designing with or specifying 3M™ VHB™ Structural Glazing or
Architectural Panel Tapes for design guidance.
b. All 3M™VHB™ Structural Glazing Tape projects must be approved by 3M prior to project
commencement. 3M will not allow the sale without completion of all required process steps including:
1. Design review to review system compatibility for specific project
2. Adhesion testing of project specific substrates
3. Training of glazing operators involved in bonding process and issuance of Standard Operating
Procedure (SOP) for process guidelines and quality control
c. Further design and process information can be found in the 3M VHB™ Structural Glazing Tapes
Technical Guide – see www.3m.com/vhb/structuralglazing