Title: Glass panels supported by spider fittings: advantages, challenges, and applications in modern masonry façades

Authors: Muhammad Tayyab Naqash; Antonio Formisano

Addresses: Department of Civil Engineering, Islamic University of Madinah, Saudi Arabia ' Department of Structures for Engineering and Architecture, School of Polytechnic and Basic Sciences, P.le V. Tecchio, 80, 80125 Naples, Italy

Abstract: This paper provides an overview of point-supported glass systems using spider fittings, highlighting their advantages and challenges. A parametric analysis is performed on horizontal and vertical glass panels in canopies and curtain walls supported by spiders. Different glass thicknesses (6 mm, 8 mm and 10 mm) and wind loads (1 kPa, 1.25 kPa and 2 kPa) are considered. The paper also includes the case study of a building with a unique façade design that employs spider fittings, outlining the engineering considerations necessary for a successful installation. Two cases have been shown herein: a canopy with glass panels and a curtain wall, both supported by spider fittings. The curtain wall comprises double-glazed units with a 6 + 1.52 + 6 air gap (12 mm) on one side and an 8 + 1.52 + 6 air gap. The entire structural system is found safe according to different acceptance criteria that structural codes recommend.

Keywords: glass panels; point-supported glass systems; spider fittings; masonry architecture; façade design; curtain walls.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMRI.2025.149796

International Journal of Masonry Research and Innovation, 2025 Vol.10 No.6, pp.584 - 601

Received: 05 Nov 2023
Accepted: 17 Nov 2023
Published online: 13 Nov 2025 *

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