What is BS EN 17146 about?
BS EN 17146 is a European standard on the determination of the strength of infill supports which covers its test method and requirements.
BS EN 17146 specifies test methods for the determination of the bearing capacity (ultimate limit state and serviceability limit state) of infill support which cannot be calculated in accordance with current codes or conventional calculations based upon the strength of the materials or to compare the calculation when necessary.
Who is BS EN 17146 for?
BS EN 17146 on the determination of the strength of infill supports is useful for: 
- Constructors
- Glass manufacturers
Why should you use BS EN 17146?
Bearing capacity is the capacity of soil to support the loads that are applied to the ground above. It depends primarily on the type of soil, its shear strength and its density. It also depends on the depth of embedment of the load – the deeper it is founded, the greater the bearing capacity.
Three different types of infill (glass) supports are dealt in BS EN 17146:
- The cantilever infill (glass) supports, see Figure 1 (a)
- The cruciform infill (glass) supports only fixed to the mullion, see Figure 1 (b)
- Corner infill (glass) supports only fixed to the mullion, see Figure 1 (c)
Where the mechanical performances of the infill (glass) support is already assessed in accordance with the provisions described in EN 13830, additional information with respect to mechanical performance of the infill (glass) support and direct applications can be determined with BS EN 17146.
