C is half the distance from end to end. D is the offset amount of the curve.

http://www.delorie.com/wood/chord-radius.html
RC+D = R
RC = R-D
RC^2 + C^2 = R^2
(R-D)^2 + C^2 = R^2
R^2 - 2*R*D + D^2 + C^2 = R^2
D^2 + C^2 = 2*R*D
R = (D^2 + C^2) / (2*D)

RADIUS = [DEPTH2 + (CHORD/2) 2] / 2 X DEPTH

curved glass measuring tips
Measuring curved glass can be very difficult which is why we have a set of standard definitions that we use. These
definitions are important because they allow us to communicate with all of our customers regardless of the design or
final application of the bent glass product. The following figures and notes explain how to measure for your curved
glass product.

 See Figure 1 & 5: When specifying a radius, always specify which surface the radius is being measured to. If
unsure, measure it to the center of the surface(s).
 See Figure 2: The height never changes (regardless of how the glass is installed or the actual dimensions). The
height is the distance along the non-curved edge.
 See Figure 2 & 4: Always use a flexible measuring tape when measuring girth. Traditional measuring tapes will
kink going around curves making measurements unreliable.
 See Figure 2 & 4: Girths are always more reliable. Feel free to include as many measurements as possible.
 See Figures 3, 5 & 6: Every install is different. Surface numbers do not relate to how the glass is installed or
which surface will be facing "out". Surface 1 is always the longest surface on the outside of the curve.

Figure 1 Figure 2

Figure 3 Figure 4
Figure 5 Figure 6
4 steps: how to measure for curved glass manufacture & installation

Whether creating a one-of-a-kind staircase, a frameless shower, or a unique piece of marine glass, working with
curved glass is completely unforgiving. Glass does not wiggle or twist. Glass shatters. Glass cracks. Glass even
explodes. When not measured with exacting precision, glass does not fit. Coastal Curved Glass in Vancouver
produces curved glass for projects across North America. Most often we work “blind”, never actually seeing the
installation point first-hand.

Here are 4 Easy Steps, ensuring Coastal Curved Glass has all the correct measurements for your project:

STEP 1 - THE CHORD

A chord is a straight line between two points on a curve or circle. As it applies to a piece of curved glass, the chord we
are wanting to measure is the distance between the two end points of the curve. Please measure both the chord for
the inner surface, as well as the chord for the outer surface.

STEP 2 - MID POINT

Take the value measured in step 1; inner surface or outer surface, either will work for this measurement. Divide this
number by two, and you will have the mid-point of the curve.

From the measurements acquired in steps 1 and 2, we are now able to make additional measurements and
calculations. Since we are relying on the accuracy of the chord and mid-point measurement for the next steps, it
should be apparent how crucial these initial values are, to the over-all process. Feel free to re-measure often, to
ensure 100% accuracy.

STEP 3 - OFF-SET AND DEPTH

The depth of the curved surface, also known as the off-set, represents the maximum distance that the curved surface
reaches from the chord. In other words, it is the “depth” of the bent glass we will be producing for your project. Place a
solid piece of wood or metal firmly against the two end-points, the same end-points from which you measured the
chord. Measure a-long this beam and mark the mid-point (as determined in step 2). Place a right-angle ruler at the
mid-point of the chord and measure the distance from the mid-point to the inner surface of the curve, as well as to the
outer surface.
The reason for using a right-angle ruler against a solid surface is for maximum accuracy. Simply eye-balling the right-
angle with a straight ruler, or taking the measurement from a flexible surface at the chord, risks inaccuracies that could
cause your custom glass to fit incorrectly.

STEP 4 - RADIUS

Since our curved glass is not a complete circle, the radius must be determined using a math formula. Again, we can’t
stress enough how important the measurements obtained in the previous steps are. If all our other calculations are
based on in-accurate data, then the false-results will compound into a finished product that will fail to fit correctly. The
radius is calculated using the following formula:

RADIUS = [DEPTH2 + (CHORD/2) 2] / 2 X DEPTH

Here’s a handy on-line calculator, to help with the process: Chord & Radius Calculator
STEP 5 - GIRTH AND HEIGHT

Girth is the over-all distance of the convex surface (outer surface) of the curve, from end-point to end-point. Girth is
best measured with a soft cloth measuring tape. Metal measuring tapes may warp and bend, distorting the
measurement and causing inaccuracies.

Height is the easiest measurement of all. Using a metal measuring tape, measure the distance from the very top, to
the very bottom of the application for which the curved glass piece is intended.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

Please visit the measuring tips section of our website , for further details, as well as helpful diagrams that will
further explain the measurements described above.

Every piece Coastal Curved Glass produces is unique and original. Each application and design for which we produce
our bent glass products presents a new set of challenges and considerations. For this reason, we recommend you
take as many measurements as you feel will help us create an accurate product.

CAD drawings can also be useful, and if you have blue-prints or other documentation to support the final application,
please don’t hesitate to provide us with this information.

Finally, we can always be reached by phone or e-mail, should you have any urgent questions or concerns. We’re
here to ensure you receive the most accurate product your project deserves.

bending and curving glass: laminated vs. tempered

Often, clients will ask me about laminated glass versus tempered glass for their project. There is in fact, only one
option for the work we do; laminated glass. Bending and curving glass for custom glass applications is no simple
process. Luckily, Coastal Curved Glass has extensive experience and knowledge in this field, thanks to a countless
volume and variety of projects that we have completed over the past 35 years.

Traditionally, tempered glass is what most contractors are aware of and request for projects. While tempered glass is
reputable and has many positive aspects, in the case of curved or bent glass applications, tempered glass will
absolutely not work. Here are a few facts about tempered and laminated glass, explaining why laminated glass must
be used for our bent and curved glass applications:

 SAFETY: Where safety is a concern - walkways, railings, and other structures were the strength of the glass is
relied upon for human protection - tempered glass is almost never the right choice. Tempered glass, if
compromised, will break and shatter, splintering into small pieces and posing a serious threat. Laminated glass on
the other hand will simply crack, but will remain as one piece and in its place. Many applications of bent or curved
glass are for walkways and stairways.
 SOUND: Bent and curved glass is often used for automotive glass and marine glass installations. In both these
cases, sound proofing is often a high-priority, since vehicles produce a great deal of noise. Laminated glass is a
great option for any situation where sound proofing is of a concern.
 SECURITY: For security concerns, laminated glass is the preferred choice, since it does not shatter. Tempered
glass used for store-fronts or window displays are easily smashed into thumb-sized pieces, giving thieves a safe
and easy entry-point to steal merchandise and other valuables. Since laminated glass does not shatter, an
attempt to break it will just result in a very big spider-web pattern.
 MALUBILITY: For our clients, who have ordered a bent glass or curved glass product for their project, there are
many additional benefits as to why we choose to use laminated glass. The characteristics of laminated glass are
very flexible and forgiving, which is what allows us to bend, curve and shape it in the first place. For contractors
and installers, laminated glass can be cut and shaved down for a perfect fit. If you were to try to manipulate or
modify a pre-cut piece of tempered glass, you would just end up with pieces.
 UV PROTECTION: Thanks to its PVB interlayer (polyvinyl butyral), a type of plastic film that holds the layers of
glass together, laminated glass also blocks out 99% of UV rays. This characteristic makes it excellent for window
and skylight applications. Valuable art work, carpets and furniture that are exposed to significant levels of sunlight
will be protected from damaging UVA and UVB ultraviolet light.

If you or a customer of yours in in need of a quality curved glass application, please don't hesitate to contact us.

a common curved glass mistake builders make

Recently, I have been taking 3D CAD courses at BCIT’s Vancouver campus. As I was walking around the campus, I
noticed some unusual glass on one of the staircases and was a bit shocked. I took some pictures to share here on our
company blog because I wanted to illustrate a common problem that occurs in a lot of new buildings.

If you look closely, you can see in the pictures below that pieces of faceted glass have been used as replacements for
curved glass around this staircase. It's unfortunate that a suitable replacement wasn't sourced. And it's especially
unfortunate considering our manufacturing facility is only 30 minutes from this campus. So, it begs the question, where
did this glass come from and why were they not able to get replacement pieces?

We often run into scenarios like this when glass has been ordered from overseas. The glass was most likely ordered
previous to the stair structure being built. When the glass arrived, there was a discrepancy. Regardless of who was
responsible for the discrepancy, this could have been easily remedied by any of North Americas leading curved glass
companies. In fact, our typical lead time for a replacement job like this would be approximately two weeks - and we're
not opposed to working with clients to rush urgent orders.

This is a common mistake because the interior glass is one of the last things to be installed. So much is relying on
having those last few pieces of glass installed before the building opens or occupancy permits can be granted. We
have been in this industry long enough to know how stressful it can be for a glazing contractor in the last couple
weeks before a project is completed. We understand that pressure. And nobody will work as hard as we do to make
sure you have what you need when you need it.

So, when it comes to ordering curved glass, it's important to put value ahead of price. We don't compete on price. In
our industry, you get what you pay for. We are a local manufacturer that hires local talent. Our customer service and
quality of work speaks for itself. So, if you have any new project underway or are looking for some replacement curved
glass, please don't hesitate to contact us.

- Pat Healy, Owner

#!/usr/bin/perl
# -*- perl -*-
# Copyright 2001 DJ Delorie <dj@delorie.com>

if ($ARGV[0] eq "show-source") {
print "Content-type: text/plain\n\n";
print `cat chord-radius.cgi`;
exit;
}

require "./woodlib.pl";

print "Content-type: text/html\n\n";

print `header Chord/Radius Calculations`;

$chord = $in{'chord'};
$div = $in{'div'};
$offset = $in{'offset'};

$chord = &unfrac($chord);
$offset = &unfrac($offset);

if ($chord <= 0 || ($div != 1 && $div != 2) || $offset <= 0) {

print "<pre>Invalid chord ($chord) divisor ($div) or offset ($offset)\n";
exit 1;
}

$chord /= $div;

print "<pre>\n";
printf "Chord: %s end-center\n", &frac($chord);
printf " %s end-end\n\n", &frac($chord * 2);
printf "Offset: %s\n\n", &frac($offset);

$radius = ($chord * $chord + $offset * $offset) / (2 * $offset);

printf "Radius: %s (%s)\n", &frac($radius), $radius;

print "</pre>\n";

print `trailer`;