This British Standard gives recommendations for the design, manufacture, installation and maintenance of sloping and vertical patent glazing systems attached to and supported by structural members of adequate strength, stiffness and stability. All recommendations apply to flat, including faceted, patent glazing and infilling. They may also apply to curved patent glazing and infilling except for the structural design where specialist advice is needed.

The patent glazing systems included in this standard comprise glazing bars of aluminium or steel, which can be clad totally or partially clad with lead or PVC-U, for two-edge support and four-edge support systems for single and double glazing or other infill. A range of transparent and opaque infillings of glass, plastics glazing sheet materials and other infill materials are included; specific information on plastics glazing sheet materials is given in BS 5516-2:2004, Annex A.

This standard covers the use of patent glazing in permanent buildings and structures, including conservatories but excludes greenhouses. Clauses that are relevant also apply to the use of patent glazing inside buildings.

This standard does not include recommendations for the design of the supporting structure to which the patent glazing is attached.

Requirements for standards of workmanship for glazing have been published separately as BS 8000‑7 and, therefore, this subject is not within the scope of this standard.

Since the correct selection of materials to be used in glazing for buildings depends on many factors, attention is drawn to the recommendations in the other parts of this standard.