Glass is largely used in buildings, both for novel or existing constructions. On one side, there is evidence of an high
aesthetic impact and versatility of glass. On the other hand, the typical brittleness and vulnerability of glass represent
critical aspects for structural design purposes. This is especially the case ofseismic prone regions, where
rarely specific calculation methods and design specifications are provided by existing standards or guideline documents, to
perform their seismic verification. Even more attention is required for glass systems in which bracing and supporting members (i.e.,
metal frames) are reduced to a minimum. In this paper, a discussion on current design requirements for the seismic performance
assessment of glass systems is presented, with careful consideration for the Italian scenario. The attention is focused on frameless glass assemblies, in which the use of restraints is minimized in favor of steel point connections (i.e., bolts and mechanical fixings, spiders, friction clamps, etc.).
