Design load is a term describing a combination of: positive and negative wind loads, thermal loads, snow/ice loads, impact loads, seismic loads, interior pressure loads due to HVAC equipment or building stack effect, dead loads due to glass weight, and live loads. Standard ASCE 7 is the most utilized tool to determine the appropriate design load of a glass product.

Design pressure is the specified pressure a glass product is designed to withstand. It is determined by the design load.