The use of glass as a load bearing element in structures is a growing phenomenon. Glass elements cover both beams and shear walls and its use is driven mostly by aesthetical and architectural reasons but brings other benefits considering environmental and financial aspects. Glass is a strong material but with a brittle nature which means a sudden fracture on failure with negative consequences for safety. However, with new techniques of increasing ductile behaviour and with the use of glass elements embedded in a holistic fire safety design strategy there are now several examples of load bearing glass elements in modern construction. This paper highlights some aspects of the use of load bearing glass with recent updates on the general knowledge base and the standardisation work.