Glass balustrades are safety glass and ideal for indoor landings, staircases, high walkways, and balconies. To be more dependable and sustain constant usage of pressures, the contractors must develop and build glass balustrades according to strict rules.
The standards require that every glass balustrade be sturdy, rugged, and durable to reduce the possibility of a glass balustrade collapsing. For its natural beauty and superior strength, glass is an excellent material.
If you’re looking into protecting glass balustrades, you’re probably already thinking about how appealing glass walls are. Still, you’re worried about whether they’ll last long enough to keep you and your family safe. And besides, glass is regarded as a delicate substance. Glass balustrades, on the other hand, are incredibly durable and well-designed.
Building regulations-compliant glass balustrades provide an ideal safety barrier that prevents harm or death. This brief blog post will go through the health and safety hazards to think about while installing glass balustrades on your home.
What are glass balustrades?
People often utilize glass balustrades as a safety barrier on stairwells, balconies, and swimming fencing. Based on your aesthetic preference, you can fully frame glass balustrades, semi-frame, or fully frameless. The glass panels you use in glass balustrades are extremely adaptable and long-lasting. It would help if you employed Grade A hardened glass panels for further sturdiness and safety.
The advantages of glass balustrades in terms of safety
Glass balustrades are not just a safe option but are often the only option.
The thickness of the glass influences the safety of a balustrade.
It’s not just about the kind of glass you use. The glass thickness might also make a difference. Different conditions and usage necessitate varied loading requirements for the entire fence and glass system. You can find more information on the pressures on glass balustrades.
Select a balustrade from a profession, and then understand that every choice is crafted with glass that equals or exceeds safety requirements in all circumstances. Some brands’ balustrades are composed of 10mm toughened glass, while Frameless and Semi-frameless glass balustrades come standard with 21.5mm toughened laminated glass.
Glass balustrades are safe for children.
When it comes to constructing glass balustrades, among the most common concerns among homeowners and building owners is whether they are child-safe. Balustrades are child-friendly since they adhere to several requirements.
Children are more in danger from metal or wooden railings since they can be visually overpowering, causing damage if they become intrigued and stick their fingers and arms through slats and holes. With glass balustrades, you may reduce these occurrences while maintaining the aesthetic of your environment.
Loading Requirements
There are 3 load requirements to consider when determining the thickness and design of the railing: vertical and horizontal loading on the handrail and loading on the infill. The deflection induced by a strong load should never be more than 25mm. As a result, the glass you get from your providers must be incredibly robust and tough to withstand whatever life throws!
Household glass balustrades should be able to endure 0.74 kN/m for each meter of the glass balustrade as a general rule. Infills made of toughened or laminated glass should be at least 10mm thick.
Although laminated glass is often strong, its infill should be tested for both dispersed and point loads to ensure that the infill in the laminated panel’s center can withstand the equally dispersed weight and also concentrated pressure on a single small spot.
Glass type
It would be best if you used safety glass in the construction of glass balustrades.
Glass balustrades in the United Kingdom must be made of safety glass, according to UK law. There are 2 kinds of safety glass that you can use:
- Toughened glass (also called tempered glass)
- Laminated glass
Toughened glass is tempered glass. It is done by heating the glass to roughly 700°C and then fast cooling it — a process known as quenching. The quenching process forms a hard coating on both edges of the glassware and locks stress in the core.
Tempered glass is four times tougher than standard float glass due to this simple technique. Toughened glass does not shatter into big fragments if it does break. Rather, it breaks into smaller, less harmful fragments that are easier to remove.
A film of resin or plastic membrane is sandwiched between 2 toughened glass panels to create laminated glass. The membrane acts as a safety net, protecting the next glass panel from breaking if one of the panels breaks under impact.
A note of warning: safety glass is not a low-cost option; it is a technological substance with a high price tag. Don’t risk your safety and others at risk by purchasing “cheap” safety glass; instead, buy from recognized vendors.
They are a safe choice.
Climbing on glass is not easy or appealing. There are no evident footholds compared to ornate wooden or ironwork balustrades with horizontal bars. Some glass balustrades don’t have visible brackets, which may otherwise serve as a foothold for more determined climbers. Glass balustrades are a great pick for state buildings and also private dwellings since their smooth surface is as off-putting to tiny kids as it’s to public members of who should know better.
Take away
Glass balustrades are as amazing as they look, so don’t let safety concerns keep you from taking advantage of their many advantages. For both residential and commercial buildings, glass balustrades are indeed a long-term investment. Choosing glass balustrades is a no-compromise decision. They make a striking design statement while also maximizing space and light.
If you buy them from professionals, you may also rely on them; they’ll be robust, safe, and completely secure. Glass has a negative reputation. Most people equate glass with fragility and are wary of using it as a barrier because of the risk of damage and shattering. There’s misinformation nowadays, and a pro team should be there to dispel some of it and discuss the safety of installing glass balustrades on the balcony or stairs.
