The Importance of Quality Glass in Railing Systems: What You Need to Know

Public, commercial, and residential buildings are increasingly using glass railing due to the benefits it offers. It allows for a sleek and minimalist approach to design, providing a free view of the environment through stairways, walkways, mezzanines, balconies, terraces, and other elevated surfaces.

Following a meticulous glass panel selection is crucial for safe and functional frameless glass systems, enhancing the value and durability of guardrails. As such, this article should help you better understand why having quality glass is crucial for safe and functional framed and frameless glass railings.

Glass Panel Quality Characteristics

The quality of glass panels is defined by characteristics, which determine their function and safety. Some of these factors are discussed in detail below.

Durability and Strength

The durability and strength of glass must always be considered when choosing panels for framed and frameless glass railings. Therefore, installers and homeowners should prioritize buying glazing capable of withstanding loads and providing support in all circumstances.

Clarity and Transparency

Glass railings, especially frameless glass railings should provide users with an unobstructed view of indoor and outdoor environments. As such, glass railing panels should be clear and transparent, allowing unrestricted views from balconies, stairways, ramps, terraces, and other elevated platforms.

Impact and Scratch Resistance

Most glasses are prone to scratching and may deform due to impact, making these glazing types unsuitable for guardrails. The right glazing keeps glass panels free from blemish and capable of withstanding different impact types.

Glass Types Suitable for Guard Railing Systems

Any glass can be used in guard railing systems. However, only a handful of glazing types are suitable for framed and frameless glass railings.

In general, tempered, laminated, and wired safety glasses are used across America and Canada as provided by respective state and regional building codes.

Tempered Glass

Tempered glass refers to heat-treated glazing that is many times stronger than untreated glass. Unlike normal safety glazing, tempered glass breaks into tiny, blunt pieces, minimizing injury risk after shattering.

Due to its strength and other advantages, this glass is mostly used in public, commercial, and residential guardrails. As such, most building codes around the world, including North America, recommend this glass type for framed and frameless glass railings.

However, tempered glass is quite expensive, especially as the panel thickness increases. In addition, glass panels are challenging to cut once the glass is treated with heat.

Glass Panel Safety Regulations and Standards

Safety is the number one priority for glass railing systems, especially frameless glass railings. Therefore, various organizations globally provide safety regulations and standards for glass panels.

For example, in the United States, the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CSA) ensure that the glazing available in the American market meets the minimum safety standards in the country.

In the US, the International Building Code (IBC) serves as a benchmark for most state and local building codes, which contain glass panel specifications. Similarly, the National Building Code (NBC) performs the same function as the IBC but in Canada.

In addition, glass panels used in the US must conform to the American building code standard of Category II of CPSC 16 CFR Part 1201 or Class A of ANSI Z97.1. On the other hand, Canadian building codes require glazing to comply with CAN/CGSB-12.1 or CAN/CGSB-12.11-M.

As such, framed and frameless glass railings must be designed and installed based on the compliance guidelines highlighted by the local building code.

What Factors Affect Glass Panel Quality

There are many factors a homeowner or contractor should consider before selecting a glass panel, which include the following.

• A building’s location should determine the glazing used for guardrails. For example, hot and sunny locations may require UV-resistant glass panels, while coastal areas may require glazing equipped with a coating that minimizes water spotting.
• The features of guardrails are directly related to their usage factor and expected load capacity. Laminated or tempered glass panels with thick widths are required for high-impact and high-traffic elevated locations and vice versa.
• High-quality, expensive glazing usually requires less maintenance than its low-quality, cheap counterpart. Likewise, high-end glass panels are generally stain and scratch-resistant, reducing the need for frequent cleaning.
• The color, texture, and shape of glass panels also matter when selecting glazing. In most cases, high-quality glass may come in different shapes, colors, tints, and custom glass railing.

Cost of Glass Panels for Frameless Glass Railings

Quality glass panels are not cheap as they consist of the highest cost within a typical frameless glass railing system. Although expensive, glass railings offer long-term savings due to low maintenance.

The primary factors that affect cost of glass panels include:

• Glass type;
• Glass thickness;
• Glass panel treatment.

Although buying cheaper glass panels may be tempting, replacement and maintenance costs will increase due to the lower quality of glazing. As such, high-quality glass makes long-term economic sense while ensuring user safety.

Benefits of Using High-quality Glazing

Using high-quality glass panels for indoor and outdoor guard railings offers various benefits. Here are a few advantages to consider.

• Using high-quality glass panels reduces the likelihood of injuries when a glazing breaks.
• It enhances the aesthetics of a building by creating sleek public, commercial, and residential spaces.
• High-quality glass railings are strong and durable, reducing the need for maintenance or replacement due to environmental factors or use.
• Buildings with high-quality glass panels are valued more than other properties due to enhanced safety and visual appeal.

Risks Associated with Low-quality Glazing and Railings

To save resources, many homeowners opt for low-quality glazing and railings. More often than not, using substandard materials gives rise to many risks.

• Cheap glass can easily break when subject to weight or impact, increasing the risk of falls and injuries.
• Low-quality glazing may contain impurities and imperfections that affect its clarity, making it less attractive to users. Over time, this glass type undergoes discoloration and heavy wear, leading to an obstructed view.
• The cheaper glass railing systems are, the higher the frequency of maintenance and replacements. In the long run, opting for an affordable glass panel and railing hardware may lead to more future costs.

Caring for Glass Panels

Although expensive glass panels require less maintenance, some care is necessary to keep them functional and safe.

• Mild cleaners with soft cloths should be used to keep the glass clean without damaging surfaces.
• Homeowners and facility administrators should perform routine inspections looking for cracks, chips, loose fittings, and damage to railing components.
• Protective coatings should be periodically applied to repel water and protect against UV rays.

Conclusion

Glass panel quality is integral to the safety and functionality of glass railing systems, especially frameless guardrails. It consists of glazing quality characteristics, including durability and strength, clarity and transparency, and impact and scratch resistance, to name a few.

When considering glazing types, tempered and laminate glasses are primarily used globally, with wired safety glass also acceptable in some parts of Canada. However, annealed glazing is never recommended due to the lack of required safety features.

Selecting glass panels based on known safety regulations and standards, including local building codes, ensures functional and safe guardrails. To ensure the quality of glazing, some factors are considered, which also contribute to the overall cost of a railing system.

The advantages of high-quality glass panels and the risks of low-quality glazing should be evaluated before the design and installation of guard railings begin. Finally, choosing high-quality glazing should go hand-in-hand with caring for glass guardrails.