Colorado Building Code for Glass Railing

The Colorado Building Code is a useful tool in the Colorado building industry. It provides building safety compliance guidelines, ensuring functional and safe homes and offices.

This code provides safety regulations for the design and installation of framed and frameless glass railing. It achieves this by highlighting crucial glass railing requirements, including glass panel type and guard railing height.

As such, this article highlights what the Colorado Building Code is and its relationship with glass railing systems. It should provide professionals and DIY homeowners with crucial details for deploying building code-compliant glass guard railings.

What is the Colorado Building Code

The Colorado Building Code is a set of guidelines for designing and constructing safe and functional homes, offices, and other public infrastructure. The State Buildings Program establishes the minimum requirements for construction and renovation work across the state.

However, each locality or jurisdiction in Colorado reviews adopts, and enforces local building codes with a few exceptions:

• Factory-built buildings and homes are constructed based on standard codes as governed by the Department of Local Affairs.
• Health facilities and K-12 schools are constructed based on the building codes adopted by the Colorado Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire Prevention and Control.

These government agencies use the 2021 Colorado Building Code, which is based on the 2021 International Building Code (IBC), which came into effect on June 30, 2021. As such, most municipalities within the state have adopted this code for construction and renovation work, including glass railing installation.

Where to Install Glass Railing System

Glass railing systems are similar to conventional guardrails. As such, a typical framed or frameless glass railing protects users from falling and provides support when accessing or using elevated platforms.

In addition, glass deck railings and other guardrails improve the aesthetics of indoor and outdoor spaces by admitting more natural light and supporting a minimalist design approach. Based on these advantages, glass railings are increasingly used in balconies, mezzanines, and other raised platforms.

The Colorado Building Code requires the installation of glass guardrails or equivalent as follows.

• Raised platforms elevated more than 762 mm (30 inches) above the walking floors must have railing systems.
• Framed and frameless glass railings must not have openings wider than 100 mm (4 inches).

These glass railing requirements are put in place to ensure building safety by providing users the required support they need when using elevated platforms.

Basic Glass Guardrail Requirements

To ensure user safety, the Colorado Building Code stipulates basic safety regulations for glass railings. It defines the glass panel type and guard railing height.

It also highlights glass pool enclosure requirements, which are needed for public safety.

Glass Panel Type

The glass used for guard railings matters a lot. Therefore, all building codes, including the Colorado Building Code, have strict guidelines for glazing used for guardrails.

Here are some of the glass railing requirements to consider:

• The glass used for guardrails must be fully heath-strengthened or tempered laminated glass that complies with Class A of ANSI Z97.1 or Category II of CPSC 16 CFR Part 1201.
• This glass panel should have a minimum thickness of 12 mm (0.5 inches).
• A single fully tempered glass that complies with Class A of ANSI Z97.1 or Category II of CPSC 16 CFR Part 1201 can be used if there is no risk of falling glass or no walking surface exists below an elevated platform.
• The color of glass panels is not of concern as long as it has no visible defects.

Railing Height

The Colorado Building Code also specifies railing height for traditional and glass railing systems. Here are the requirements to consider.

• Municipalities across Colorado that adopt the 2021 version of the IBC require buildings to have glass railings with a minimum height of 1067 mm (42 inches).
• Locations that still use the 2018 IBC building code require glass guardrails to have a minimum height of 914 mm (36 inches).

The discrepancy across the state is due to different versions of the IBC used in various localities. As such, it is crucial you know which version of the IBC your municipality uses and its amendments.

However, using a height of 1067 mm (42 inches) for glass railings is a safer bet than the shorter system.

Pool Fencing

In-ground and above-ground swimming pools must have fencing that prevents unauthorized people from accessing pool areas. As such, framed and frameless glass railings can be used to enclose swimming areas.

Here are the key safety regulations for fencing pools using glass railings.

• The height of glass railings should be at least 1524 mm (60 inches).
• The wall of a structure or building can serve as an enclosure or fence. However, doors and windows that may exist on such walls must always be closed and equipped with alarm systems.
• All gates leading into the pool area must open into the pool area and must have self-latching and self-closing devices.
• There must not be openings wider than 100 mm (4 inches) on glass railings.

Local Colorado Building Codes Differences

There exist differences between local Colorado Building Codes since each municipality can adopt a different version of the IBC. While many towns and cities have adopted the 2021 version of the IBC, some locations are still using the 2018 or 2015 edition.

This reality, combined with local amendments and additions, gives rise to different glass railing requirements across the state. Here are some crucial differences.

• Depending on location, glass guardrail height varies from 914 mm (36 inches) to 914 mm (36 inches). This discrepancy exists in urban areas where residential and commercial building requirements vary. Likewise, the difference may arise due to the use of different versions of the IBC.
• High-altitude locations and rural areas with strong winds may have higher glass thickness requirements than urban locations like Denver. As such, some municipalities require glass panels to be at least 12 mm (0.4 inches) thick.
• Similarly, the load requirement for glass guardrails varies from location to location.
• A stricter glass railing installation permit process exists in areas like Colorado Springs, Boulder, and Denver. However, permit requirements are not always strictly enforced in rural locations.

Conclusion

The Colorado Building Code is a combination of building codes used across the state, which are predominately based on the 2021 International Building Code. However, a handful of areas still use the 2018 and 2015 versions of IBC.

Regardless of the IBC version adopted, framed and frameless glass railings are essential for raised spaces, including patios, balconies, and other elevated platforms. To achieve this, specific railing height and glass panel compliance guidelines are used to ensure building safety.

In addition, the Colorado Building Code provides detailed guidelines for glass pool railings, which protect children and prevent unauthorized access to pool areas.

FAQs for Colorado Building Code for Glass Railings

What building codes does Colorado use?

Colorado uses the Colorado Building Code, which is based on the International Building Code. However, different locations within the state use the 2021, 2018, and 2015 versions of the IBC.

Do glass railings need to be tempered?

Tempered laminated glass complying with Class A of ANSI Z97.1 or Category II of CPSC 16 CFR Part 1201 is highly recommended for guard railings.

What is the minimum height for a glass railing?

Some locations have a minimum height requirement of 914 mm (36 inches). Other areas require a minimum height of 1067 mm (42 inches).