North Carolina Building Code for Glass Railings

Overall building construction and renovation in North Carolina is governed by the North Carolina Building Code (NCBC), allowing designers to create safe and functional dwellings. It covers every aspect of design and construction work, including glass railing system conception and installation.

People within this state who want to beautify their buildings with framed, semi-framed, or frameless glass railings must do so based on safety regulations highlighted in the North Carolina Building Code for glass railings. As such, this article presents an overview of the building code and glass railing requirements.

It highlights crucial glass guardrail compliance guidelines in North Carolina that every building owner and contractor should know.

What is the North Carolina Building Code

The North Carolina Building Code is the construction manual that guides new and remodeling projects in North Carolina. Effective January 1, 2019, the 2018 NCBC became the prevailing building safety compliance guideline in the state.

Based on the 2015 International Building Code (IBC), this current building code was adopted and approved by the Building Code Council and Rules Review Commission of North Carolina. Since then, minor adjustments have been made to this code to serve the state's citizens better.

However, the state legislature banned future modifications to the North Carolina Building Code until 2031. This decision may increase energy costs and have other negative effects.

Yet, the current NCBC still has sufficient glass railing requirements to ensure user safety and building functionality.

Overview of Glass Guardrails in North Carolina

Glass railing systems can make any indoor or outdoor space stand out by enhancing its aesthetics. As such, residents of North Carolina are not allowed to install these guard railings without following specific rules as specified in the building code.

Furthermore, building owners who use frame or frameless glass railing must install this system based on the following specifications.

• All cities and counties in the state mandate guardrail installation for decks, balconies, and patios higher than 762 mm (30 inches) above the ground level. Likewise, a handrail or guard railing must be installed when a stairway has more than 4 steps.
• To safeguard children, no opening wider than 100 mm (4 inches) in diameter should be made in glass deck railings and other guardrails.

Glass Guardrail Safety Specifications

Understanding the general glass guard railing requirements leads to the need to know about the specifics. In particular, glass guardrail safety specifications include glass panel and height requirements that ensure the functional use of railings.

It also includes details for enclosing swimming pools and other relevant water bodies.

Glass Panel Specifications

You cannot use any glazing type you want for guard railings in any state in America. Instead, the North Carolina Building Code mandates the use of safety glass with the following specifications.

• You may use single fully tempered glass panels, complying with Class A of ANSI Z97.1 or Category II of CPSC 16 CFR Part 1201.
• You should use heat-strengthened or fully tempered glass panels that comply with either requirement earlier mentioned.
• The thickness of any of the glass panels used for framed or frameless glass railings must be a minimum of 6 mm (0.2 inches) thick.
• Glazing used in all glass railing systems must be free from all imperfections or defects.

Glass Guardrail Height Specification

The height of guardrails is as essential as the glass panel specifications. Adherence to the railing height requirements provided in the building code should prevent people from falling while using platforms like balconies, stairways, and other elevated platforms.

Once a raised indoor or outdoor space meets the minimum elevation requirements, the following glass guardrail specifications apply.

• The minimum allowable height for glass deck railings and other glass railing systems is 1067 mm (42 inches).
• Handrails are installed for guardrails between 864 mm (34 inches) and 965 mm (38 inches) where required.
• Spherical passages less than 533 mm (21 inches) are permitted if an opening in a glass railing is used for passing service wires or pipes.

Pool Enclosure Specification

The North Carolina Building Code for glass railings also provides pool fencing specifications. This safety regulations are designed to prevent children and unauthorized individuals from gaining access into the swimming area.

Here are the fencing specifications to consider.

• All below and above-ground residential water bodies deeper than 610 mm (24 inches) must be fenced using appropriate barriers like glass railings.
• Openings that are not gates should not be wider than 100 mm (4 inches).
• There must not be projections that facilitate climbing above the pool enclosure.
• All pool enclosures made of glass railings or other materials must be at least 1219 mm (48 inches) high.
• All gates into the pool area must open into the enclosure and have self-latching and self-closing devices. Likewise, the gate must meet the minimum height requirement of the fencing.
• Walls of nearby buildings can serve as part of the pool enclosure provided doors and windows remain closed and equipped with alarm systems.

How to Maintain a Glass Railing System

All glass railing systems, especially frameless glass railings require a lot of care to remain aesthetically pleasing. Therefore, the maintenance tips below should help keep your guard railings looking good.

• Regularly remove difficult debris or dirt stuck to your railing system. Allowing it on the guardrails can make it harden over time and may alter the appearance of glass panels or fixtures.
• When it rains, clean glass deck railings immediately before they dry. Doing this reduces the need to clean outdoor systems as most dirt gets washed away before accumulating.
• Use a combination of water and vinegar solution to dissolve and remove stains that seem difficult to remove. However, you can always use regular soap/detergent and water for routine cleaning.
• Periodically inspect railings and glass panels for signs of damage or loose fittings. Once you identify a problem, ensure you get it fixed before it leads to injuries or falls.

Conclusion

To ensure the safety of construction remodeling work, the North Carolina Building Code is used as a safety regulation standard. This code provides building safety compliance guidelines for all aspects of building construction, including glass railing design and installation.

It defines for homeowners and designers the minimum requirements for guardrail installations, railing height, and glazing specifications. It also highlights glass railing requirements for building safe and secure pool enclosures.

The maintenance tips presented in this article should help you keep a functional and pleasing glass railing that lasts a lifetime.

FAQs for North Carolina Building Code for Glass Railings

Does North Carolina have a state building code?

North Carolina has a building code, which is modeled based on the International Building Code. This code was adopted and approved by the Building Code Council and Rules Review Commission, respectively.

What is the North Carolina Building Code minimum glass railing height?

The minimum height for stairways, decks, and patios in North Carolina is 1067 mm (42 inches). This height is used to prevent people from falling over when using the railing for support.

What is the latest NC residential building code?

The latest NCBC is the 2018, which was enforced on January 1, 2019, and is based on the 2018 IBC.