Prince Edward Island Building Code for Glass Railings

The Prince Edward Island Building Code (PEIBC) provides the standard for construction and remodeling works within the province. It highlights in-depth specifications based on universal safety regulations that protect lives and properties.

This compliance guideline highlights glass railing specifications for installing glass railing systems. It further specifies guard railing height and glass panel details for ramps, balconies, decks, and pools for homes, offices, and institutions.

If you want to learn more about the Prince Edward Island Building Code for glass railings, consider reading this article to the end.

Prince Edward Island Building Code Summary

The Prince Edward Island Building Code does not have a native building safety compliance guideline. Like Newfoundland and Labrador, this province adopted the National Building Code of Canada (NBCC).

Currently, this province is using the 2020 version of the national code, which came into effect on March 31, 2024. On the other hand, the NBCC provides overall guidance for construction and renovation activities within Canada.

Therefore, most construction projects in Prince Edward Island require permits to ensure adherence to safety regulations. A development permit dictates how a building sits on a piece of land, while a building permit ensures strict compliance with the 2020 National Building Code adopted by Prince Edward Island.

When you require a permit for guardrail installation, you must contact your respective municipal office.

Frameless Glass Railing Building Functionality

Frameless glass railings and other glass guardrail systems are useful in various locations inside and outside private and public buildings. In particular, glass railing requirements within the Prince Edward Island Building Code necessitate glass railing systems on mezzanines, stairways, decks, ramps, and other elevated platforms.

The standards presented in this code consider aesthetics and building safety inside and outside buildings. Below are minimum compliance guidelines to ensure frameless glass railing building functionality.

• Elevated platforms like balconies, mezzanines, and decks that rise 610 mm (24 inches) above an adjacent floor require guard railings.
• Interior stairways in residential buildings with 3 or more risers must have guard railings. Similarly, exterior stairs must have railings systems if the risers exceed 4.
• Glass railings cannot have openings or gaps with a diameter that exceeds 100 mm (4 inches) except in industry settings.
• Guardrails for platforms that exceed a story (13 ft 9 inches) from the adjacent floor must not have openings or projections on the railings that allow for climbing.

Prince Edward Island Glass Guardrail Guidelines

The Prince Edward Island Building Code for glass railing in the 2020 NBCC provides specific requirements for the design and installation of frameless glass guardrails. It ensures user safety in private and public buildings by providing compliance guidelines for railing height and glass panel specifications.

This code goes a step further by highlighting essential details required for the design and installation of pool enclosures that safeguard children and prevent unauthorized access.

Glass Railing Height Details

Glass deck railing height is a crucial specification that ensures building safety. As such, the Prince Edward Island Building Code provides specific requirements as highlighted below.

• Glass railings are only mandatory when a platform is elevated 610 mm (24 inches) above the adjacent floor.
• The height of glass railing systems starts at 914 mm (36 inches) for platforms 6 ft or less above an adjacent floor.
• However, the height of glass guardrails extends to 1067 mm (42 inches) high once the deck or porch exceeds 6 ft above the adjacent floor.

Unless specified, these rules apply to private and public buildings. However, some municipalities within Prince Edward Island may have stricter glass railing requirements.

Guard Railing Glass Panel Details

Detailed provision of glass specifications for railing systems is critical for user safety. Therefore, glass panels used must conform to certification, composition, thickness, and quality requirements.

Glass panels can be of any shade, color, or tint if they adhere to the following specifications.

• Glass in guards must be free from any visible crack, chip, or defect before, during, and after installation.
• Depending on the use case, glass panels must be at least 12 mm (0.48 inches) thick. As such, glass panels for pool enclosures may require a thickness of 12 mm (0.48 inches) to 16 mm (0.63 inches), depending on municipality glass railing requirements.
• Glass panels can be wired glass materials as specified by CAN/CGSB-12.11-M glazing guidelines.
• Likewise, glass panels can be tempered or laminated safety glazing that conforms with CAN/CGSB-12.1 glazing guidelines.

Pool Fencing Safety Regulations

The Prince Edward Island Building Code has strict pool safety regulations to minimize the risk of drowning and other injuries due to access by children and unauthorized individuals. As such, 6 ft or deeper in-ground outdoor pools must have fencing around the swimming area to control access.

Highlighted below are essential pool enclosure requirements for glass railing systems.

• In general, pool enclosures must be at least 1200 mm (47 inches) high in Prince Edward Island. However, some cities and municipalities like Charlottetown require fencing at least 1800 mm (71 inches) high.
• There must be a minimum distance of 1500 mm (59 inches) between the pool's edge and the enclosure.
• Glass railing pool enclosures must not have openings wider than 100 mm (4 inches) in diameter.
• Gates attached to the fencing must have self-latching and self-closing mechanisms for locking the pool when not in use.

You can secure a building permit before constructing a swimming pool in your backyard.

However, temporary inflatable swimming pools do not require fencing or any permit.

Safety and Maintenance Tips

Safety and maintenance tips can help keep your glass deck railings in top condition. The strategies below should help ensure building safety and guideline compliance.

• Never attempt to install or repair structural aspects of your frameless glass railings unless you are a certified installer. For this reason, you should always hire experienced guardrail contractors to handle all aspects of glass railing systems.
• Even if you do not have any technical training, periodically inspecting your glass guardrails should help you identify cracked glass panels and structural problems before they lead to accidents.
• Immediately contact your local glass railing installer to work on your guardrails once you detect any problem.
• Ensure your installer uses high-quality gate latches and connectors, especially on frameless glass railings that protect platforms that exceed the height of 1 story.

Conclusion

Prince Edward Island Building Code is a comprehensive document that defines building safety and compliance guidelines for construction and glass railing installation. It ensures all frameless glass railing systems on balconies, stairways, and other elevated platforms are functional, aesthetically pleasing, and safe for users.

To achieve this, the glass railing requirements in the provincial code explicitly provide specifications for guardrail height and glass panel quality. When you install glass deck railings, you must adhere to the stated safety and maintenance tips to keep your systems in good condition.

FAQs for Prince Edward Island Building Code for Glass Railing

Which glass is better for railing?

The best gazing to use for guardrails are tempered glass panels. This glass type is ideal for decks and balconies frequently used and exposed to extreme weather conditions. Heat-treated tempered glass guardrails may be best for extreme use cases.

Are frameless glass railings safe?

Frameless glass railings are safe for private, commercial, and public buildings. As long as the right glass panels are used, you will have a strong barrier free from rust or decay.

Can glass railings break?

Tempered glazing used for guardrails is many times stronger than untampered panels. In addition, this glazing type does not break into dangerous pieces, making it less likely to harm users after an accident.