Yukon Building Code for Glass Railings

Yukon Building Code (YBC) for glass railings guides glass guard railing design and installation in this territory. It provides contractors and building owners with glass railing requirements for selecting glass panel and guard railing height specifications.

These safety regulations ensure public and private buildings are safe and accessible to all users, including young children. As such, this article presents an overview of the Yukon Building Code.

It also highlights essential details required for the design and installation of glass railing systems.

Yukon Building Code Overview

Yukon is among the provinces and territories within Canada that adopted the National Building Code of Canada (NBCC). In particular, the 2020 NBCC was approved by the Yukon Government on April 1, 2023, superseding the use of the 2016 version of the NBCC.

However, Yukon also has additional laws and regulations governing construction and renovation projects in the territory. Therefore, these local rules and the National Building Code of Canada combine to form the overall Yukon Building Code.

Residents within Yukon must abide by the NBCC and local building compliance guidelines or face sanctions. Furthermore, glass railing design and installation guidelines are driven by the hybrid YBC.

Where Guardrails are Required

When properly installed, framed guardrails and frameless glass railings can bring the best out of a home or an office. They can also be used indoors and outdoors, depending on regulations.

If you choose to install glass railings in your home or office, there are specific locations you must protect. Decks, ramps, mezzanines, balconies, and other raised platforms within your building must be protected using guardrails.

Using appropriate railings ensures the user's safety when accessing such spaces. Below are Yukon Building code glass railing requirements all guardrails must adhere to.

• All platforms raised 610 mm (24 inches) higher than the adjacent floor must have glass guard railings.
• Glass deck railings must not have openings or projections that ease climbing.
• To prevent children from sticking their heads in guardrails, all openings on glass railing systems must not exceed 100 mm (4 inches) in diameter. However, this regulation does not apply to industrial occupancies.
• Building owners or contractors must secure permits before installing frameless glass railings and other guardrails.

Yukon Glass Guard Railing Specifications

To ensure building safety, frameless glass railings must follow compliance guidelines specified in the Yukon Building Code. These specifications detail the design and installation of glass guard railings.

It also provides glass panel and railing height regulations for balconies, decks, and pool enclosures.

Glazing Descriptions

The glass panel type you use for guard railing systems matters a lot. Therefore, building safety rules require all glazing used for railings to be of specific quality, thickness, and composition to ensure users safely access spaces with glass guardrails.

Local inspectors always ensure installation adheres to the following glass railing requirements.

• You can use tempered or laminated glazing based on CAN/CGSB-12.1 certification guidelines. Using heat-treated laminated glazing can give you extra safety, especially on rooftops.
• Although not as durable, you can select wired glass that conforms with CAN/CGSB-12.11-M.
• Glass in the guard is required to be at least 12 mm (0.5 inches) thick. This requirement can reach 16 mm (0.6 inches) or higher for pool enclosures and rooftop balconies for high-rise buildings.
• Glass panels should not have any cracks or chips, and should be able to withstand some level of load.
• Glazing can be any color or shade if it has no visible defects and conforms to the specifications above.

Railing Height Requirements

Depending on a platform's height from the floor level, glass railing systems must have a minimum height requirement that ensures building safety. For frameless guardrails, railing height also means glass panel height.

• Platforms like decks and mezzanines that are 610 mm (24 inches) higher than the floor level require 914 mm (36 inches) high glass railing systems.
• The height requirement above increases to 1067 mm (42 inches) if the distance between the base level and the platform is more than 6 ft.

The Yukon Building Code guardrail safety regulations are stricter for pool enclosures to prevent unauthorized access. The rules below also minimize the likelihood of children crawling into the swimming area and drowning when no one is looking.

• Pool enclosures cannot be erected without a permit from local authorities.
• Fencing around the swimming area has to be at least 1200 mm (47 inches) However, some municipalities like the City of Dawson allow enclosures to reach a maximum of 2000 mm (6 ft 7 inches) high.
• There must be no opening wider than 100 mm (4 inches) in diameter at any section of the pool enclosure.
• Pool fencing must have at least one gate equipped with self-locking and self-latching that opens into the swimming area.
• There must be no projections or openings that allow people to climb over the pool fencing.

Adhering to the Yukon Building Code prevents you from incurring any penalties or sanctions.

Installation and Maintenance Tips

Following the right installation, approach can keep your glass guardrails functional for a long time. Similarly, adopting a maintenance routine should keep the glass railing system in top condition.

Therefore, consider the following glass guardrail installation and maintenance tips.

• You should never DIY frameless glass railing installation unless you have prior experience. Hiring a professional installer increases the chance of having a flawless system.
• Only use high-quality products during installation.
• Once the glass railing system is in place, ensure you regularly inspect it for loose fittings or damaged glazing.
• Take good care of glass panels and the supporting structure through regular cleaning and polishing. Consider using UV protection products to minimize the effect of sun rays on outdoor glass railings.
• Applying anti-slip treatment on frameless glass railing systems can significantly improve user safety.

Conclusion

The Yukon Building Code is practically an adaptation of the 2020 National Building Code of Canada. Together with local laws, this code guides all construction projects within this territory.

It also has special provisions regulating glass railing system design and use. It achieves this by defining conditions for glazing panel and railing height requirements.

In addition, the glass railing requirements in Yukon stipulate strict rules for pool enclosures. Following the installation and maintenance tips highlighted in this article should help build beautiful, safe, and functional glass railing systems.

FAQs

Do glass railings need a top rail?

Framed glass railings have top rails, which allow them to bear loads. However, frameless glass railings are specifically designed to have no top rail with minimal structural elements.

What is the building code for railings in Canada?

The building code for railings in Canada is contained within the National Building Code of Canada. It provides that all platforms elevated 610 mm (24 inches) high must have guardrails measuring at least 914 mm (36 inches) high from the ground level. Guard railing requirements also specify building safety regulations for glazing and much more.

Are frameless railing systems safe?

Frameless railing systems are generally safe in all locations as long as appropriate design and installation measures are taken. Also, glass panels used for these systems are extra thick and made of either tempered or heat-treated laminated glass.