Glass Balustrades Guide
History of Balustrades
Balustrades have been used for centuries around the world and can be found in many ancient structures. with a history stretching back further than many other forms of architecture still used today. Their main functions have always been to provide safety on balconies, terraces or bridges and to create a beautiful look. They were also built to provide privacy and protection.
Balustrades today
Balustrades in varying materials, shapes, and designs are used throughout the world nowadays. Wood, clay and cement balustrades are rarely used anymore. Glass balustrades are often used for modern buildings, but we also see them on more traditional homes. They can give the finishing touch to an urban environment as well as to a more rural one. Glass balustrades have the ability to give a feeling of space and safety without blocking views. They modernise and enhance a building like no other material.
The safety of Glass
Despite being a popular choice for architects and designers, many people fear installing glass balustrades because of safety concerns. Glass has a reputation for being fragile and easy to break. Nowadays this couldn't be further from the truth.
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* Only Toughened or Laminated glass may be used.
Toughened Glass, also known as tempered glass, is treated at approx' 700 degrees Celsius before being cooled rapidly (quenching). This results in a product with approximately
five times the strength of the equivalent thickness annealed or laminated glass. Please note that Although Laminated glass is required by law in the windscreens of cars it is not standard laminate. It is manufactured by layering toughened glass and resins rather than annealed panels.
Laminated Glass is made by sandwiching layers of plastic or resin membrane between multiple annealed glass panels. Should one of the glass panels break under impact, the membrane
works like a ‘safety net’ and protects the second glass panel from shattering. The complex process of manufacturing Laminated Glass results in a high cost. As everyone knows it doesn't take much of an impact to crack your windscreen.
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We use toughened glass in the majority of our installations.
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* Glass Thickness
A typical pane of residential window glass is approx' 3 mm thick and has no tempering treatment.
The minimum thickness and treatment for a framed balustrade system is 8 mm tempered glass.
A Frameless system will require laminated toughened glass similar to a windscreen with a minimum thickness of 15mm
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* Security
Young children and pets are notorious for going where you don't want them to go and this is another reason why more and more people are turning to glass.
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