Now that’s a view worth protecting!

 

Are you considering glass railing for your project? Check out the information below…

 

History of Glass Railing:

Even though glass railing has a contemporary look it has been around for a long time. The first patent for glass rail technology appeared in the late 1960s and became a mainstream addition to the building codes in the 1980s. Glass railing has become a popular alternative to traditional mechanical rail, cable rail, and welded rail because of its contemporary design. Glass railing is used in commercial and residential structures. Due to the technology and engineering required, it is not the least expensive option for your design, but it will offer the best view.

Construction of Glass Railing:

Traditional glass railing includes a glass baluster, secured into a base and a top rail. The top rail offers protection against falls should the glass panels break. Glass Railing has load requirements just as any railing would, 200-pound concentrated load and a separate load case of 50-pound-per-foot uniform load applied perpendicular to the top of the guard, to uphold safety.

Top Railing Exception:

As technology has progressed glass railing can now exclude a top rail, the International Building Code (IBC) released an exception to the top rail requirement. If a glass baluster is laminated and has been impact-tested to be used as a barrier in compliance with ASTM standard 2353 (The American Society for Testing and Materials), then a top rail isn’t a requirement. Now architects have the option to have a completely transparent design.

Do you like what you see?

Liberty Aluminum added glass railing to their offerings over 10 years ago. Since then Liberty Aluminum has completed dozens of beautiful glass railings for resorts and waterfront homes. If you are in the market for high-quality glass railing for your next project, let our team at Liberty Aluminum Co. make your dream a reality today. Give us a call at 239-369-3000