Glass balustrades are a versatile design element that blends seamlessly in both indoor and outdoor spaces. Many commercial structures consequently use glass balustrades, such as hotels and hospitals, and yet in recent years, media has featured stories questioning the safety of glass balustrades. So customers want to know- how safe are glass balustrades?
To begin with, glass balustrades are made from safety glass, either tempered or laminated, that is resistant to breakage. Safety glass is thus labelled because if the glass was to break or shatter under exceptional circumstances, it would break into hundreds or thousands of small pieces, as opposed to larger, sharp shards.
Tempered Glass
Tempered glass, which is also referred to as toughened glass, is made by quenching pre-cut, edged standard glass in a tempering furnace. The end result is that the first heated and cooled glass hardens and is rendered four to five times stronger than regular glass. Because of this strength, tempered glass typically remains intact when it falls and only breaks upon extreme impact with the ground.
Laminated Glass
Laminated glass consists of an interlayer of vinyl between a minimum of two plies of glass. Because of this “sandwich” construction, laminated glass has structural integrity and tends to stay together when broken. That’s why laminated glass is the preferred material for use in modern windshields.
Next, consider that glass balustrades are deployed in a manner dependent on either posts or structure. Vertical posts provide support and bolster the balustrades safety quotient by distributing the weight load. Structural dependency is a less convention option, but offers the same increase in safety that posts provide.
Another factor to remember is that building codes govern both public and private space. That means that in order for glass balustrades to be installed, the material must comply with stringent requirements. As of 2006, Australian standards for glass balustrades (AS1288) dictate that glass balustrades that are located higher than 1 metre off the ground cannot be frameless; the balustrade must be fitted with a handrail of specific specifications.
The easiest way to obtain installations that are to code and in turn safe for use is to purchase material from an accredited glass balustrade system manufacturer and to have the installation performed by an accredited professional.
At Doberman Windows and Doors, we use Viridian glass in our glass balustrades to ensure the highest safety standards. Specifically, the Viridian Balustrade system creates balustrades with minimal framing while providing the strength afforded by using Viridian toughened glass products (VTough, VLam) in 10mm, 12mm or 15mm widths. The system can be either frameless or bolted and complies with safety loads outlined in Australian standard AS1288. Using the system, you can create a durable glass balustrade that fits your desired design without compromising on safety.
To learn more about glass balustrades and safety, contact us at +61 2 9584 1966.
