Balustrades

There are two broad categories of glass balustrades, structural balustrade panels and infill balustrade panels. In general the minimum requirements of the Australian Standards stipulate that Grade A Safety Glass must be used for balustrades. The most important aspect of safety with balustrades is the protection from a difference in height such as a balcony or verandah.

Structural Panels

Structural panels are those that rely on the strength of the glass itself to create a barrier between differences in height. Cantilevered, two edges supported or three edge supported panels without a top handrail, all fall into this classification and in most of cases because of its strength, toughened glass is used. Most structural balustrade panels can only be used when protecting a difference in height less than 1000mm.

Cantilevered Panels

Cantilevered glass panels are regarded as structural glazing. In most cases the glass is totally frameless with the bottom edge wet glazed into a channel to achieve a rigid installation. Due to its strength, toughened glass is required with a minimum thickness of 10mm for this type of installation.

Infill Panels

Balustrades with infill panels can be used when protecting any difference of height where there is a handrail and at least two edges support of the glass. Depending on which method of fixing is used, laminated, toughened or even toughened laminated glass is required. The principal behind these balustrade designs is that if the glass is broken a mechanically fixed handrail will prevent someone from falling.

Interlinking Handrail

An interlinking handrail that complies with AS1170, is a non-load supporting handrail which spans over at least three panels of glass which are no smaller than 1000mm. Whilst connected to the three panels, if one panel were to break, in theory the remaining two panels of glass and the handrail will prevent someone from falling. This handrail must be designed to withstand live loads and wind loads covered in AS1170.