Are your glass balustrades safe? Here are 3 easy ways to tell

Steel Studio gives you 3 quick and easy ways to tell if your glass balustrades are safe. Our team of experts have designed and tested a range of balustrades that will leave you assured of your safety. To view our range go to https://www.steelstudio.co.za/stainless-steel-post-and-glass-balustrades/

Buying a glass balustrade can be daunting, with so many options and prices out there. You need not to be an expert on balustrade safety to know if your balustrade system has been safety tested. We give you 3 easy ways of checking that your system has been designed with your safety in mind.

Insist on a Form 3 sign off for your glass balustrades

You don’t need to have expert access to the latest SANS regulations and building codes to tell if your glass balustrades are safe or not. You merely need to insist on a Form 3 sign off before committing to a balustrade contractor. A Form 3 is a declaration by a registered professional structural engineer that your glass balustrade has been designed and tested to be structurally safe. If your balustrade contractor is unable to provide you with this certification, you can be assured that your balustrades have not been tested for your safety.

Glass thickness matters in your balustrade system

Steel studio frameless glass balustrades on a walkway.

Getting quotes for your new glass balustrades could cause great confusion. Because the balustrade industry is not formally regulated, you could find yourself going for the cheapest quote first. However, prices could range anywhere from R1500/meter to R3500/meter from various contractors. One of the most essential factors to inspect on your quote is the glass thickness quoted in the balustrade system.

1. For framed glass balustrade systems, also known as post and glass balustrades, a minimum glass thickness of 10mm complies.
2. On frameless glass balustrades, a minimum glass thickness of 12mm meets the SANS safety regulations.

Compare the quotes that have specified the correct thickness of glass and ensure that the glass is toughened safety glass and not just regular flat glass.

A glass balustrade without a handrail could be dangerous

Steel studio glass balustrades with handrail on staircase.

Depending on the glass balustrade design you are looking for, you need to make sure if the design requires a handrail or not. A simple way of knowing is:

1. A frameless glass balustrade that is secured in a permanent concrete or steel channel at 100mm deep and 50mm wide, will not require a handrail, as long as a professional structural engineer has tested and signed off the fixing method and the safety of the design.
2. A frameless glass balustrade that is fixed to the side of the substrate or to the top of the fixing surface, using a fixing component, requires a handrail that is pinned to the wall or floor at the end.
3. A post and glass system that requires a minimum of 10mm thick toughened safety glass always requires a handrail.

With these tools in hand, you are able to make an educated decision on the quotes you get for your new glass balustrades.

For more information on glass balustrade safety visit our web page at https://www.steelstudio.co.za/ or call us today on 011 608 1963 to speak to one of our qualified sales executives for a no-obligation quote.