The Safety Features of Glass Balustrades

Glass Balustrades are a popular choice with architects and designers but many people opt for wood or metal balustrades as glass is known for being fragile and easy to break. We are here to dispel the myths and reassure you of the safety of glass balustrades.

Glass Balustrades are made with Safety Glass

Legislation in the UK requires a glass balustrade to be made with toughened glass or laminated glass. Toughened glass is glass that has been tempered which means it has been heated to around 700°C and then quickly cooled. This creates a strong layer on both sides of the glass, locking the tension inside the core of the glass. This process makes tempered glass 4x stronger than untempered glass. This means that if it was to break, the toughened glass would break into much smaller pieces making it less dangerous and easier to clean.

Laminated glass holds together due to a layer of plastic or resin membrane that is placed between two panels of toughened glass. Should one of the glass panels break the membrane protects the second glass panel from shattering.

Safety glass goes through a rigorous manufacturing process and is priced accordingly. We recommend only buying from reputable suppliers as it’s not worth buying cheap glass and risking your safety. 

The Thickness of the Glass

The thickness of the glass has a big bearing on the safety of the glass balustrade. Different environments and usage affect the load requirements on the glass and overall balustrade system and therefore affect the thickness of the glass that is needed. At Origin, all our glass meets UK legislation and British safety standards meaning you don’t need to worry. 

Glass is Durable 

Glass is an extremely durable material that doesn’t require a high degree of maintenance. Unlike wood, glass won’t rot and unlike metal, it won’t rust meaning it is the perfect material for outside use. The anodised aluminium and glass won’t be affected by snow, rain or wind meaning the balustrade’s performance won’t be affected and will be in great condition for years to come. 

Glass is Transparent 

Glass is a transparent material meaning that everyone can see through it to enjoy the view. This might not sound like a safety feature but it stops people from standing on furniture or climbing fences to get a better view. This means there are fewer chances of an accident 

If you want to know more about the safety of glass balustrades or have questions about your glass balustrade contact our specialist team.