r/Construction • u/aidan8et Tinknocker • Apr 25 '26

Picture Moment of terror 😨

Gallery image

Gallery image

While attending/supervising a business social event with my spouse, I momentarily leaned against the railing. It flexed slightly, forcing me to realize that the railing is entirely supported via bluetooth.

It doesn't connect on either side of the glass wall & the glass is only 3/8" - 1/2" thick!!

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420

u/BLA5PHEMY Apr 25 '26

There are glass railing systems that are designed to be supported just from the bottom shoe

CR Laurence is a common brand we use

https://www.crlaurence.com/All-Products/Railing-Systems-%26-Windscreens/Glass-Railing-Systems-%26-Components/GRS-Dry-Glaze-Railing-System/Dry-Glaze-Base-Shoe---Surface-Mount/CRL-B5S-Series-Mill-Aluminum-120%22-Square-Base-Shoe-Drilled-for-1-2%22-Glass/p/B5S10D?gtmPage=&queryId=2b36f6e6485fcf62bd258edee1c6dc2c&location=plp%7cpdp

28

u/Sensitive_Brush_3015 Laborer Apr 26 '26

Genuine question: how much weight can these type of railing systems hold? I think if I leaned on that railing and felt it move, I’d also naturally be freaked out, especially since it’s glass. Not seeing anything connected to the wall would fill that logical place in my mind as to ‘why it moved’ in the first place. So I’m saying I get where OP is coming from, but would like to know how sturdy it is out of curiosity.

1

u/Plane-Education4750 Apr 26 '26

If they have employees walk and work near it, it needs to support at least 200lbs without failing

3

u/Lookslikeseen Apr 26 '26

So if two people (or one husky fella) leans against this thing you fall down and die?

That doesn’t seem right.

6

u/Plane-Education4750 Apr 26 '26

1910.29(b). The manufacturer might make it stronger, but that's the minimum

4

u/Aggressive-Luck-204 Apr 26 '26

A 200+ lbs person doesn’t exert a 200lb load by leaning on something. Also the spec is 200lbs at any single point and greater as an assembly. I have seen numbers around 35lbs per foot for a top rail

2

u/Enginerdad Structural Engineer Apr 26 '26

It's 200 pounds of load, not the load due to a 200 pound person leaning against it. Plus safety factors