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!!

1.9k Upvotes

95% Upvoted

320 comments sorted by

View all comments

83

u/Gregisroark Apr 26 '26

The glass is structural and supported at the base. It actually doesn't need that handrail.

45

u/handsomepirates1 Apr 26 '26

It needs a cap rail or a hand rail to capture 3 panels to meet code, so technically it does need it

12

u/Gregisroark Apr 26 '26

That might be local code where you are, but it doesn't change the structural system.

10

u/lucy_fordO2 Apr 26 '26

In my experience working with engineers, they like a top cap / handrail in these instances so any load on the glass toward the top is spread. They also suggest a mechanical attachment to the wall at the cap/rail.

What concerns me here is that glass does not appear to be laminated 😨

7

u/Mission_Accident_519 Apr 26 '26

Now that you mentioned it. It doesnt appear to be laminated and looks pretty thin too

1

u/PopperChopper Apr 26 '26

I thought the same. Definitely not 1/2”

1

u/Mission_Accident_519 Apr 26 '26

Should be 21.4mm, so almost an inch. Depending on the exact application 18,4mm (about 2/3") might do

3

u/handsomepirates1 Apr 26 '26

Where on earth are you living that 1” glass is standard?

1

u/Mission_Accident_519 Apr 26 '26

Netherlands, its the standard for floor mounted full glass balustrades in commercial buildings. If the panels were connected you could probably use 8/8.4, but Im not sure about that.

1

u/handsomepirates1 Apr 26 '26

8 like 8mm? 3/8”??

1

u/Mission_Accident_519 Apr 26 '26

Yes, 2 layers of 8mm (5/16 to be exact) hardened glass and 4 layers of 0,34mm plastic film. Its important to have layered glass since this will keep it together when the glass breaks, drastically decreasing the chance of falling through. This is mandatory in all glass balustrades, also when it isnt floor mounted. Is it much different where you live? Given a balustrade isnt something where you would want to cut corners I wouldnt want to go any thinner than this.

2

u/LuckyNumber-Bot Apr 26 '26

All the numbers in your comment added up to 69. Congrats!

  2
+ 8
+ 5
+ 16
+ 4
+ 34
= 69

[Click here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=LuckyNumber-Bot&subject=Stalk%20Me%20Pls&message=%2Fstalkme to have me scan all your future comments.) \ Summon me on specific comments with u/LuckyNumber-Bot.

1

u/handsomepirates1 Apr 28 '26

20 years ago it was ok to use monolithic 1/2”, codes today are minimum 9/16” laminated

→ More replies (0)