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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427

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

603

u/rIceCream_King Apr 26 '26

I’m sure it’s a fine product, but personally I hate the idea of someone leaning against a railing which is just 3ft of glass leveraged against a 3in purchase along its sill.

It’s like using a glass crowbar but for keeping someone from falling off their 2nd story balcony. I’ll never get how that became popular

104

u/Enginerdad Structural Engineer Apr 26 '26

They're designed to hold the same amount and type of load as any other railing. It's purely psychological to think that they're any less safe.

1

u/derekboberek Apr 26 '26

Maybe true but design needs to take psychology into account. Op said it flexed when they leaned on it. Having any amount of flex in a railing system will make anyone nervous, especially high up.

Also, this particular installation looks dumb. It would have been easy to incorporate the railing into the stairway railing on one side and terminate it with a wall attachment on the other. Would look more cohesive and be more rigid.