Are Glass Balustrades & Frameless Glass Safe?

Glass balustrades are a sleek, elegant and modern choice for staircases, balconies and landings, and are popular in properties across the country – both domestic and commercial alike.

They are a fantastic way to bring more light to an area, create the feeling of extra space, and to bring a subtle yet stylish contemporary design to a building. 

However, it’s a common misconception that glass balustrades are unsafe, or are fragile. As they’re made of glass, people are often concerned that they’ll shatter, or are unable to handle much weight. 

Yet in reality, modern glass balustrades are incredibly strong, perfectly safe, and are designed to meet strict safety standards. In fact, when you work with a trusted manufacturer and installer, they are one of the safest, most reliable balustrade options available.

Below, we’ve ‘debunked’ some of the most common myths about glass balustrades, and explained the exceptional safety standards that are followed in the design of these products. 

Myth 1: “The glass will shatter if it’s hit”

This is one of the biggest myths surrounding glass balustrades. 

While it’s true that ordinary household glass is fragile, balustrade glass is a completely different material.

This is because the glass that’s used in balustrades is either toughened or laminated, both of which give the glass a fantastic level of strength, and ensures that it can withstand significant impact. 

Toughened glass is made by taking the material through a controlled heating and cooling process, which gives it up to 5x the strength of standard glass. 

Laminated glass consists of multiple layers, which are then bonded with an interlayer that is designed to hold the glass together if it cracks.

Although extremely unlikely, should toughened glass break, it crumbles into small, blunt pieces (rather than sharp shards). As a result, the risk of injury is minimised. Should laminated glass break, the panes will hold their form and stay in place, until they can be replaced. 

As a result, even if they do encounter extreme impact, a glass balustrade will still remain safe.

Myth 2: “Glass balustrades can’t take any force or weight”

Another common misconception is that glass balustrades can’t support weight or pressure. 

In reality however, they’re specifically designed to do just that.

All structural glass balustrades have to meet stringent British Standards and building regulations. These include strict criteria for load-bearing performance, and dictates how key components (e.g. the thickness of the glass and the mounting system) are engineered, in order to sufficiently handle both vertical and horizontal weights.

As a result, glass balustrades are designed to withstand high levels of force and weight.

Myth 3: “Frameless glass is less secure”

Frameless glass balustrades are an increasingly popular option, thanks to their sleek, minimalist aesthetic. 

However, a common concern that we hear from customers is the worry that removing visible frames makes these units less secure. 

Actually, this is far from the case. This is because frameless systems use thicker, structural-grade glass. So, this material can provide strong support, without requiring additional framing. 

The glass is also anchored into sturdy base channels or fittings, to keep each panel held securely. The result is a unit that attains the same stringent safety standards as other glass balustrade types. 

The importance of quality and professional installation

By working with a reputable, accredited glass supplier, you can be certain that your glass balustrades have been manufactured to achieve the highest safety standards.

At Stevenage Glass, we are professional glaziers, with a talented team of highly trained, fully accredited glazing specialists. All of our glass balustrades are designed to offer exceptional strength, durability and stability, giving you complete peace of mind for your property. 

So, if you’re considering a glass balustrade or frameless design for your property, speak to the Stevenage Glass team today.