There are many styles and materials of balcony balustrades. The balcony is crucial for a house, it determines the comfort, view, and light of your house. It is very important to choose a suitable balcony railing. How choose a balcony railing becomes very difficult for you.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Northglass.

 

You can decide what material to use and then choose a style that matches the material and color of your balcony and surroundings.

 

Why do you need to consider stainless steel glass balcony balustrades?

 

The glass balustrade has a modern atmosphere. Open field of view, visually increase the space, the space is the more bright atmosphere, for the narrow balcony it is a good choice. Glass is easy to install, non-toxic, and odorless, the best choice for modern railing. Long life, safe, even if the tempered glass breaks, it will not fall down and hurt people.

 

Stainless steel is one of the most corrosion-resistant materials on the market. Variety of styles, rich surface, can be made in various colors, wood plating, etc. Anti-corrosion, strong corrosion resistance. Solid, high load-bearing capacity.

 

Stainless steel glass balcony balustrades have all the advantages of stainless steel and glass, safe, strong, durable, beautiful, and suitable for all environments, indoor and outdoor. No maintenance afterward, no need to replace. If you use other material stair handrails, you may need regular maintenance, maintenance cost is quite a lot, after using a period of time you need to replace it, this cost is huge. The average cost of using one year is much higher than the stainless steel glass balcony balustrades!

 

It is a very safe balcony balustrade, You don't need to worry about children climbing.

What material do I need to use for the balustrade of a balcony?

There are wood, metal, glass, PVC, mixed, acrylic, etc. Each material has its advantages and disadvantages, which one is suitable for your home?

The following is an introduction to the advantages and disadvantages of each stair balustrade material.

 

1, Wooden Balustrade

Family balconies generally do not use wood balcony balustrade, wood installation process cutting is more troublesome, good wood is expensive, bad wood is not durable, and easy to corrode. Compare with metal balcony balustrade, it is very impractical.

As the wood ages, there is a possibility that the fasteners that connect these components

between these parts and the structure are loose, missing, or come off

 

2, Metal Balustrades

The most popular metal balustrades are stainless steel and aluminum, closely followed by wrought iron and cast iron. Here are a few of the most used in the market. 

 

(a), Stainless Steel Balustrade

Stainless steel is one of the most corrosion-resistant materials on the market. Variety of styles, rich surface, can be made in various colors, wood plating, etc. Anti-corrosion, strong corrosion resistance. Solid, high load-bearing capacity. If you have the budget please try to choose stainless steel, low maintenance costs, is durable, no replacement worries later.

 

304 stainless steel balustrade

Pros: resistance to common rust and corrosion

Cons: will corrode in chlorinated or saline environments

Most suitable for indoor or protected balustrades; non-hostile outdoor environments. Residential, commercial, industrial are all possible

Maintain: Almost maintenance-free

 

316 stainless steel balustrade

Pros: Highest corrosion resistance

Cons: more expensive

Most suitable for outdoor or extreme environments; Residential, commercial, industrial are all possible, very suitable for industrial use

Maintenance: virtually maintenance-free

 

Duplex stainless steel balustrade

Pros: Highest corrosion resistance

Cons: More expensive than 316 stainless steel

Most suitable for seaside, marine, or extreme environments; residential, commercial, industrial, very suitable for industrial use

Maintenance: Almost maintenance-free

 

(b), Aluminum Balustrades

Aluminum has the outstanding advantages of stable performance, high strength, lightweight and rust-free, and long life.

Pros: stable performance, high strength, light and rust, long life, a variety of styles, rich surface

Cons: the texture is softer than steel, strength, and toughness are not as strong as steel and iron, the surface is easy to oxidation.

Most suitable for indoor and outdoor railings

Maintenance: avoid solid things hit, the aluminum surface has a protective layer that can cope with many harsh weather conditions, and does not require much maintenance.

 

(c) Iron Balustrade (Iron balustrade contains wrought iron and cast iron)

Wrought iron balustrade

Wrought iron fencing can provide your home with a classical aesthetic unmatched by other types of fencing materials.

Pros: Strong, durable, and inexpensive, wrought iron fences are perfect for security fencing due to their high material strength, often topped with sharp decorative nails.

Cons: low corrosion resistance

Most suitable for Indoor and outdoor

Maintenance: Wrought iron fences require frequent recoating and repainting to prevent rusting.

Cast Iron Balustrade

It is a metal iron fence made of cast iron.

Pros: strong, durable, cheap

Cons: low corrosion resistance, few styles, can not be wrought

Most suitable for indoor and outdoor railings

Maintenance: wrought iron fence needs to be recoated and repainted frequently to prevent rusting.

If a single small batch is good with cooked iron, easy to weld. If the same type of batch is very large, such as hundreds and thousands, and also do not need to be welded, connected with screws, you should choose cast iron, the comprehensive cost is low.

3. Glass baustrade

Pros: wide view, easy to install, with a modern atmosphere, showing high-end. Glass panels can block the wind

Cons: need regular cleaning, the surface is easy to scratch

Most suitable for the outdoor and indoor environment; domestic use, commercial use

Maintenance: Avoid impacts and scratches, otherwise little maintenance is required, just clean regularly.

 

4, Plastics balustrade

The plastics balustrade includes PVC, vinyl, acrylic, and composite. 

The manufacturing process of vinyl, PVC, acrylic, and composite plastics emits toxic fumes that are very harmful to human health and the environment. Securing balcony railing systems made of plastic can also be challenging. Choosing to build exterior balcony balustrade kits and systems out of plastic may not be worth the negative consequences.

 

PVC balustrade

Pros: PVC will not rot, crack or split.

Cons: Soft, susceptible to impact damage, extreme heat can soften the balustrade, may fade or stain over time

Most suitable for outdoor indoor environments; domestic use, commercial use

Maintenance: avoid impact other than almost no maintenance, regularly clean it.

Acrylic balustrade

Pros: light, modern style, allows natural light

Cons: Expensive, not durable, scratches easily

Most suitable for outdoor indoor environments; domestic use, commercial use

Maintenance: it shows dirt, requires regular cleaning

 

Vinyl Balustrade

Vinyl balustrades advantage can be bent and molded to fit popular curved deck shapes and customize your outdoor space with a magnificent design!

Pros: Smooth, chip-free surface, easy to clean, stronger than traditional wood railing, cheaper

Cons: Single style and color, may not fit the style of older homes

Most suitable for outdoor, indoor environments; domestic use, commercial use

Maintenance: Almost maintenance-free, just clean it regularly.

 

Composite balustrade

Can be bent and molded to fit popular curved deck shapes and customize your outdoor space with a magnificent design! Also expands and shrinks less than porous PVC and vinyl products.

Pros: Beautiful appearance, more scratch, and weather-resistant than vinyl. Available in a variety of color

Cons: Requires additional structural support, extreme heat can soften the balustrade, may fade or stain over time, and limited color options.

Most suitable for outdoor, indoor environments; domestic use, commercial use

Maintenance: almost no maintenance, just clean regularly.

5, Concrete balustrade

Pros: Sturdy and durable, you can paint or tile over concrete, making customization easy

Cons: Heavy, difficult to install, limited design

Most suitable for outdoor environments; domestic use, commercial use, industrial use

Maintenance: requires regular cleaning

 

6, Stone balustrade

Stone is often used to create sturdy designs. 

Pros: The stones themselves are difficult to damage or break. Cheap

Cons: This does not do well with wood materials

Most suitable for outdoor, indoor environments; residential use, commercial use, industrial use

Maintenance: No maintenance is required

Note that all balcony balustrades need to be dusted

 

What style of balcony balustrade do I need to choose&#;

 

The use of balustrades containing lattices and horizontal slats is not recommended. It increases the risk of children falling and they are easy to climb. Many local regulations do not allow them to be used. Especially in high-rise buildings, it is very dangerous for families with small children.

 

Picket balustrade

It is a vertical design.

Pros: Simple, easy to install. Available in a variety of sizes, styles, and colors to match almost any environment.

Cons: Cleaning some slots can be a challenge.

Most suitable for outdoor, indoor environments; domestic use, commercial use, industrial use

Maintenance: Cleaning is medium

 

Multi-line balustrade

 

Not recommended

 

 

Patterned balustrade

 

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit glass balcony manufacturers.

  

Not recommended

 

 

Mesh balustrade

 

 

The wire mesh is usually made of stainless steel, but there is also carbon steel with a painted exterior, and copper is the highest-end wire mesh.

Pros: easy to install, easy to maintain, with an unobstructed view

Cons: high custom price, easy to damage during the installation of the grid.

Most suitable for outdoor, indoor environments; industrial use, commercial, residential generally do not use this type of design, not aesthetically pleasing.

Maintenance: Easy to clean

Panel balustrade

 

 

The panel balustrade has a panel in the middle. The panel is usually glass, which is transparent and ideal for panel balustrade and it is the most flowing style. Some panel railing is made of perforated aluminum, some are made of stainless steel mesh.

 

(a), Glass panel balustrade

Pros: simple, easy to install, easy to maintain, with an unobstructed view

Cons: the glass needs to be wiped clean often, the surface is easy to scratch

Most suitable for outdoor, indoor environments; residential use, commercial use

Maintenance: requires frequent cleaning

 

(b), Perforated panel type balustrade

The center is a perforated panel. The panel is usually aluminum, but some stainless steel is also used. Aluminum is less expensive and is used in most cases

Pros: effective partition, with the role of protection often used in public places, such as bus stops

Cons: high cost, looks dull

Most suitable for the outdoor public plates, indoor environment; residential use, commercial use, industrial use

Maintenance: Cleaning is a bit more complicated

 

Cable railing

 

 

Not recommended

  

What kind of mounting do I need to choose?

Fascia mounting

 

 

 

Fascia mounts are a special type of balustrade mount that allows you to attach the balustrade to the edge of the balcony instead of the floor, some places call it a side mount.

It is recommended to use a fascia mount when living in wet/damp climates. When it rains, if you use a top mount, rainwater tends to back up into the balustrade and balcony, which can lead to balustrade and balcony corrosion.

Fascia mount is more attractive.

If your balcony is small, the fascia mount is recommended. top mount takes up space on the deck. fascia mount is installed on the edge of the deck to give the balcony more space.

If you want easy cleaning, a fascia mount is recommended. top mount takes up the edge of the balcony and makes cleaning very difficult.

Top Mounting

 

 

If you need a cheap balustrade post, top-mounted may be suitable for you. side mount posts are more expensive than top-mounted posts.

 

If the balcony does not allow side mounting, you can only choose top mounting

 

What is the balcony balustrade residential and commercial code?

The IRC and IBC are two model codes that serve as recommended guidelines for local code authorities to follow at their discretion. Model codes are often adopted and adapted by communities, and it is necessary to check with your local building code authority (usually the city building department) for codes that are relevant to your community. Balcony railings and protective structures in new and remodeled homes may also trigger permit requirements.

(a), Intermediate vertical members are spaced 4 inches. apart.

(b), Balustrade height of 36 to 42 inches

(c), Balcony balustrades should also be inspected periodically for loose fasteners, peeling paint, and corrosion.

(J), The balustrade is installed to withstand a load, which are the 200 pounds point load and the 50 pounds concentrated load

 

What are the balcony balustrade new trends?

 

(a), Curved design for a more artistic and design sense

(b), Minimalist

(c), Let the light flow, stainless steel, and glass combined in a modern way open the view of the balcony

 

What is the price of various balcony balustrades?

         

 

Why buy balcony balustrades from YongSheng?

 

After you submit a simple drawing with basic measurements and any relevant photos, a dedicated design consultant will work with you or your contractor to discuss options, expectations, applications, budgets, limitations, compliance, and maintenance. Design decisions determined at this time include materials, dimensions, handrails, styles, and any stair details. Your design consultant will then develop a detailed cost estimate for you to consider at

no cost to you.And you can get free samples

Once you approve the cost estimate for your railing system, your designer will create accurate computer-aided design (CAD) drawings to ensure you get the desired look with a perfect fit in the field.

After you approve the final CAD drawings, the manufacturing process can begin.

The YS factory team has specialized in manufacturing stainless steel balustrades and stainless steel glass balustrades for over 20 years. We have extensive experience in production and design.

Start consulting us for a free design consultation for your balcony railings! :

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Full Glass Railing for Balcony

2

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Full Glass Railing for Balcony

Full Glass Railing for Balcony

kmart30

(Structural)

(OP)

9 Nov 18 02:35

• https://files.engineering.com/getfile.aspx?folder=cfaa--4fb3-be81-6

I am trying to do calculations for full sheets of tempered/laminated glass (1/2" thick) for railings along a balcony. See attached picture... The balcony is constructed with wood trusses and the glass will be side mounted to a couple of 2x SYP band boards that are fastened to the trusses. Code says I need to use a F.S. of 4 which is really increasing my loadings. Glass is 42" tall above the deck and I am using a concentrated load of 200lbs per code. Manufacture has 2 holes in glass every 2' o.c. and I was trying to make 1/2" lags work but I am not even close with a F.S of 4. Anybody come across a similar situation? Maybe through bolts with some good sized washers? Any help here would be appreciated...

Replies continue below

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RE: Full Glass Railing for Balcony

oldestguy

(Geotechnical)

9 Nov 18 02:44

Could you set the glass in a channel of sorts that can take tension or compression perpendicular to it. Might allow for lower bolt loads.

RE: Full Glass Railing for Balcony

kmart30

(Structural)

(OP)

9 Nov 18 02:48

No I dont believe so... the architect/owner has a specific product and look in mind. They are going for the seamless look.

RE: Full Glass Railing for Balcony

Ron

(Structural)

9 Nov 18 02:51

Thru-bolting is likely your only option. Lags into sides of 2x lumber cannot develop a lot of capacity.

For yours, you have tension in the upper bolt of about lbf (including safety factor). For 1/2" bolt, that puts your stress at over 80ksi. Not good.

Also, for exposed glass like this, you have to accommodate other stresses such as thermal, so you have to use flexible washers under the bolt heads and provide oversize holes, preferably with neoprene shoulder washers.

RE: Full Glass Railing for Balcony

kmart30

(Structural)

(OP)

9 Nov 18 03:31

This is what I have so far...need to check band boards to trusses as well. Not feeling the warm and fuzzies about this one.

• https://files.engineering.com/getfile.aspx?folder=aade04a8-9fbd-46cc-92f4-3

Very true on all those points Ron, the loads/stress get up there quick with the F.O.S...This is what I have so far...need to check band boards to trusses as well. Not feeling the warm and fuzzies about this one.

RE: Full Glass Railing for Balcony

2

NorthCivil

(Civil/Environmental)

9 Nov 18 03:41

I've done loads of these designs. a lot of engineers "make it work", ignore the standards, and sign off on guards exactly as you describe. 1/2" single pane tempered will not work. but you will see it all over the place, a lot of dangerous guards around.

because there are engineers who sign off on this, contractors expect it. Doesn't make it right. It's all fine and dandy until you meet someone who has fallen through an inadequate guardrail and wound up with a broken neck (been there).

Consider:

1. check your glass design standard. you likely need a redundant guardrail should a pane break. this means, either a fully continuous structural top cap securely fastened at ends to take that 200lb load, or, a laminated sheet of glass that will take that 200lb load should one side of that lite break. look into dupont SGP interlayers.

2. most standards require a top cap, to give the top edge protection. no consumer wants a top cap interrupting their line of sight. if you specify a light duty cheap-o top cap, very likely it will get removed immediately after compliance inspections are done with.

I don't sign off on these anymore. but when I did, I took a pragmatic approach. To make a design like this work to the letter of the code, you will likely need 10on10 tempered laminated, or, 19mm tempered glass with a fully structural top cap. Not many contractors will hire you again if you force them down this road. they may even drop you and find another engineer, as your solution is too expensive.

I would relax my requirements a little bit, and sign off on a guard that was slightly less than code compliant. because if i didnt, my client would go down the road and hire an engineer who would sign off on something downright dangerous. This method makes a real good topic for ethical debate.

PS recommend pushing for 6" spacing between bolt fixings to reduce the moment, original design likely calls for 4"

RE: Full Glass Railing for Balcony

nonplussed

(Structural)

9 Nov 18 05:36

Based on my experience certifying these balustrades, I would recommend that your first avenue is to contact the balustrade suppliers and see if they have testing reports of balustrades for your configuration. Most of these have been tested in a lab to show compliance and not necessarily with hand calculations. The reports I have seen indicate 12mm tempered glass is fine for the edge of balcony loadings we have here (not necessarily the case for your location) using pairs of stand-offs at 500mm average centres. However, these are typically using a continuous handrail which reduces risk in the case of failure and helps redistribute load. I would certainly not recommend non-laminated glass where there is no continuous hand rail.

Looking at your calcs, 3 inch bolt centres is very low; I would use min 4 inches or even 6 inch as NorthCivil says. Also, I would assume the load will distribute to other stand-offs in the glass pane instead of just going to one bolt couple. I would tend to make a quick FEA model of this to work out the load distribution if you don't have the testing data.

RE: Full Glass Railing for Balcony

klaus.

(Structural)

9 Nov 18 08:06

What country is that ??
The problem will/can be the glass...not the bolts

RE: Full Glass Railing for Balcony

kmart30

(Structural)

(OP)

9 Nov 18 14:15

This is in the US (florida)....the glass needs to meet a certain spec per the building code and they have verified that it does.

RE: Full Glass Railing for Balcony

BridgeSmith

(Structural)

9 Nov 18 15:12

Obviously, they want to avoid having a rail at the top, and I have no idea how you manage that one. It would make me fairly nervous. However, would a rail or beam along the top row of bolts be something the arch. would go for? If it were stiff enough, that would give you continuous, rather than discrete, support for the glass, which should help with that aspect.

RE: Full Glass Railing for Balcony

jayrod12

(Structural)

9 Nov 18 15:37

We did a glass guard without a top cap but as Northcivil indicated, we designed the thickness required as if a single lite of the laminated glass broke and relied solely on a single lite. It wasn't cheap but the client in this case did not care about the cost (within reason).

RE: Full Glass Railing for Balcony

hetgen

(Structural)

9 Nov 18 17:46

Most design codes ( if not all) require impact load assessment ( see attached table). The static load requirement should also be appropriate to the type of occupancy, the loading requirement for public areas is very high as compared to residential applications.

@kmartMost design codes ( if not all) require impact load assessment ( see attached table). The static load requirement should also be appropriate to the type of occupancy, the loading requirement for public areas is very high as compared to residential applications.

RE: Full Glass Railing for Balcony

KootK

(Structural)

9 Nov 18 18:47

@NorthCivil: if you've not recently checked your LinkedIn messages, please do.

RE: Full Glass Railing for Balcony

JLNJ

(Structural)

9 Nov 18 20:25

The glass manufacturer may have test data which allows for some redistribution of the load without the top rail.

Last one of these I did was for a loge level in an arena and I was surprised how strong the glass was. It seems to me that the glass calcs allowed for considerable load sharing, even if the load was applied at the edge of one panel. My anchorage was into concrete, not wood, and I remember that it was troublesome.

RE: Full Glass Railing for Balcony

NorthCivil

(Civil/Environmental)

12 Nov 18 03:30

KootK,

My linkedin mailbox is empty, which means I've succesfully remained anonymous!

Appreciate the reaching out though.

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