FD3 - Glass Balustrades

Purpose

To establish guidance on the safe design and finishing of glass balustrades in an aquatic facility.

Glass balustrades have become very popular in both commercial and domestic applications. Glass provides a barrier as well as transparency so can offer structural performance with minimal effect on the view.

Design Considerations

The designer must first determine the purpose of the balustrade. Once this is done, the appropriate load requirement can be determined. Balustrade loads are specified in AS/NZS 1170.1.

There are a number of potential load choices; which one is suitable will depend on the purpose of the balustrade. If in doubt as to which load applies to your design situation, speak to a building surveyor. It should be remembered that design standards specify minimum requirements so consideration should be given to assessing if these minimum requirements are suited to your application.

The use of glass in balustrades is governed by Australian Standards AS1288 2006, and advice as to the type and thickness of glass required for various support conditions can be found below.

Glass can form a structural component of the balustrade, or the balustrade may have a structural component made from another material such as steel or timber, with the glass acting as an infill panel only. This places a lesser load on the glass as the major load is taken by the structural component.

Suitable Glass Types

The suitability of glass itself and the type of glass for a particular balustrade situation should be considered by the owner or operator of an aquatic facility. Grade A Safety glass is required for use in balustrade systems. The safety glass suitable may be:

• Toughened Glass
• Laminated Glass
• Heat Strengthened Laminated Glass
• Toughened Laminated Glass

These are the only glass types permitted. The designer must determine that in the case of accidental or deliberate damage, any falling glass can cause no public danger. Exposed edges of laminated glass are not recommended.

Visual Indicators on Glazing

Where there is no chair rail, handrail or transom, all frameless or fully glazed doors, sidelights, including any glazing capable of being mistaken for a doorway or opening, shall be clearly marked for their full width with a solid and non-transparent contrasting line.

The contrasting line shall be not less than 75 mm wide and shall extend across the full width of the glazing panel. The lower edge of the contrasting line shall be located between 900 mm and 1000 mm above the plane of the finished floor level.

Any contrasting line on the glazing shall provide a minimum of 30% luminance contrast when viewed against the floor surface or surfaces within 2 m of the glazing on the opposite side.

References

• AS/NZS 1170.1 Structural design actions
• AS1288 2006; Glass in Buildings – Selection and Installation
• AS 1428.1-2009 Design for Access and Mobility – Part 1