Glass Railings Baros Vision

8 commonly asked questions about glass railings

After more than 15 years of designing, manufacturing, and selling glass railing systems, we at Baros Vision see that there are some commonly asked questions about glass railings by customers. We’ve gathered 8 of the most frequently asked in this article.

1. How much do glass railings cost?

Without a doubt, this is the most commonly asked question. It is something that naturally comes to mind when you’ve decided to go with glass railings for your project – how much do glass railings cost? And though it is often asked query the answer is not that simple. If we would give a rough estimate on how much glass railings cost, then the price will range from around 150 to 1000 Euros per linear meter. This price includes the glass railing system, the glass panels, and the installation. Prices may differ depending on which country you are from and how big your project is. Also, prices are different depending on the type of glass you use for the railing system: in some cases, only tempered glass will be enough, but most of the time the best and safest choice is laminated or tempered laminated.

Additional information: How is the total price of a glass railing formed?

  • First factor: Where the railing will be used? There are different systems you can use depending on the expected load and mount type. Respectively the prices of the systems vary.
  • Second factor: What glass will the system use? There is a wide variety of glass modifications, combinations, and glass thicknesses.
  • Third factor: How complex the installation process will be? Some projects require more working hours depending on the situation or the place where the railing will be placed.

2. Are glass railings safe?

YES! Glass railings are completely safe and can be used in almost every project. There are systems that are more suitable for domestic installations and ones that are better if we talk about commercial places such as malls, stadiums, office buildings and etc. Usually, domestic installations are made with glass railing systems that can withstand a load of around 2kN per linear meter which is roughly 204 kilograms of force per linear meter – a value that is more than enough to ensure the safe usage of the railing in your home. Malls and office buildings often use 3-4kN strength systems, whereas stadiums can go up to 10kN. So as you can see with the right systems the glass railing will be safe in pretty much every situation.

We at Baros Vision take safety very seriously and all our systems are subjected to maximum load during certification testing (done at the Institute of Giordano Italy). At the end of the day, glass railings are safety barriers, and knowing the limitations of each system helps to offer the most suitable one for the customer’s specific project.

bv9900s static load test 4kN
BV9900S Test for static
load up to 4kN
bv9900s dynamic load test standard UNI 10807-1999
BV9900S dynamic load standard UNI 10807-1999
test bv9900s standard EN 14017-2016
BV9900S dynamic load standard EN 14017-2016

3. Which glass is best for railings?

If we talk about the best glass that you can use for glass railings then we are talking about tempered-laminated glass. But why? There are a few advantages of this particular glass:

  • It is strong – the perfect solution to ensure the safe usage of the railing, as it is made when two or more glass panels are glued together.
  • It is durable – it provides a thick and at the same time a transparent layer of glass that can withstand even hurricane winds.
  • When it breaks it retains its structural integrity thanks to the PVB foil that is holding each of the glass panels glued together so there is no risk for the people around it.
  • It provides UV filtration and noise reduction thanks to the PVB foil.
  • It minimizes the chance of glass breakage during the railing installation – a common problem when dealing with only tempered glass.

4. Can I modify the glass for the railings?

Yes! One of the best advantages of frameless glass railings over other types of railings is that you can achieve unique and eye-catching designs of the glass. Furthermore, the design patterns of the glass are almost limitless as you can combine glass panels with different colors, transparent and colored glass, transparent or ultra-transparent glass, you can achieve the frosted effect, gradual satin, you can use reflective glass, or add unique digital print or texture coating on the glass that will set you apart from all building in the vicinity.

5. Are glass railings hard to clean?

A sounding NO! The only people that will tell you that glass railings are hard to clean are the ones that offer different types of railings – wooden, iron, concrete and etc. Cleaning your glass railing is as simple as cleaning a window or a glass table. All you need is a piece of cloth and a glass cleaning solution, it can even be water with soap. There are no special and mystical methods to clean a glass railing. Just be careful not to use cloth or sponge with an abrasive surface as it may scratch the surface of the glass.

Another myth that we will bust is that frameless glass railings get dirty quickly. Usually, the cleaning period is once a month or two. In addition, it is easy to clean different things from the glass. Let’s say your kids get creative and draw with felt-tipped pens on the glass – it is an easy clean that compared with other types of railings – calls for repainting.

6. Who installs glass railings?

Usually, the company that sells glass railing systems has a team or teams of installers or works in partnership with such a company. You can also buy the systems that you like and find local railing installers to do the job.

The experience of the glass railing installers can help them to determine the critical points that should be addressed during the mount for the specific project. For example, the surface where the railing is mounted often is not completely flat which calls for a special approach. Drilling the anchor holes too deep or non-symmetrically can cause a problem with the mounting or the strength of the railing. Not removing the debris from the holes after drilling can result in a poor anchor and glue grip and etc.

There are companies on the market that sell railings with kits that allow self-install. With proper planning and some technical skills, it is a possibility. Though most of the options for self-install are for wooden or aluminium railings.

7. Should I use handrails for the railing?

The usage of handrails usually is a choice that the customer makes. Most of the customers prefer to leave the glass railing design clean – without a handrail. It is true that the handrails can increase the strength of the glass railing but this can make more of a difference if we are talking about glass railing systems that have lower strength like 0.5 or 1 kN.

There is a common case when a handrail is needed – when the leveling of the floor is uneven and the glass railing system uses wedges to secure the glass. For example, if there is a difference of 2 mm between the alignment of the glass panels at the bottom of the profile, then on the top of the glass panels that difference can be up to 5-6 mm. This means the glass panels of the railing won’t be perfectly aligned with each other in a straight line. So in this case the usage of a handrail will help to align the glass. This scenario can be avoided if you choose an adjustable glass railing system that allows perfect alignment of each of the glass panels.

8. Is there a problem if water enters the glass railing system?

Water entering the glass railing system is something that can occur, but it is not a problem if proper drainage measures are taken. If we take for example base mounted glass railing that is placed on a terrace then it is probably under the open sky and when it rains – there is water that enters the system.

Why water should not accumulate inside the profile? If water stays in the system for too long it could in rare cases cause delamination issues to the laminated glass. Also, if the water accumulates inside the railing profile during the winter it can transform into ice when temperatures drop below zero. This is a problem because when water transforms into ice it expands (approximately 9%) and can widen the aluminium profile, which afterward stays that way even after the ice melts.

Water poses no problem for the internal parts of Baros Vision’s systems as they are water resistant – bolts and nuts are from stainless steel, the plastic internals are from a special blend of plastic and glass, and the rubber seals are made of special EPDM. This ensures that water will cause no damage.

We hope that the above 8 commonly asked questions about glass railings by our customers were able to answer some if not all of the queries you had regarding glass railing systems. Do not forget that you can always contact us when you have some questions regarding our glass railing systems and how you can optimally use them for your project.

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