Tempered Glass Balcony Railing

High security

High strength: The strength of tempered glass is 3 to 5 times that of ordinary glass and can withstand considerable impact forces.

Fragment safety: When subjected to extreme external force damage, tempered glass will shatter into small, blunt, honeycomb-like particles, which are less likely to cause serious cuts to the human body and significantly reduce the risk.

Good temperature stability

Tempered glass has excellent thermal stability and can withstand a temperature difference three times that of ordinary glass (generally up to 300℃), and is less likely to self-explode due to day-night or seasonal temperature differences.

High strength
The flexural strength is 3 to 5 times that of ordinary glass.
The impact strength is 5 to 10 times that of ordinary glass.
Tempered glass sheet can withstand greater loads and stronger impacts.

Safety
The most important feature! When tempered glass is damaged, it does not form sharp and sharp fragments like ordinary glass.
It will break into fine, granular, honeycomb-like obtuse small particles. This greatly reduces the risk of serious scratches or punctures to people caused by broken glass. Therefore, it is also called "safety glass".

Heat resistance stability
The temperature difference that tempered glass can withstand is 2 to 3 times that of ordinary glass (generally it can withstand a temperature difference of about 200°C).
It is less likely to crack due to sudden temperature changes (thermal explosion).

There is no single standard for the thickness of the balcony railing glass. It should be determined based on the height, width (division size) of the glass and the fixing method.

Common thicknesses: Tempered glass of 10mm and 12mm is usually used. For guardrails with larger areas (wider divisions) or higher requirements, 15mm or 19mm May be used.

Reference suggestions

If the height of a single piece of glass is within 1.2 meters and the area is less than 1.5 square meters, a thickness of 10mm can be used.

If the height of a single piece of glass exceeds 1.2 meters or the area is large, it is recommended to use a thickness of 12mm or more.

Frameless (point-supported) glass guardrails have higher requirements for the strength and thickness of the glass, usually requiring 12mm or more.

Conclusion: To ensure safety, it is recommended to directly choose 12mm thick tempered glass, which is a relatively balanced general option between safety and cost. It is best to consult a professional door and window or guardrail company for specific details.

Laminated tempered glass

Structure: Between two or more layers of tempered glass, there is one or more layers of organic polymer interlayer (such as PVB).

Advantage: Ultimate safety! Even if the glass breaks, the fragments will be stuck by the intermediate film, and the entire piece of glass will not fall. It can continue to maintain the integrity of the guardrail and prevent people or objects from falling from heights. This is currently the safest solution for balcony glass railings.

Recommendation: Strongly recommended for use by high-rise residents and families with children or pets.

Wire-reinforced/mesh glass

Structure: Between two layers of glass, there is a layer of metal wire or metal mesh.

Advantages: It has decorative properties and a certain degree of anti-theft. When it breaks, the fragments will also be held by the metal mesh and are not easy to scatter.

Style: It is often used in design styles such as retro and industrial.

Coated/dimmable glass

Coated glass (such as Low-E glass) : A film is coated on the surface of the glass, which can reflect heat and play a certain role in heat insulation and sun protection.

Dimmable glass: It can switch between transparent and fogged (frosted) states through current control, with a strong sense of technology and flexible privacy protection, but it is expensive.

Common installation methods

Profile (stainless steel/aluminum alloy) clamping: The most common installation method. The glass is clamped from the top, bottom and sides with metal columns and slots, and fixed and buffered with silicone structural sealant. This approach is stable and aesthetically pleasing.

Point-supported type: Four corners or multiple points of the glass are clamped by metal claw pieces and ball hinges. The appearance is simple and modern, but it has high requirements for the thickness of the glass and the quality of the claw pieces.

All-glass guardrail (without posts) : Made of particularly thick glass (such as over 15mm), the bottom is fixed by metal channel pieces or special glue, and the top is connected by glass handrails. It has an excellent visual effect, but it is expensive and has extremely high requirements for installation techniques.

Important Notes:

It must have 3C certification: When purchasing, be sure to check whether the corner of the glass is printed with the 3C certification mark. This is the "ID card" of tempered glass to ensure it is a qualified and regular product.

Professional design and construction: Balcony railings are important safety protection facilities and must be designed and installed by professionals. Ensure that all connection points and embedded parts are firm and reliable.

When using structural adhesives: Neutral silicone structural sealant must be used to fix glass. It has excellent adhesion and weather resistance, and can withstand wind pressure and vibration for a long time.

Regular inspection: Check the glass for cracks, the fixing clamps for looseness, and the sealant for aging and cracking at regular intervals. Maintain in a timely manner.

PACKAGE

1. Paper and Cork liner will be put between every two glass to prevent them hurt each other.
2. Seaworthy wooden crates.
3. Iron belt for consolidation.