Glass balusters on stairs

[Ben H]

Would you say much about them?

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[Nolan Kienitz]

My $0.02 ...

1) Is it tempered glass?

2) Is spacing between balusters 4" or less?

3) They are simply ugly!!

[Ben H]

My $0.02 ...

1) Is it tempered glass?

2) Is spacing between balusters 4" or less?

2) They are simply ugly!!

1) I think so

2)Yup

3)I agree. I felt like I was in Tony Montana house.

[Bill Kibbel]

My $0.02 ...

1) Is it tempered glass?

2) Is spacing between balusters 4" or less?

2) They are simply ugly!!

3)What lateral force can it withstand?

If it wasn't site built, I'd be looking over the assembly for the ASTM number for the standard test method for glass railing systems.

[Marc]

I might write up the lack of a newel post. Every glass baluster product I could find had a newel post on each end.

That and what Nolan said.

Marc

[Jim Katen]

Can it support a 200# lateral load?

[Jim Baird]

As I recall the code says guard must "resist" 200 lb applied laterally...question is what does "resist" mean?

[Jim Katen]

As I recall the code says guard must "resist" 200 lb applied laterally...question is what does "resist" mean?

I think that the generally accepted interpretation is that "resist" means "it doesn't break or become permanently deformed." However, if you're going to set up a test of such a rail, the test for most materials should use a safety factor of 2.5.

Since a portion of the assembly in this case is glass, the safety factor would have to be increased to 4.

So, effectively, the rail would have to resist a lateral load of 800# without breaking or permanently deforming.

[mlparham]

As I recall the code says guard must "resist" 200 lb applied laterally...question is what does "resist" mean?

I think that the generally accepted interpretation is that "resist" means "it doesn't break or become permanently deformed." However, if you're going to set up a test of such a rail, the test for most materials should use a safety factor of 2.5.

Since a portion of the assembly in this case is glass, the safety factor would have to be increased to 4.

So, effectively, the rail would have to resist a lateral load of 800# without breaking or permanently deforming.

I suspect that only a few, if any, currently installed residential rail assemblies would resist a 500 pound lateral load applied under laboratory test conditions.

[Bill Kibbel]

A glass guard rail assembly has to pass a few tests per the ASTM standard, including supporting 334 pounds for 60 seconds. That's why the site-fabricated assembly would not be acceptable.

[Ben H]

A glass guard rail assembly has to pass a few tests per the ASTM standard, including supporting 334 pounds for 60 seconds. That's why the site-fabricated assembly would not be acceptable.

I found no markings whatsoever on the rails. My money is on homemade.

[Jim Baird]

BTW those radial treads don't look like they would meet the six inch minimum on depth at the pointy end.

[Marc]

BTW those radial treads don't look like they would meet the six inch minimum on depth at the pointy end.

Indeed.

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Marc