How thick should glass balustrades be?

Glass balustrades lend a modern aesthetic to any building project, be it homes, offices or outdoor balconies. Their popularity is not merely due to their visual appeal, but their functionality and safety.

One big consideration when it comes to choosing a glass balustrade is the glass thickness you need. This isn’t always just down to visual preference, the thickness of the glass balustrade can often be dictated by strict safety regulations.

What are the building regulations related to glass balustrades?

Building regulations for glass balustrades are designed to ensure safety and functionality. These regulations vary from region to region but generally focus on aspects like minimum height, glass thickness, and the necessity of a handrail.

Check out our article ‘Do you need planning permission to install glass balustrades outside’ for more information about the regulations you need to be aware of when installing balustrades.

How tall does a glass balustrade need to be?

Determining the appropriate height for glass balustrades is a crucial aspect of ensuring their safety and compliance with building regulations. According to UK building codes, the required height for a glass balustrade varies depending on its location.

In residential situations, where there’s a potential fall height greater than 600mm, such as balconies, the minimum height requirement for a glass balustrade is 1100mm from the standing surface. On the other hand, for stairs, landings or ramps, the glass balustrade needs to be at least 900mm high, measured from the pitch line, which is the line connecting the front part of each step in a flight of stairs.

By adhering to these regulations, you can ensure that your glass balustrades serve not only as an aesthetic feature but also provide necessary safety and support.

How thick does a glass balustrade need to be?

The ideal glass balustrade thickness depends on a multitude of factors, including the length of the panels and the location of the balustrade. As a rule of thumb, for a standard residential balustrade, a thickness of at least 10mm toughened glass is typically recommended. For larger spans or commercial applications, the thickness should be increased accordingly to maintain safety and stability.

Is a Handrail Necessary for Glass Balustrades?

According to UK building regulations, under the standard BS6180:2011 Section 5.5.2, a handrail is not necessary. However, it is advised that a handrail is used unless your balustrade is constructed using toughened laminated glass as this will remain in situ if a panel fails.

Ensure Project Success with Express Toughening

At Express Toughening, we’re dedicated to helping you stay on top of your projects. With our extensive range of glass balustrades, expert advice, and prompt delivery, we are your one-stop shop for all your glass needs. To stay informed about the latest in glass innovation and design trends, read our blog or sign up for our newsletter.

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What Our Customers Say

Andrew Cooke

Superb customer service from the Express Toughening team – when I made a mistake on my order online, they dealt with the issue quickly organising partial refund immediately. My order arrived quickly and their courier messaged me before delivery to check I was in. Quality product at the best price I found online.

Rated 5 out of 5
Kiron Kular

A massive Thankyou to Helen from Express Toughening for being so patient, co-operative and helpful with my orders. She resolved a re-make without any fuss and in an extremely timely manner. If you want glass – go to Express Toughening and ask for Helen!

Rated 5 out of 5
Andy Beviere

Extremely easy company to deal with, glass ordered weeks ago and asked for a specific delivery date due to glass testing and no one being onsite. Delivered on time and when asked for other types glass stated they couldn’t help but recommended an equally helpful company!!

Wouldn’t hesitate to use again.

Rated 5 out of 5
Brian White

I’ve used Express Toughening twice now and have been very impressed with the glass they have supplied and also the helpfulness of the staff. The first job was a couple of years ago when they supplied me with a 6mm satin frosted toughened glass door for our shower room. From my measurements they supplied a fabulous door which had the hinge and lock holes cut out and also took into account the out of square measurement of the door frame. It fitted a treat and is stunning to look at.

More recently (late last year) they supplied me with painted toughened glass splash backs (7 items altogether in 6mm glass with the biggest being 2.1 metres long), all cut to my sizes and with numerous switch and socket cut-outs. My local glass supplier said they could not cut out the close together sockets and switches, but Express did and got it spot on!

As with the glass door, the splash backs were delivered to me by Expresses’ own transport and without any problems and quality issues.

After the scary bit of fitting them all the result is faultless and stunning. Thanks go to Alex who helped me with the ordering process and technical aspects of glass splash backs.

Rated 5 out of 5
David Convery

4mm toughened glass for greenhouse. Although slightly dubious about ordering from a company I’ve never heard of and not local (300mile away) I’m so glad I took the plunge. A great customer service from Helen and the team from start to finish, clearly there was nothing for me to worry about.

Their website is easy to use and made ordering online a doddle and for those shapes, they don’t have on their website a quick email and rough diagram sorted any issues there. All glass arrived on time well packed and with no breakages.

It’s a company I wouldn’t hesitate to use again and I’d definitely recommend it to others who need quality glass cut to size.

Rated 5 out of 5
Tony Fields

Excellent product.
Exactly what it says on the tin.
Brilliant, friendly service from Helen.
Definitely recommended.
(And we’re on the Scottish border)

Rated 5 out of 5
Tony Owen

Fantastic service, fantastic prices and fantastic products – I could not recommend Express Toughening highly enough – I got an immediate response to my request for a quotation, and Helen was so helpful in answering my questions. Order placement was easy and everything arrived exactly on time and as promised. I won’t look anywhere else for my next order – great prices (way cheaper than other quotes) and great service!

Thank you!

Rated 5 out of 5
Sam Richardson

We have been using Express toughening for a number of years, mainly for glass screens and Toughened Glass for balustrade. The company are always reliable, deliveries always on time and friendly helpful service.

Rated 5 out of 5