how thick should glass balustrades be

The ideal glass thickness for balustrades depends on panel span, system type, and loading criteria. Standard residential installations often employ 12 mm laminated tempered glass (two 6 mm plies with a 0.76 mm PVB interlayer), sufficient for heights up to 1,100 mm and spans under 1,000 mm. Commercial or high-wind applications may require 15 mm or 17.5 mm laminated units for increased stiffness and load capacity. Frameless balustrades with point-fix fasteners rely on thicker glass to resist point loads, whereas channel-mounted systems distribute forces along the base channel, allowing marginally thinner panels. Archsky’s specification guides recommend thickness based on wind load tables and deflection limits: typically L/175 for guardrails. Always coordinate with local code requirements and structural engineers to confirm that selected thickness meets both safety standards and desired visual transparency.