Floor Movement & Glass Railing

For interior glass railing one of the things you need to watch out for is glass railing on stairs that traverse floor levels. If the floors are designed to deflect with live load, care is needed to make sure load doesn’t transfer to the glass railing system.


We saw a project with glass railing that goes between floors and the top portion of the metal handrail continued to the second floor wall framing. There is the possibility that the second floor framing can deflect and if you have a continuous rail that goes between the second floor wall and is attached to the stair, load can be transferred into the glass causing breakage.

It’s more appropriate to break the railing at the floor transition or provide a joint that slides.

Title: Staircase Glass Railing Designs, Glass Railing, Glass Balustrade

Description: JEI offers staircase glass railing designs, glass railing, glass balustrade and glass railing calculations for glazing contractors.