Case Study:

Frameless External Glass Balustrade in Essex

Background of the Project:

Undertaken as part of a new build construction project for a private residence on the East Coast in Essex, we were asked to design, supply and install the external glass balustrade, incorporating the curved glass balustrade, to the sea facing terraces.

The balustrade was required to be external and suitably designed to withstand the harsh weather conditions of an external installation directly on the coast line.

The finish of the property was to be of a high standard, with the glass balustrade to match. The key challenge on this project was overcoming to out of plumb structure, and changing radii on the curve.

Brief:

To supply and install approximately 35 linear meters of frameless external glass balustrade to 2 external terraces, including a curved terrace of approx 10 linear meters. The balustrade panels are designed to sit inwards of the parapet wall, with approx. 20mm gaps between each panel to prevent finger trap.

Specification:

21.5mm Toughened Laminated Safety Glass with Polished Edges.
SentryGlas Interlayer.
Curved to a radius of approx. R2500mm.
Fixed with marine grade (316) mirror polished stainless steel standoffs.

Project Timeline:

Our leadtime – 4-6 weeks

Design Considerations:

The design was required to provide uninterrupted views of the sea whilst withstanding the harsh environment and remaining compliant with all required loadings and design requirements to meet BS6180 and other relevant British Standards.

Project Details:

Method:

The panels, which were manufactured with a superior interlayer to withstand the harsh conditions, were fixed to the structure using pairs of 50mm diameter, marine grade (316) mirror polished stainless steel standoffs (point fixings) which were individually manufactured to the required lengths.

Survey:

The survey was undertaken when the finished structure was in place, allowing us to analyse the area we would be fixing to, to design our fixing method, and glass sizes accordingly. The survey involved scanning the area with a laser disto to produce a CAD drawing of the structure.

Design:

The design had to work with the existing structure and withstand the harsh environment. Originally designed to be top fixed, we agreed with the client to side fix it to provide a better waterproofing detail, whilst also avoiding a potential step to the top of the parapet wall.

Installation:

Installation was undertaken terrace by terrace, working from the highpoint of the finished floor level to set out the fixings accordingly. The correct standoff had to be used in its specific location to plumb and align the finished wall for our panels.

Challenges & Solutions:

Challenges:

The main challenges to overcome on this project were the non-uniform curve of the structure, the non-plumb nature of the parapet wall and the harsh environmental conditions that the balustrade would have to withstand – including waterproofing details.

Solutions:

The curve was analysed to work out the best number of panels to suitably follow the curve. Within each panel, the best radii was worked out for that area, keeping the overall curve as smooth as possible. This was communicated and agreed with the client. The distance to the structure at each point was then worked out and an individual length standoff made for each location. By moving the balustrade to the inside of the parapet we improved the waterproof detail, and agreed with the client to use a SentryGlas interlayer to provide greater resistance to the salt water air. Mirror polished marine grade (316) stainless steel fittings were also used for the best resistance to the environment.

Conclusion:

Overall, this frameless curved glass balustrade and other bespoke external glass balustrade installation to the property created a visually stunning finish.

Due to our highly detailed surveys, attention to detail and careful planning with the client, we were able to produce all the glass with zero errors – enabling an efficient and timely installation to take place.

Problems and challenges were overcome at design stage and solutions designed into the final design to eradicate problems later on and ensure we remained within budget.