Glass railing systems differ mainly in how the panel is held: a continuous base shoe, individual spigots, standoffs bolted through the glass into a fascia or stringer, or posts with a top rail. Glass is 1/2in (12mm) or 3/4in (19mm) tempered, or laminated tempered where a guard has no top rail. We fabricate panels in-house in Hyannis to your measured openings.
You can now request pricing and availability directly from us—just let us know what you need, and we’ll take care of the rest.
Spec | Options |
|---|---|
Thickness | Monolithic tempered: 1/2in (12mm) and 3/4in (19mm). Laminated tempered: 9/16in (two 1/4in plies), 13/16in (two 3/8in plies) and 1-1/16in (two 1/2in plies) nominal. Panel height, span and wind load decide which |
Glass type | Tempered clear, tempered low-iron / ultra-clear, laminated tempered with SGP or PVB interlayer, tinted or satin-etched for privacy. SGP interlayer is stiffer and holds a broken panel more upright than PVB the usual choice on exposed coastal guards |
Maximum span | Panel width is set by the mounting system and the design wind pressure, not by a single number. Typical: spigot-mounted panels run roughly 36in to 48in wide on two spigots; base-shoe and standoff panels commonly run 4ft to 6ft; posted systems follow the post spacing, usually 4ft to 6ft on centre. Wide panels on exposed Cape decks get narrower, not wider. |
Edge profile | All exposed edges flat polished as standard; pencil polish available. Panel corners eased or radiused. Every hole, notch and cutout is drilled before tempering |
Hardware finish | 316 stainless is the specification for anything within reach of salt air on Cape Cod spigots, standoffs, base shoe caps, fasteners and the fasteners’ washers. 304 stainless will tea-stain and eventually pit in coastal exposure; plated steel is not appropriate outdoors here. Powder-coated aluminum, matte black, brushed and mirror-polished stainless available inside |
Guard height | The common requirement is a minimum 36in guard in one- and two-family dwellings and 42in in commercial and most multi-family occupancies, measured from the walking surface (stair guards are measured from the nosing line). Massachusetts follows the model IBC/IRC guardrail requirements, but your local Cape Cod building official has the final say for your project |
Infill / sphere rule | Guards generally must not allow a 4in sphere to pass through any opening, with a larger allowance at the triangular opening formed by a stair tread, riser and bottom rail. In practice this governs the gap under the glass, the gaps between panels, and any spigot gaps plan the reveals, do not discover them |
Structural loading | Guards are generally designed for a 50 lb/ft uniform load applied along the top and a 200 lb concentrated load at any point, plus the design wind pressure for the site. Where a guard is engineered or a permit requires it, we work to the engineer’s spec rather than a rule of thumb |
Laminated requirement | The model codes generally require laminated glass for glass guards that have no continuous top rail, and require that a guard remain in place after a single ply breaks. Assume laminated for a top-rail-free frameless guard unless your building official approves otherwise in writing |
Wind / coastal exposure | Barnstable County decks and balconies see high design wind speeds and driven salt spray. Exposure drives anchor count, panel width, glass thickness and hardware grade more than aesthetics do. |
Post spacing | Typically 4ft to 6ft on centre for post-and-panel systems, tightened on exposed or high-load runs; base-shoe anchor spacing follows the manufacturer’s table for the design load |
For a new deck or balcony where you want the cleanest sightline and you can anchor into a solid slab or a properly framed deck edge, a dry-glazed base shoe with laminated tempered glass is the system to beat — it is adjustable after setting, and a damaged panel comes out without breaking concrete.Â
Choose spigots when you want frameless at a lower cost and can accept exposed panel edges and narrower panels; choose standoffs when you are retrofitting an existing deck or running glass alongside a stair and you do not want to give up the walking surface. Add posts and a continuous top rail when the run is long, the exposure is severe, or you want the option of monolithic tempered glass.Â
On Cape Cod stairs in older homes, expect the stringer or rim joist to need reinforcement before any point-fixed system goes on it, and expect the openings to be measured individually rather than divided evenly stair stringers are rarely as consistent as the drawing says.
We’re more than just a supplier—we design, fabricate, and install a full range of custom glass solutions.
You can now request pricing and availability directly from us—just let us know what you need, and we’ll take care of the rest.
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