Designing Safe and Visually Striking Glass Railing Systems

Earn 1 AIA HSW LU.

Glass railings play an important role in the aesthetics, function, and safety of buildings. There are several types available such as base shoe systems, post railings, standoff railings, and unitized systems. This course covers key considerations when specifying glass railings including best practices in design, component selection, and installation. It will also address the role of building and safety codes. Upon course completion, participants will possess a deeper understanding of glass railings to help ensure that safety, aesthetic, and performance objectives are achieved.

Learning Objectives

• Obtain valuable insight into glass railing types, applications, and installation methods, including dry glazing vs. wet glazing.
• Review typical glass thicknesses used in glass railings, as well as the best applications for monolithic tempered glass and laminated glass.
• Learn about new developments in glass railing design, fabrication, and installation methods.
• Understand the role of the International Building Code (IBC) and the International Code Council (ICC), and what code and testing standards apply to glass railing systems.

Matt Gyore

Technical Director

Architectural Railings & Metals Group

Matt Gyore

Matt Gyore has more than 18 years of experience in the architectural railings and metals field. His extensive knowledge of glass railing systems encompasses product engineering, testing, manufacturing, distribution, and new product development. In his role as Technical Director at CRL, Matt leads a team of product specialists in assisting customers with the design, specification, and installation of code-compliant glass railing systems.