Approval in Dubai and Doha
A terrace or pool-edge balustrade will not be approved without a load-case document. We supply EN 1090 fabrication files, glass build-up certification to EN 12600, and the structural calculation set your consultant needs before sign-off.
Frameless versus semi-frameless
Frameless systems hold the glass in a continuous base channel with no vertical posts — the cleanest appearance, but they demand a substantial concrete substrate and careful drainage. Semi-frameless systems use stainless posts at 1.0–1.5 m centres with the glass clamped or drilled; they tolerate imperfect substrates and are easier to replace panel by panel.
304 or 316?
For interior use or sites more than 5 km from the coast, 304 is acceptable. For pool edges, terraces within sight of the sea, and any location with regular salt-laden wind, specify 316L — the molybdenum content resists chloride pitting, and the difference in cost is small compared with replacing a rust-stained balustrade.
Glass specification
- 12 mm tempered — the economical choice for low balustrades.
- 13.52 mm laminated (6 + 1.52 PVB + 6) — retains integrity after breakage; the common compliance route.
- 17.52 mm laminated (8 + 1.52 + 8) — used for taller or exposed installations and where deflection limits are tight.
Installation support
We supply setting-out drawings, base-plate templates and fixing schedules, and our engineers are available for a technical call with your installer before the pour.
Where it is specified
Residential & villas
Balcony, stair and terrace balustrades with frameless or post-and-rail detail.
Hospitality & retail
Atrium edges, pool surrounds and rooftop terraces in 316.
Commercial & public
Stadium concourses, transport interchanges and office fit-out.
Installation sequence
Survey
Take as-built dimensions of the slab edge and confirm fixing centres.
Set out
Mark post positions against the approved drawing; check falls and edges.
Posts
Anchor base plates or side-fix brackets; plumb and torque to specification.
Glass
Lift glass into channel or clamps, set even gaps, wedge and check alignment.
Handover
Fit caps, clean all faces, remove film and issue the maintenance note.
Packing & loading data
| Container | Linear metres | Posts | Glass panels | Gross weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 ft GP | 450 m | 230 | 230 | ≈ 18 t |
| 40 ft GP | 950 m | 480 | 480 | ≈ 24 t |
| 40 ft HQ | 1,100 m | 560 | 560 | ≈ 26 t |
Planning figures for 1.1 m high post systems with 13.52 mm glass; glass crates usually set the weight limit.
