GLASS TESTING

Glass Testing. DID YOU KNOW?

All glass balustrades at a drop height of more than 1000 on the outside has to comply to the National Building regulations and signed off by a professional engineer or at least a Level 2 competent person.

This constitutes that every single different type of balustrade has to be tested independently by means of either a 200 or 400 joule impact test and much higher for public spaces before it can or will be certified as safe and in accordance to the National Building regulations.

It is blatantly obvious that a very large number of installers, architects, engineers, builders, building inspectors or home owners are not aware of this law,  or if it was actually certified correctly to satisfy rules.

All our balustrades are subjected to impact testing for both new and renovated homes and certified as compliant to regulations.

We are often requested to supply systems that we know are non-compliant because it is being done by so many others, albeit illegal.

There appears to be much confusion in general on the interpretation of the law however, we have chosen to ensure that all our work complies strictly to regulations by strictly adhering to our very competent experts and advisors.

“DROP IT” Compilation

Glass Testing Procedures.

All our glass balustrades are subjected to stringently controlled and video recorded test rig tests.

TEST PARAMETERS

  1. Specify test procedure that is measurably similar to the replication of actual installation.
  2. Video record test and publish.
  3. Field inspect by professional engineer to confirm compliance for final certification purposes.

These are the measurement test requirement that all of our glass balustrades are subjected to.

If glass balustrades are not qualified against these testing requirements, they are probably unlawful.

PLEASE VISIT our in-house and published test results as an effective guideline for design purposes.

Bearing in mind that each installer has to be able to prove and demonstrate his own individual tests.

A design and installation does not qualify unless it has been doe in-house.

Description of in-house tests conducted to date.

Point loading

12 TSG 1000mm above floor level x 1000mm wide and 250mm below. Side bolted 125mm below floor level with two bolts and bonded with Hybrid contact adhesive around outside contact areas of glass to wall.  A deflection of 68mm at 170 kgf on top edge of panel with 50mm x 50mm footprint on the top edge and in the center of the glass panel was recorded without any failure.