38 | JUNE 2020
Products
Read online at www.proinstaller.co.uk
CLEAR THINKING WITH GLASS
With modern balustrades now often used to
achieve seamless views and a clean, minimal look
in modern architecture, glass is a popular material
choice. But what are its advantages and how can
specifiers ensure it is installed safely and with
minimal maintenance issues? Simon Boocock,
Managing Director of CRL Europe, takes a look.
Highly visible and a
practical necessity, balustrades
are one of the most
important features of a
staircase and they are increasingly
being chosen to
make a focal point in buildings
and for facades too.
Highly durable, glass facades,
including ventilated
glass façade systems with
an open structure, are often
now added to older architecture
too, as an extra layer
of protection against the
elements. This is a material
that offers many practical
benefits, such as thermal
insulation, solar control,
acoustics, fire protection,
safety and security. And
that is not to mention the
versatility of glass, enabling
it to work alongside any
other material and within
any setting.
Internally, one of the
biggest challenges of
modern architecture is lack
of natural light. Research
suggests that the more
natural light there is, the
greater the wellbeing of
the building’s occupants,
leaving specifiers with a
challenge on their hands
in creating a light-filled,
inspiring open-plan space
with good acoustics. The
use of glass enables natural
light to flow and a highend
look to be achieved,
while acoustics and privacy
levels can also be managed
effectively.
The cost effectiveness
of glass is another advantage
– this very durable
material will last a long
time and creates a timeless
impression, so won’t need
to be frequently replaced
with any modernisation of
a building’s interior. Letting
natural light through will
also save on energy bills,
making glass a very cost-effective
resource.
Glass balustrades and
facades were therefore the
preferred choice for specifiers
working on the Banc of
California in Los Angeles.
The facility features custom-made
all-glass entrances,
glass railings, and
bullet resistant transaction
systems which enhance the
aesthetics and function of
the stadium.
A key feature within
the building is a frameless
glass balustrade system,
which with its clean sightlines
and minimal hardware
improves views while
increasing safety. Handrails
were also installed with
LED lighting for improved
visibility and aesthetic
appeal. With no scaffold required,
the system enabled
installation to be completed
from the safe side of
the balustrade from start to
finish. The stadium faced
an aggressive construction
timeframe yet managed
to open weeks ahead of
schedule. CRL’s rapid customization
capabilities and
robust distribution network
offers one of the shortest
lead times in the industry,
which helped expedite the
project.
From a practical viewpoint
for specifiers and
installers, toughened glass,
wherever it is used in a
building needn’t be difficult
to install or maintain, as is
evident in the above example.
With the right systems
chosen, glass systems
can be straightforward to
fit, even retrospectively,
enabling the open-plan
space to be easily adapted
to suit changing requirements.
Dry-glazed systems,
such as the one used for
the Banc of California, are
particularly effective for
modern interior designs as
they are quick and easy to
install, ultimately providing
maximum transparency and
an elegant appearance.
The easy to install,
easy to adjust glass
balustrade system
Installing glass balconies and balustrades
without a handrail for a minimal and high-end
finish is now more straightforward than ever, with
the CRL Posiglaze system.
A fully adjustable glass balustrade system, CRL
Posiglaze uses a unique clamping design and a
quick and easy adjustable method to align glass
panels when a handrail is not desired.
Cleverly designed out of extruded aluminium,
the system is lightweight yet extremely strong.
Posiglaze uses a unique, simple adjustment system
allowing horizontal alignment of each glass
panel making it fully adjustable and possible to
install even on an uneven surface.
Installation is possible in just four easy steps;
fit the base channel to the substructure, clip
the glass side clamps to the bottom edge of the
glass panel, position the glass in the channel and
attach the cover strip and bead gasket.
The surface mount and the fascia mount base
shoes can both accommodate 12 mm to 21.52mm
glass thanks to the unique clamp kit design, providing
a versatile, easy to use installation method
for rail-free glass balustrades.
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