32 | MAY 2020
Products
Read online at www.proinstaller.co.uk
THROUGH THE
LOOKING GLASS
CRL’s DRS Door Rails and Blumcraft® Panic Handles
were installed throughout the stadium, including
VIP entrances and suites. DRS Door Rails provide
clean, uninterrupted glass spans, which give the
entrances a contemporary, all-glass aesthetic
Why is glass now such a popular material in
balustrade design, 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, balus-
trades are one of the most
important features of a
staircase and they are in-
creasingly being chosen to
make a focal point in build-
ing interiors and exteriors.
The benefits of specify-
ing glass in architectural
design are as clear as the
material itself. Highly dura-
ble, glass facades, including
ventilated glass façade sys-
tems with an open struc-
ture, are often now added
to older architecture as an
extra layer of protection
against the elements. This
is a material that offers
many practical benefits
that sit well with specifiers
working commercial and
residential architecture,
such as thermal insulation,
solar control, acoustics, fire
protection, safety and secu-
rity. And that is not to men-
tion the physical versatility
of glass, which can literally
be chosen to work along-
side any other material and
within any setting.
Internally, one of the big-
gest challenges for archi-
tects is lack of natural light;
particularly when there are
lots of rooms within rooms
as is often the case in
commercial buildings such
as office blocks, schools
and public buildings. The
use of glass enables natural
light to flow and a high-
end look to be achieved,
while acoustics and privacy
levels can also be managed
effectively.
The cost effectiveness
of glass is another advan-
tage – 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-ef-
fective resource too.
One of the potential pit-
falls of the overuse of glass
for commercial buildings
make the interior uncom-
fortable.
Glass balustrades and
facades were therefore
the preferred choice for
specifiers working on the
new Banc of California in
Los Angeles. The facili-
ty features custom-made
all-glass entrances, glass
railings, and bullet resistant
transaction systems which
enhance the aesthetics and
function of the stadium.
CRL’s taper-Loc glass balustrade system is
a dry wall system that is easy to install and
maintain, leading it to be chosen by installers
working on prestigious projects such as the
Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles.
though, is the effect of
solar heat gain; warming a
building with the flow of
natural sunlight certainly
increases energy efficiency
and makes for sustainable
construction, but too much
uncontrollable heat will
A key feature within
the building is a frameless
glass balustrade system,
which with its clean
sightlines and minimal
hardware improves views
while increasing safe-
ty. Hand rails 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 sta-
dium faced an aggressive
construction timeframe yet
managed to open weeks
ahead of schedule and in
time for the new season.
CRL’s rapid customisation
capabilities and robust
distribution network offers
one of the shortest lead
times in the industry,
which helped expedite the
project.
From a practical view-
point for installers, tough-
ened glass, wherever it is
used in a building needn’t
be difficult to install or
maintain. With the right
systems chosen, glass
systems can be straightfor-
ward to fit, even retrospec-
tively, enabling the open-
plan space to be easily
adapted to suit changing
requirements. Dry-glazed
systems are particular-
ly effective for modern
interior designs as they are
quick and easy to install,
ultimately providing maxi-
mum transparency and an
elegant appearance.
For further information
call 01706 863600, email
[email protected], or
visit www.crlaurence.co.uk