Glass balustrades are toughened-laminated glass panels installed as fall-protection barriers on stairs, balconies, decks and mezzanines. Panther Glass designs and installs frameless and semi-frameless balustrades across Penrith and Western Sydney, fully compliant with AS 1288 and AS 1170.1 load requirements.
Why toughened-laminated
Balustrades carry a fall-through risk: if a single toughened panel fails, the occupant could fall. The Australian Standard solution is toughened-laminated, two toughened panes bonded with a structural PVB or SGP interlayer. You get the strength of toughened plus the containment of laminated.
Common configurations
| System | Best for |
|---|---|
| Frameless, base-channel mounted | Long straight runs, clean lines, no top rail |
| Frameless, spigot-mounted | Stair runs and curved layouts |
| Semi-frameless with stainless posts | Coastal or industrial installs |
| Top-rail capped (handrail-mounted) | Required by BCA above 1 m fall, residential |
Code points that matter
- Above 1 m fall in residential, handrail at top of balustrade is required by the National Construction Code.
- Glass thickness, typically 13.52 mm toughened-laminated for balcony runs; thicker for cantilevered installs.
- Engineering, load-tested fixings, certified by structural engineer where required.
- Edge protection, child climbable detailing on the outside (gaps under 100 mm).
Installation
Site measure, structural engineering report (where load or geometry requires), fabrication of toughened-laminated panels, fixing of base-channel or spigots into structure, panel installation, top-rail (where specified), final compliance check.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a handrail on top?
In residential, yes when the fall height exceeds 1 m. In commercial, almost always. We supply matching handrails in stainless, powder-coated aluminium or timber.
Can a balcony use single-toughened glass?
Only where fall-through containment is not required by code, which is rare. Most modern balustrades specify toughened-laminated for safety.
How thick is the glass?
Typically 13.52 mm (2 x 6 mm + interlayer) for residential balconies. Cantilever runs and long unsupported spans go to 17.52 mm or 21.52 mm.
Do you do internal staircase balustrades?
Yes, frameless and minimal top-rail systems are popular for modern internal stairs. We coordinate with builder and carpenter on stair-stringer fixing detail.
Get a quote
Need a quote? Call 02 4722 2787 or email sales@pantherglass.com.au with photos and we will come back the same business day.