1：Use safety compliant glass:
As a specialist glass balustrade supplier for 10 years +, we get this question every day. Forget looking for a single ‘best fit’ thickness, safety and performance dictate the answer, which is based on an engineering foundation, not guesswork.
Use safety compliant glass:
Ordinary glass is not suitable; toughened glass is the absolute benchmark. For stairs, raised areas or public spaces, laminated glass (two pieces of toughened glass bonded with PVB) is often required. In the event of an impact, the laminated glass can be held together to prevent broken glass from sticking to people.
2：The main driver of thickness:
Height: Higher panels = more leverage at the bottom.
Span: wider unsupported sections require greater stiffness.
Location: Balcony? Balcony? Stairs? Poolside? Wind loads and intensity of use vary.
Local Building Codes: Codes (e.g. EN 12600, IBC) specify minimum impact ratings and load resistance.
3：Practical thickness guide:
Low steps/shorter barriers (<300 mm): 10-12 mm toughened glass is sufficient (need to check the regulations!). .
Standard balconies/staircases (up to ~1.1m high): 15mm toughened/laminate is the most common and proven solution.
High partitions (>1.1m) or large spans: 18mm, 19mm or 21.5mm are usually required for stability and to limit deflection.
Windy/commercial areas: 19mm or 21.5mm laminates are desired for greater stability.
Post time: Jun-24-2025