News Analysis: Glass Railings & Daylighting
Glass Railings Have their
Place in Green Design
Wagner’s glass
railing system helps
maximize daylighting
inside the Lancaster
General Hospital in
Pennsylvania.
lass has carved a big niche in the green build-
ing world for a variety of reasons, one of which
is its ability to transfer natural light into a space.
“What architects don’t want to see is lots and
lots of metal. They want transparency and that
visual impact. They like the idea of uninterrupted
views. They like the idea of frameless systems.”
This has put a premium on ensuring these
systems, and the glass in them, are designed for
safety and adhere to stringent codes. For exam-
ple, laminated glass is being promoted in many
codes, and a cap rail on top of the glass is often
required.
“One thing architects like is clean lines,” says
Chatfield, noting that the metal and glass indus-
tries should collaborate on solutions to meet
design demands.
In addition to the visual component and
daylighting benefits, Chatfield says architects are
inquiring more and more about the sustainable
design of his company’s products. Wagner’s alu-
minum base shoe, for example, is a green product
that qualifies for LEED credits.
g
While the exterior of the building does much of
the heavy lifting, glass is increasingly being used
on the interior for this purpose.
This goes beyond the application of interior
glass walls and partitions.
Dan Stachel, vice president of SC Railing Co.,
says the use of glass railings continues to gain
popularity as architects seek options to maximize
natural light flow within their projects. “Shifting
architectural trends coupled with advances in the
laminated glass technology have greatly improved
the popularity of glass railing systems,” he says.
Stachel adds that while these systems have for
years provided architects with a variety of options
to enhance the appeal of a space, “the addition of
LEED credits for daylighting makes glass railing
an even more compelling option for designers.”
Andrew Chatfield of The Wagner Companies
says he’s seen an uptick in architect demand for
“That plays into it, as well,” he says. “They
want a product that is sustainable and can be
glass railing systems that give designers “the ability recycled.”
to drag that light, kicking and screaming, down
through the building.”
The desire for more transparency and cleaner
The increased implementation of glass railing
systems into modern architectural interior design
means manufacturers have to adapt to architects’
sightlines, he says, means less metal. “We went from unique designs, often on a case-by-case basis.
a post and rail system, which there are many of
around, to a metal railing system with glass infill,”
says Chatfield. “Then with the advent of clamping
systems, whether it’s a wet-glazed system or a dry-
glazed system, that it brings it out even more.
“With our experience designing project-specific
systems, coupled with our existing architectural
railing lines, we feel we can provide a system to
match nearly any project’s unique requirements,”
says Stachel. AGG
1
6
www.glassguides.com
Architects’ Guide to Glass & Metal