What does Glass Construction entail in railing and metal fabrication?

Glass Construction refers to the structural combination of glass with load-bearing metal components—in Railing construction, this primarily involves the combination of stainless steel or aluminum with glass. Glass serves as the infill or fall protection, while stainless steel components such as clamps, point fasteners, or aluminum profiles securely hold the panes in place and transfer loads to the building structure. The result is transparent, light-transmitting railings that visually open up spaces while simultaneously meeting the required safety standards.

The materials impress with their high resistance and durability and are suitable for architectural projects of all kinds—both indoors and outdoors, in residential construction as well as in commercial and public sectors.

Fastening Principles: From Post-Mounted to Post-Free

Glass Construction is divided into several system approaches that differ in appearance, assembly, and application:

Glass clamps on posts—the classic solution: The glass pane is clamped between or in front of stainless steel posts. Clamps with general building authority certification (abZ) and general type approval (aBG) are used where the railing serves as fall protection. Clamps without abZ/aBG are suitable for non-safety-critical applications.

Privacy screen clamps – the clamps are mounted in front of the posts so that opaque glass panels fit particularly closely together, creating a uniform overall appearance.

All-glass and point-fixed solutions – postless systems as well as glass point holders, in which the glass itself becomes a defining design element.

Special Brackets – Sheet metal holders, Tube spacers, Shower fittings, and sliding glass door systems round out the product line for applications beyond standard railings.

Thanks to the modular system, the components can be freely combined. This allows for the configuration of a suitable, structurally safe solution for every installation situation.

Materials and Glass Types

The stainless steel components are primarily available in V2A (for indoor and outdoor use) and V4A (higher corrosion resistance). For custom color schemes, die-cast zinc components can be powder-coated to RAL standards.

Safety glass is used as a filler: single-pane tempered safety glass (ESG-H) and laminated safety glass (VSG). For colored or opaque designs, laminated safety glass assemblies with interlayers are available in numerous variants. Other fillers, such as sheet metal or HPL/TRESPA plates, can also be implemented using the appropriate components.

Applications in the Specialty Trades

For metal fabricators, the key is finding the right combination of fastening method, Material, and glass assembly—tailored to the installation situation, environment, and structural requirements. For each of these requirements, coordinated components and supplementary Accessories—such as edge protection profiles or Handrails—are available.