Look no further.
We really need to familirize ourselves with our new Code and know what is in there. You already have the resource.
Look under Section 2407 "Glass in Handrails & Guards" of Chapter 24 "Glass and Glazing" of IBC 2006 or CBC2007.
Regards
Casey (Khashayar) Hemmatyar, SE
Private email < khemmatyar@hotmail.com>
From: Joseph R. Grill [mailto: jrgrill@cableone.net]
Sent: Friday, January 04, 2008 3:01 PM
To: seaint@seaint.org
Subject: Re: Glass guardrail support
I'm sorry, I may not have been clear. There are no posts. There is only a panel of glass 3' high x length of protection required. The panel is cantilevered from it's base. The distribution would not be through a top rail / post system, only through the cantilevered glass panel itself.
Any Clearer?
Joe grill
----- Original Message -----
From: Thor Tandy
Sent: Friday, January 04, 2008 2:43 PM
Subject: RE: Glass guardrail support
We are having a (local) debate on guardrails (any rail system above a drop of 2' or more). The main concern at this time is that a lot of off-the-shelf railing systems don't appear to conform to the code loadings we have. Aluminum systems are especially a problem since some manufacturers use the 6063 alloy which doesn't have adequate strength for our loads. We need at least 6061alloy for posts and connecting plates. Welding kicks the s... out of any connections too.
FWIW our loadings are 1.0kN (225#) point and distributed 0.75kN/m (51.4#/ft). This means that to minimize the post load the spacing has to be about 4'-4" ... and the (true) design hgt will depend where the fixing is. If you use a side connect your lever arm could increase to over 3'-9" ...
With glass railings we have a requirement that a top rail be in place so that if any one lite is removed/damaged there is still (possible) restraint. The use of laminated glazing seems to be a way around that requirement but I haven't yet seen where that is allowed per se in our code.
My point? If you are being asked to design just the base connect, make sure that the supplier's system has a written assurance by an/their engineer. If you just do the base you may not be free of liability that the (overall) system conforms (CYA) to any code ... engineers are meant to know better ...
Thor A. Tandy P.Eng, MIStructE, Struct.Eng
Victoria, BC
Canada
vicpeng@telus.net
-----Original Message-----
From: Joseph R. Grill [mailto:jrgrill@cableone.net ]
Sent: Friday, January 04, 2008 1:02 PM
To: seaint@seaint.org
Subject: Glass guardrail support
I am looking at the support system for a guard rail system. The system is pre-manufactured and only the attachment to the structure needs to be designed. It is a guard in a residence and I am told will be 36" high. I also understand that per IBC 1607.1 that I only need to consider the 200# load requirement. The glass panels are wide (from what I am told, they are the full width of the opening they serve with no intermediate vertical non-glass members.
I am wondering if there is some distribution of the 200# concentrated load that can be taken from the top of the guard to the support attachment? with a 36" high guard can the 200# load be distributed over, say 3 ft? or maybe something other 2ft?, 6ft? A distribution would make my attachment to the substructure much easier since it is a wood substructure.
Thanks,
Joe Grill