Walkable glass floors: design and safety considerations
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If your building project involves installing a walkable glass floor, there are design and safety considerations to keep in mind. Find out more in our article.
Walk-on glass can be an elegant addition to any domestic or commercial property. It can be used to let additional light into any part of a building, from the basement to the attic. Or it can be used to create a transparent or translucent deck, terrace or stair tread that's sure to delight visitors.
But like all kinds of structural glazing, walk-on glass comes with a raft of regulations relating to design and safety.
Yes – with architectural glazing, you most certainly can't just turn up and vibe it. Today's buildings are tightly regulated and installers need to be able to demonstrate that their installations are compliant with guidelines.
When it comes to walk-on glass floors, it's easy to understand why safety is so important. As with all health and safety issues, it's about protecting users – but it's also about protecting yourself against lawsuits, bad reviews and lost custom.
So what are the design and safety considerations you need to consider when installing a glass floor system? Before we answer that question, a caveat.
The only indispensable resources relating to this issue are the BS and EN guidelines. The purpose of this article isn't to paraphrase those essential documents. It's to point you in the direction of the documents you need. In short, this article is a helping hand and
not a technical guide.
That aside, we hope this will help you to know what to bear in mind when you come to install a walkable glass floor.
Types of glass
When installing a walkable glass floor, safety is all. That's why you need laminated glass – a kind of safety glass that's built to withstand loads and to stay in its frame in the event of a breakage.
Laminated glass is many times stronger than ordinary glass. In the case of structural glazing, it tends to be made from two or more sheets of toughened glass – often combined with layers of heat-strengthened glass to enhance structural integrity. These robust glass sheets are then laminated together with a plastic interlayer for maximum strength.
You may want to consider adding an anti-slip treatment to the top layer of your glass floor. This typically involves etching dots or crosses into the glass to increase friction without changing its appearance. While the treatment lasts a long time, it may eventually need to be reapplied.
Minimum glass thickness
In a domestic setting, the glass used for a walk-on floor has to be at least 25.5mm thick. Commercial applications may require thicker panes.
These requirements are one reason why it's important to get your glass toughened and laminated by a processor that can supply the materials in the exact thickness that you need.
Compliance
In the UK, structural glazing is governed by BS and EN frameworks. These include BS 1090-2 for steel frameworks and BS EN 1991-1-1:2002 for loads.
The main thing is to check and double-check the relevant guidelines so you can be sure your installation is above board and safe to use. The same goes for the materials you're using in your project. You may need to get these verified by your local council.
Glass floors are held up by support systems, typically made of steel. These, too, need to be certified – in this case by a UKCA-registered company. The structural importance of these frameworks means that certification isn't an option – it's a must.
Is privacy an issue?
If a glass floor is to be installed above a bedroom, bathroom or other private space, you naturally need to ensure that the glass is frosted or obscured. The same goes for glass walkways over public areas. There are plenty of options here, from
coloured interlayers to
glass sandblasting, meaning that privacy doesn't have to compromise on aesthetic quality.
How much does it cost?
While not strictly a design or safety consideration, it's essential that you know how much a walkable glass floor will cost before you commit to a project. Otherwise, you could end up cutting corners that could compromise both safety and design.
The overall cost will depend on the type, thickness and cut of the glass. Non-rectangular glass, for instance, will set you back more than simple rectangular sheets.
The other big factor will be your load specifications. The heavier the load that the floor has to take, the thicker and more expensive the glass will be.
With structural glazing, cutting corners isn't an option. That's why you need a clear and detailed budget before the installers turn up.
Maintenance
Once installed, your glass floor will need maintaining. Compared to carpets, stone or other walk-on surfaces, it's a doddle to clean – but you still need to make sure that the cleaning products you use are appropriate. Otherwise, you could spoil the appearance of your showpiece.
How we can help
Here at our state-of-the-art facilities in Bedford, we cut and process glass to your specifications. Having everything under one roof means that you can keep an eye on the job and rest assured that it's all being done to a T.
Our
TG WO anti-slip product is ideal for floor glass, stair treads, walkways and roof lights. Like all our products, it's safe and compliant with both Kitemark and BS EN standards.
It's also attractive. You can customise it with ease, choosing from five pattern finishes. These include classic dot and square designs.
Whatever your project looks like, we're happy to talk you through your options. Above all else, we can guarantee glass that's safe, compliant and beautiful – along with a service that's quick, no-nonsense and thorough.
ToughGlaze is a trusted global supplier of toughened glass, laminated glass and
walkable glass – among many other glass products. Are you looking for high-quality glass for an architectural project? Don't hesitate to
get in touch with our experts for a fast, fair quote.
