Laminated Glass in Balustrades: A Safer Standard, Despite Regulatory Setbacks
- Andrew Waddington
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
In recent years, the specification of laminated glass for balcony balustrades has become a subject of significant debate, particularly in the wake of changes to UK fire safety regulations.
At Shepherd Gilmour, we believe that despite the current situation involving certain regulatory ambiguities, laminated glass remains the safer and more responsible choice for most balustrade applications. That said, it is essential the specifier understands the rules, regulations and limitations in order to make the right choice for each unique use case. We have produced this article to achieve exactly that, enabling design and construction professionals alike to confidently specify the right glazing for the application.
Our view is based on performance, occupant safety, lifecycle risk mitigation and informed by decades of experience designing glass balustrades, frameless balconies and structural facade supports in accordance with codes standards and recognised industry body guidance including the IStructE.
Understanding the Regulatory Landscape
Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy in 2017, the UK Government introduced a series of amendments to Approved Document B (Fire Safety), specifically Regulation 7(2) under the Building Regulations 2010, which restricts the use of combustible materials in the external walls of residential buildings over 18 metres in height.
Unfortunately, the wording of this regulation inadvertently captured laminated glass, due to its polymeric interlayer (commonly PVB, SGP or EVA), which can technically be classed as combustible. As a result, laminated glass is often considered non-compliant in external guarding, despite remaining permitted in doors and windows within the same façade zone.
This has led to uncertainty, particularly where laminated glass would otherwise be the most appropriate material for safety-critical applications such as frameless balustrades. While modern fire rated alternative laminates do exist, such as Pyroguard Advance, these can be prohibitively expensive when used on larger projects, which may lead to specifiers defaulting to monolithic glazing, which has serious drawbacks and safety concerns post-failure.
The Case for Laminated Glass
From a structural safety perspective, laminated glass offers significant advantages over monolithic toughened glass. Key benefits include:
Post-breakage integrity: If one or both glass layers fracture, the interlayer retains the fragments, maintaining the barrier and fall protection, critical in accordance with BS 6180:2011, which requires barriers to prevent persons from falling.
Protection from falling debris: The interlayer prevents shards of glass from dropping to areas below, addressing concerns under the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, which place duties on designers to mitigate foreseeable hazards.
Improved resistance to impact and edge damage, particularly when using stiffer interlayers such as ionoplast (SGP).
These properties are essential in high-rise residential schemes, mixed-use developments, and buildings where balconies are accessible to occupants. Laminated glass behaves predictably and safely under damage scenarios, giving clients and residents added reassurance.
Where Regulation Meets Reality
Industry bodies such as the CWCT (Centre for Window and Cladding Technology) and the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) have issued guidance and position statements supporting the continued use of laminated glass, based on fire testing data and structural performance.
The challenge is that laminated glass currently struggles to achieve Class A2-s1, d0 under BS EN 13501-1, due to the nature of the interlayer, which limits its acceptance under Regulation 7(2). However, government guidance allows for performance-based assessments where non-combustible materials are impractical, particularly where the fire load is negligible and the element is not part of the external wall structure.
In this context, the Building Safety Act 2022 places greater responsibility on designers and principal contractors to justify design decisions through the ‘golden thread’—requiring traceable, risk-assessed rationale for material selections. This reinforces the need to weigh the risks of potential glass failure (and the consequences of a fall from height) against the theoretical fire contribution of a narrow interlayer.
Our Position at Shepherd Gilmour
As a structural and civil design consultancy, we believe laminated glass should remain the default specification for balcony guarding in most scenarios, especially where frameless or minimally supported systems are used, but regulatory changes are required before this can once again become the norm.
We understand that developers, architects and fabricators are working within tight constraints, but we also believe that design decisions should be evidence-led and safety-driven. Where necessary, we assist our clients with:
Performance-based compliance routes, where laminated glass is justified under Regulation 7(3) exemptions.
Collaboration with fire consultants to assess façade risk in context.
Risk assessments and specifications aligned with the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015).
Recommendations for Our Clients
If you’re specifying glass for balustrades or balcony guarding, we suggest:
Consult early on the acceptability of laminated glass under the project’s fire strategy and height classification.
Evaluate the location of the glass within the external wall zone; balustrades may not fall under Regulation 7(2) if sufficiently separated.
Use proven test data and technical statements from suppliers to support performance-based arguments.
Ensure all design decisions are logged within the 'golden thread', as required by the Building Safety Act and your dutyholder responsibilities.
Looking Ahead
We expect to see further clarification from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), as well as potential amendments to Approved Document B in due course. Until then, our approach is to balance regulatory compliance with practical engineering judgment, always placing life safety at the centre of the design.
Further Reading & Resources
Approved Document B (Vol. 1 and 2) – HM Government
Building (Amendment) Regulations 2018 – Regulation 7(2)
Building Safety Act 2022 – Sections on Design Risk Management and Golden Thread
BS 6180:2011 – Barriers in and about buildings
BS EN 13501-1 – Fire classification of construction products
NHBC Standards Chapter 6.9
CWCT Guidance Notes on Fire Performance and Laminated Glass
If you’d like support navigating this topic on a live project, or need help preparing documentation to justify the use of laminated glass, our team will be happy to assist.