A balcony guard is a buy-once-live-with-it-for-twenty-years decision. Three things actually decide whether yours passes inspection and still looks right in a decade: glass thickness, height, and how the panels are anchored. Here is how to settle all three before you order.
Why choose a glass railing?
Glass railings turn an ordinary balcony into a modern, open space instantly. Unlike metal or wood, glass gives you an unobstructed view while keeping the guard fully code-compliant. The same logic applies to a glass deck railing.
The three criteria that decide your project
1. Glass thickness
For a balcony guard, 12 mm tempered glass is the industry standard, and it is what Groupe ENO supplies as standard. It carries the code-required loads with margin, and it is the thickness inspectors expect to see on a frameless system.
2. Height — settle this before you measure anything else
Under the IRC, a residential deck or balcony more than 30 inches above grade needs a guard at least 36 inches tall. Commercial and multi-family projects are generally 42 inches, and a pool barrier is 48 inches. Our standard 36″, 42″ and 48″ configurations map directly onto those three cases — the full breakdown, including stairs and opening limits, is in our guide to glass railing height requirements.
3. The mounting system
You have three practical options:
- Spigots — the cleanest look, anchored into the deck or the slab
- Wall clamps — for panel edges that land against a wall
- Combined system — recommended for corners and angled runs
To compare the systems in detail, read our frameless glass railing guide.
Why Groupe ENO
- Free delivery across Canada and the United States
- No hidden fees — the price you configure is the price you pay
- Certified tempered glass (CAN/CGSB 12), with a permanent bug stamp on every panel
- Free 2D configurator to lay out your project and price it in real time
Our advice before you order
Read up on the most common mistakes buyers make, then use the free 2D configurator to lay out your balcony and get an exact price in real time.
Ready to price your project?
Use our free 2D configurator to visualize your glass railing and get instant pricing.
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