Laminated glass consists of two or more glass panes laminated together with an interlayer film (PVB, EVA, or SentryGlass). If the glass breaks, the glass remains attached to the laminating film. Our stock cut-to-size (non-tempered) glass is standard PVB laminated glass. You can ask about other options from our customer service.

Regular (non-tempered) glass breaks into sharp, cutting large shards. Tempered glass crumbles into small granules. In laminated glass, two or more glass panes are laminated together with an interlayer film. If one glass pane in laminated glass cracks or breaks, the fragments remain attached to the laminating film and the glass retains partial load-bearing capacity (but requires immediate inspection and possible replacement).

Glass can also be tempered before lamination—this creates tempered laminated glass, which combines the benefits of both: the high strength of tempering and the safety of lamination. It should be noted that if both glass panes in tempered laminated glass break simultaneously, load-bearing capacity is lost immediately and the glass must be replaced immediately. In non-tempered laminated glass, if both panes crack, load-bearing capacity is lost but the glass may remain together without collapsing, because the large shards remain attached to the film. Such glass must never be used—it must be replaced immediately.

Railing glass, overhead glazing, balcony partitions, stair railings, floor glass (often 3-layer laminated glass), shop windows, and other applications where the safety properties of laminated glass are required. Tempered laminated glass is mandatory for railings and overhead installations.

PVB (standard): Our stock product, suitable for indoor use. Not recommended for outdoor use without edge protection and ventilation due to moisture absorption.

EVA: Much better for outdoor use, more water-resistant (not 100% but significantly better). Request a quote from customer service.

SentryGlass: The strongest option, five times stronger than PVB. Excellent outdoor resistance.

PVB film is not suitable for outdoor use in its standard form unless edges are protected and ventilated. PVB can absorb moisture, leading to delamination. For outdoor applications, we recommend EVA lamination—request a quote from our customer service.

Yes—correctly dimensioned and professionally installed railing glass is extremely safe! Safety requires, however, that:

1. The correct glass type is used: Railing glass must always be tempered laminated glass (2025 regulations)
2. Glass thickness is correctly dimensioned: Thickness is selected based on span, loads, and fixing method (see "How do I choose the right thickness for railing glass?")
3. Tested fixings are used: All clamps and profiles must have official CE markings and test reports (see "Does it matter which clamps or profiles I use to fix railing glass?")
4. Overall design: The fixing frame, screws, and base must also be dimensioned to withstand loads

For critical installations, we always recommend consulting a structural engineer. When these factors are in order, glass railing is completely safe and also a stunning visual solution!

According to 2025 building recommendations and regulations, railing glass must always be tempered laminated glass. Previously, non-tempered laminated glass was also used for railings, but the latest calculations and recommendations show that in order for the glass to withstand the required point loads, line loads, wind loads, and other service loads, the glass must be tempered laminated glass. This ensures the glass can withstand impacts and, if broken, does not fall out of the frame, providing maximum safety. The glass thickness is selected based on span and loads.

ABSOLUTELY NOT, if it is a proper railing glass with a fall height from one level to another. If tempered glass breaks, it immediately crumbles into small granules and falls out completely, which means the safety and fall protection provided by the railing is completely lost. This creates an immediate life-threatening danger.

Exception: A glass railing where there is no fall height at all from one level to another can be just tempered glass. These include, for example, windbreaks in private homes or decorative/privacy railings where the levels are at the same height and there is no risk of falling (e.g., a windbreak at the edge of a terrace where the terrace level continues on both sides of the railing at the same level). Even in these cases, the glass must withstand all required loads (wind load, point load, etc.), and dimensioning must be done carefully.

Laminated glass strength design is ALWAYS based on the principle that a single individual glass pane must withstand all required loads (point load, line load, wind load, etc.) completely independently. The second glass pane acts as a backup glass, which only takes the loads if the first glass breaks.

CRITICAL ERROR: If laminated glass is incorrectly dimensioned based on the combined thickness and combined resistance (e.g., thinking that 2×6 mm = 12 mm total glass), the consequences are catastrophic. When the first glass breaks, all loads are immediately transferred to the second glass, which alone cannot withstand the loads—it breaks immediately after. Result: both glass panes break almost simultaneously, load-bearing capacity is completely lost, and safety is compromised. This is why laminated glass design must ALWAYS be based on the principle that a single pane withstands the full loads, and the second pane is additional safety.

Glass thickness depends on three main factors: span (distance between fixing points), loads (point load, line load, wind load), and fixing method. IMPORTANT: Each case must be calculated individually!

Absolute minimums depending on fixing method:

Fixed on one side (e.g., railing glass base rail fixing or glass clamps on only one edge): Absolute minimum is 8+8 mm tempered laminated. One-side fixed glass acts as a strong lever arm, which creates large bending moments in the glass, so a stronger thickness is mandatory.

Fixed on two sides (fixed at the ends): Note that glass height has a significant effect on glass deflection! A lower glass deflects more easily than a tall glass, even if the span between fixing points remains the same. Generally, it is recommended that glass fixed on two sides should be at least 800 mm high or higher due to improved technical strength of the glass. However, always take into account building regulations regarding railing height and glass side clearances (i.e., how much empty space may be left around the glass, objects that can pass through, etc.)—check with building control.

Fixed on four sides (e.g., framed railing): Absolute minimum can be 4+4 mm or 5+5 mm tempered laminated. With four support points, loads are distributed more evenly, so thinner glass may be sufficient.

Railing glass typically ranges from 4+4 mm to 15+15 mm tempered laminated glass depending on strength requirements.

Thickness is selected by calculating span, loads, and fixing conditions. Never guess—incorrectly dimensioned glass can break in use. We always recommend consulting a structural engineer.

The entire system must be designed carefully: glass type, glass thickness, fixing method, clamping depth, and the frame, screws, and all fasteners must withstand point loads, line loads, and wind loads.

CRITICAL NOTE - Overall Design: Even thick glass won't help if the structure fails elsewhere! Examples of dangerous situations:
• Concrete breaks underneath because fixing point loads were not calculated correctly
• Wrong type of fixing screw rusts through over time outdoors
• Thin deck board to which the railing is attached tears away from railing forces
• Fixing profile is too weak and cannot withstand loads

The entire chain from mounting base to glass is only as strong as its weakest link. Correct glass dimensioning is useless if the fixing structure fails. Consider overall design—every part is equally important! For critical installations, we always recommend consulting a structural engineer.

Edge polishing (ground or polished edge) is mandatory for railing glass and other load-bearing structures for structural reasons. Unpolished edges contain microscopic cracks, and sharp edges are weak points. Under load (wind, point load, temperature), these microcracks can grow and lead to glass failure. Polished edges remove these microcracks and ensure full glass strength. This is a critical safety requirement—even if the edges are completely hidden in the mounting profile.

Yes, but it requires precise engineering. The following must be calculated and verified: glass type, glass thickness, fixing method, clamping depth, and that the frame, screws, and all fasteners can withstand point loads, line loads, wind loads, and snow loads.

In heated buildings or public spaces, overhead glazing must use laminated glass. For heat treatment, it is recommended to use heat strengthened glass or, in some cases, fully tempered glass. The final glass type and thicknesses are determined by a structural engineer by calculating loads and conditions.

If laminated glass is not tempered, it can be cut and processed at any time with specialized tools. Cutting laminated glass is a demanding and precise procedure: the glass is cut from both sides at the same location, each cut is snapped before cutting the next side, then the laminating film is melted open with an electric resistance heater, cut, and separated.

If laminated glass is tempered, it cannot be processed in any way after tempering. All holes, cuts, and edge finishing must be done BEFORE tempering and lamination.

Yes, it is HIGHLY recommended! Individual glass panes in laminated glass are usually thin, and they easily crack at the hole location if the glass is not tempered. Non-tempered glass cannot withstand the twisting or compression forces around the hole—the glass easily cracks from the hole during use.

In very rare cases, a hole can be made in non-tempered laminated glass, but this is an exception, not a recommendation. Generally: if laminated glass has holes, the glass panes should be tempered before lamination. This ensures the glass's durability and safety.

You can order tempered laminated glass from our webshop at www.lasit.fi. Select BOTH tempering AND lamination in the configurator, as well as shape, quantity, edge finishing, and other required features. For EVA lamination or special projects, contact our customer service for a quote.

Yes—and this is a critical safety issue! Railing glass can be fixed in several ways: clamping glass clamps, point fixings, floor-mounted base rails, or U-profiles. Every clamp and profile must be tested and certified specifically for railing glass use.

DANGER: Wrong products on the market

Online and in stores, you often see very similar-looking products (such as clamping glass clamps) with huge price differences. Why? One clamp may look exactly the same in photos but is actually only thumb-tip sized and lacks test reports (and wasn't even originally intended for railing glass), while another is palm-sized and has proper CE markings and load tests. Some products are designed only for windbreak use or display case dust protection—not to protect people from falling!

Real-life examples of dangerous situations:

Example 1: For instance, in one concert hall auditorium, a base rail+glass combination was found that was rated for only 50 kg load (residential use)—being used to protect massive crowds from falling! This is life-threatening.

Example 2: A customer brought us broken glass pieces as a sample and asked us to make a new "railing glass" to replace the broken one—a child had bumped into the railing, the glass had cracked and fallen out of its fixings from the upper floor to the ground floor. When we examined and assembled the old glass pieces, we discovered that the glass was 2500 mm long, thin regular laminated glass, fixed at the ends with some clamps found online that had only a 15 mm clamping area. Not a single part of this package was even theoretically strong enough...and the list goes on.

Often it's a matter of ignorance, sometimes also negligence—the cheapest possible option that doesn't even meet regulations is installed in a contracted project, "as long as it's laminated glass".

What you must do:
• Demand official test reports and CE markings from all railing glass accessories
• Verify that the product's performance values (load-bearing capacity) are sufficient for your specific application
• Don't trust a seller's word that "no one has ever fallen through these"—demand documents
• Always use a structural engineer for railing design
• Be especially careful with products imported from outside the EU—the market has many untested products that don't meet requirements

✓ Properly designed glass railing is extremely safe!

Correctly dimensioned and professionally installed railing glass is a 100% safe solution that you can be completely confident about. Additionally, glass railing is a visually stunning choice—modern, airy, and bright solution that brings a sense of space and elegance. Glass railing increases property value and creates a unique atmosphere in both indoor and outdoor spaces.

Invest in quality, safety, and beauty—glass railing is a decision you'll enjoy for decades!