Glass railing certification
The construction of a glass balustrade or banister requires compliance with a strict regulatory framework to ensure user safety. In France, several standards and certification procedures exist to validate the conformity and mechanical resistance of a glass balustrade. Leading certification bodies such as Ceribois, LGA and Kiwa guarantee the conformity of glazed structures by systematically carrying out mechanical bag and force tests.
The French regulatory framework
In France, the construction standards to be met by glass balustrades are defined in the decree on the technical requirements applicable to building work involving bay windows and glass roofs. This decree stipulates a minimum parapet height of 1.10 m, as well as minimum mechanical resistance to ensure personal safety.
In France, there are two main procedures for validating the conformity of glass balustrades:
- Avis Technique issued by the CSTB (Centre Scientifique et Technique du Bâtiment).
- This is a favorable opinion on new construction elements, products or techniques, based on documentary examination and testing.
- Certification by a notified body such as Ceribois, LGA, Kiwa or others. They issue a certificate of conformity after carrying out the statutory mechanical tests.
Certification bodies
Ceribois
Created in 1989 on the initiative of wood industry professionals, CERIBOIS is one of France's leading certification bodies for wood construction and associated materials.
It offers certification for glass railings after carrying out the following mechanical tests defined in standard NF EN 12600:
- Sack test: resistance to a uniformly distributed static load simulating the weight of people.
- Force test: resistance to a point load concentrated on one point to simulate the effect of a push or impact.
LGA
The LGA, Laboratoire de Glaces et Matériaux de Construction, is a testing and certification body specialized in structural glass, and is authorized to issue European (CE) conformity certificates for glazed guardrails after verification of compliance with harmonized technical specifications.
Kiwa
KIWA is a major international certification body operating in a wide range of sectors, including construction. It offers a comprehensive range of tests and performance assessments for glass balustrades, including mechanical tests identical to those carried out by Ceribois (bag test, force test).
Mechanical testing standards
To validate the mechanical resistance of glass balustrades and issue certification, organizations apply the tests defined in European standard NF EN 12600.
The sack test consists of applying a uniformly distributed load equivalent to the weight of people to the structure. The test load is generally 1.5 kN/m2.
The force test simulates the action of a localized thrust or impact. A point load of 1.5 kN is applied to various points on the structure.
These mechanical tests ensure that the glass railing will not fail under loads in excess of normal operating stresses, thus guaranteeing a high level of safety.