CRL Receives Evaluation Report for Laminated Glass Guardrail System

C.R. Laurence (CRL) has received an ICC-ES Evaluation Report (ESR-3842) for its GRS TAPER-LOC Laminated Glass Guardrail System. This represents the base shoe system for laminated glass guardrails with ICC-ES approval.

The ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES) is a subsidiary of the International Code Council and an authority in performing technical evaluations for IBC compliance. The ICC-ES evaluation committee consists entirely of code officials from jurisdictions across the U.S. to ensure all codes are addressed.

This announcement gives contractors, architects, engineers, and code officials peace of mind knowing that the guardrail will meet or exceed code, and be accepted in construction projects nationwide. An Evaluation Report is only issued for products that successfully complete ICC-ES’s evaluation process.

To issue Evaluation Reports for glass railing and balustrade systems, the ICC-ES tests products in accordance with Acceptance Criteria 439 (AC439). AC439 represents the definitive standard for testing glass guardrail systems. CRL partnered directly with the ICC-ES to develop AC439.

In 2015, updates were made to the International Building Code (IBC) requiring laminated glass in all guardrail applications. The GRS TAPER-LOC Laminated Glass Guardrail System is engineered to meet these code updates. It also exceeds the 200 pound design load minimum with a 4x safety factor (IBC Section 2407). ICC-ES performs ongoing audits to ensure that products continue to comply with the latest codes.

The GRS TAPER-LOC Laminated Glass Guardrail offers several benefits in addition to ICC-ES approval. Its patented dry-glaze TAPER-LOC System reduces installation time by as much as 50 percent and simplifies glass adjustment or replacement. Its base shoe features a multiple hollow design that makes it 30 percent lighter than standard base shoes for handling ease. A patented safety seal can be installed in the base shoe before the glass is so glaziers no longer have to risk reaching over the railing to roll in the outside gasket.

The engineering advantages offered by the GRS TAPER-LOC Laminated Glass Guardrail System garnered industry recognition. The system won the Best in Category — Railings award during Architectural Record’s 2016 Record Products competition.

“CRL Glass Railing Systems were the first to receive ICC-ES approval,” says Chris Hanstad, vice president of architectural sales at CRL. “With our GRS TAPER-LOC Laminated Glass Guardrail System, we’re continuing with our tradition of providing products that not only push the envelope in terms of function and aesthetics, but also eliminate the guesswork involved with code interpretation and compliance.”

CRL also has an ICC-ES Evaluation Report for its GRS TAPER-LOC Monolithic Glass Railing System (ESR-3269). You can view the company’s complete line of railing systems and hardware in its HR18 Catalog.