Chapter 24 — GLASS AND GLAZING
2407 Glass in Handrails and Guards — 2025 California Building Code
California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2) · 2025 edition · updated 2026-09-25 · California
CBSC: official editions, supplements and errata
Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.
Cite as: 2025 California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2) § 2407 · Effective January 1, 2026 · Official source: Building Standards Commission
2407.1 Materials.¶
Glass used in a handrail or a guard shall be laminated glass constructed of fully tempered or heat-strengthened glass and shall comply with Category II of CPSC 16 CFR Part 1201 or Class A of ANSI Z97.1. Glazing in a handrail or a guard shall be of an approved safety glazing material that conforms to the provisions of Section 2406.1.1. For all glazing types, the minimum nominal thickness shall be 1/4 inch (6.4 mm).
Exception: Single fully tempered glass complying with Category II of CPSC 16 CFR Part 1201 or Class A of ANSI Z97.1 shall be permitted to be used in handrails and guards where there is no walking surface beneath them or the walking surface is permanently protected from the risk of falling glass.
2407.1.1 Loads. Glass handrails and guards and their support systems shall be designed to withstand the loads specified in Section 1607.9. Calculated stresses for the loads specified in Section 1607.9 shall be less than or equal to 3,000 pounds per square inch (20.7 MPa) for heat-strengthened glass and less than or equal to 6,000 pounds per square inch (41.4 MPa) for fully tempered glass.
2407.1.2 Guards with structural glass balusters. Guards with structural glass balusters, whether vertical posts, columns or panels, shall be installed with an attached top rail or handrail. The top rail or handrail shall be supported by not fewer than three glass balusters, or shall be otherwise supported to remain in place should one glass baluster fail.
Exception: An attached top rail or handrail is not required where the glass baluster panels are laminated glass with two or more glass plies of equal thickness and of the same glass type. The balusters shall be tested to remain in place as a barrier following impact or glass breakage in accordance with ASTM E2353.
GLASS AND GLAZING
2407.1.3 Parking garages. Glazing materials shall not be installed in handrails or guards in parking garages except for pedestrian areas not exposed to impact from vehicles.
2407.1.4 Glazing in windborne debris regions. Glazing installed in exterior handrails or guards in windborne debris regions shall be laminated glass complying with Category II of CPSC 16 CFR 1201 or Class A of ANSI Z97.1. Where the top rail is supported by glass, the assembly shall be tested according to the impact requirements of Section 1609.2 and the top rail shall remain in place after impact.
Get a plain-English answer with a citation back to this text.
Ask AI about this code