Innovations in our full glass balustrades: the introduction of 1 kN Profiles
When designing balustrade systems, safety and functionality play a crucial role. Balustrades protect people, whether they are at home, working in an office or in a large public building. However, the requirements for these systems vary greatly depending on the application and location. In this blog, we take you through the world of balustrade profiles and our latest innovation: the 1 kN profiles.
Use load and wind load: the basis of balustrades
When we design profiles for balustrades, we consider two types of loads: user load and wind load. Use load ensures that a balustrade remains safe when someone leans against it. In the Netherlands, we have three strength classes:
- 0.3 kN for private dwellings, such as a flat balcony.
- 0.8 kN for offices, schools and museums.
- 3 kN for public buildings with many visitors, such as stadiums and train stations.
In addition, wind loads play a major role, especially in outdoor applications on higher floors or in coastal areas. These loads can sometimes outweigh the use load.
Traditional solutions and new opportunities
Many balustrade profiles on the market are designed for a use load of 1 kN. While this works fine in situations with low wind loads, these profiles can fall short in taller buildings or in coastal areas. For this reason, we at Sparq have had a 2 kN profile series in our range for many years. These heavier profiles offer extra stability, are quicker to assemble and perform better under heavy wind loads. Perfect for larger projects!
Yet we found that our offer did not fully meet the needs of smaller projects. For lighter applications, such as interior applications or balustrades in homes, a heavy profile is often not necessary. Therefore, we are now introducing our 1 kN profile series. These lighter profiles offer an efficient and cost-effective solution for situations where less load is required.
Available from February 2025
The new 1 kN line was presented earlier this year at trade fairs such as Polyclose and Glasstec. From February 2025, these profiles will actually be available. With this addition to our range, we serve a wider range of customers, from private projects to smaller business applications.
With our 1 kN line, we make balustrades more accessible to the general public and compete more strongly in markets where lighter solutions are preferred.
Wondering what these new profiles could mean for your project?
Get in touch with us, we are happy to help!
