Safety and Certifications
Glass Balustrade Safety – Tests and Certifications
At Balustradedesign, safety is a central focus throughout our product development. Thanks to our in-house design and testing, we take full responsibility for compliance with safety requirements in a unique and controlled way. Each of our railing systems undergoes rigorous internal testing – including impact and tensile tests – as well as external certification. Read more about how we test and certify our balustrades on our Tests and Certifications.
This page provides an overview of the safety standards we adhere to, and highlights the most important considerations when installing a balustrade, especially in elevated areas such as balconies.
CE Marking and Compliance
The following railing systems are CE marked in accordance with EN 1090-1:
- St Prime
- Alu Modern
- Alu Classic
- Alu Retro
- Cable Railings
- Stainless Steel Railings with Bars
- Alu Color
CE marking ensures our systems comply with EU directives on health, safety and environmental protection. Learn more about our CE marking and what it means >>
Balustrade Safety Classes – A, B or C
When designing your balustrade, our usage classification (A, B or C) provides guidance on where it is suitable to install. These classes are based on UK Building Regulations (BS 6180), combined with our own product testing. Factors such as height, section width and component choices affect the rating.
Typical requirements based on location:
- Outdoor installations: Minimum railing height 1100 mm
- Indoor installations: Minimum railing height 900 mm
- Residential areas: Minimum linear load 0.74 kN/m
- Public areas: Minimum linear load 1.5 kN/m
- Arenas/shopping centres: Minimum linear load 3.0 kN/m
If you are designing a railing for a public or commercial project, please contact our team for professional guidance.
What the Classes Mean
Class A
Suitable for all residential environments and public spaces such as offices, restaurants and shops. Withstands at least 0.74 kN/m in linear load. Glass elements are made of safety glass to prevent injury in case of impact.
Class B
Recommended for areas with a fall height between 0–1 metre. Withstands at least 0.5 kN/m in linear load. If glass is included, it is safety glass.
Class C
Intended for installations at ground level. Glass elements (if included) are made of safety glass.
A configuration may be rated Class C if it deviates from our tested standard and is customised by request. This means the specific setup has not undergone full certification.
Declarations and Documentation
All of our railing systems come with a Declaration of Performance in accordance with EN 1090-1.
These documents are available under the Technical Information tab for each product.
Explore an example of our Declaration of Performance >
Product Testing and Verification
We perform two key types of safety testing:
- Tensile tests: Assess the material’s resistance to pulling or stretching – simulating force from leaning or accidental load.
- Impact tests: Simulate a person falling or colliding with the railing – ensuring the structure can absorb impact without failure.
These tests verify that our systems meet both internal quality standards and national building regulations across Europe.