Course Sponsor: Lῑvers Bronze Co. 4621 E. 75th Terrace Kansas City, MO 64132 816-300-2828 www.LiversBronze.com

Designing With Decorative Architectural Handrail Systems LBZ05A Credit for this course is 1 AIA HSW CE Hour

© Ron Blank & Associates, Inc 2015

An American Institute of Architects (AIA) Continuing Education Program Approved Promotional Statement: Ron Blank & Associates, Inc. is a registered provider with The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System. Credit earned upon completion of this program will be reported to CES Records for AIA members. Certificates of Completion are available for all course participants upon completion of the course conclusion quiz with +80%. Please view the following slide for more information on Certificates of Completion through RBA This program is registered with the AIA/CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA or Ron Blank & Associates, Inc. of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product.

An American Institute of Architects (AIA) Continuing Education Program • Course Format: This is a structured, web-based, self study course with a final exam. • Course Credit: 1 AIA Health Safety & Welfare (HSW) CE Hour • Completion Certificate: A confirmation is sent to you by email; you can print one upon successfully completing a course, or from your RonBlank.com transcript. If you have any difficulties printing or receiving your Certificate please send request to [email protected] • Design professionals, please remember to print or save your certificate of completion after successfully completing a course-conclusion quiz. Email confirmations will be sent to the email address you have provided in your RonBlank.com account.

Course Description In this one hour course, we will learn how various styles of steel, aluminum, bronze, wood, and glass decorative guardrails and their hardware can offer safety and contribute to design freedom. We will also learn about codes related to glazed guardrails and how various guardrails contribute to sustainability and LEED credits.

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Learning Objectives Upon completion of this course, the design professional will be able to: • Identify various types of decorative guardrail systems and how they provide safety and superior aesthetics • Describe proper railing installation in terms of preparation, hardware, and edge distances • Apply various guardrail mounting configurations to address surface transitions • Discuss guardrail safety and accessibility standards in compliance with ICC and ADA regulations 5

A LOOK AT GUARDRAILS

Need for Guardrails Applications Market Examples • • • • • • •

Sports Venues Hospitals Higher Education Office & Retail Government Hospitality Mass Transit

Major Uses • • • • •

Stair Safety Balcony Safety Decorative Element Space separation Crowd directing

Features of Glass Types of Glass – Laminated/Tempered • PVB (Polyvinyl Butyral) • SGP (Kuraray SentryGlass®Plus)

– Tempered monolithic

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Code Requirements – Railings with Glass

Strength Ratings

– Glass supported railings and post supported railings with glass infill panels. – The glass in the railing system utilizes a 4x safety factor • Per 2012 IBC Section 2407.1.1, glass must meet loading with a 4.0 safety factor • Glass Loading – 200 lbs concentrated or 50lbs/lf – 50 lbs/sq ft (glass infill) 9

Review Question The 2012 IBC, Section 2407.1.1 requires that glazed railing systems must withstand: a) 200 lb. concentrated load or 50 plf b) 50 psf infill c) Using a safety factor of 4x d) All of the above

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Answer The 2012 IBC, Section 2407.1.1 requires that glazed railing systems must withstand: a) 200 lb. concentrated load or 50 plf b) 50 psf infill c) Using a safety factor of 4x d) All of the above

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Code Requirements- Glass Codes – Deflection may be no more than the thickness of the adjacent glass. – Glass shall not be installed without an attached handrail or guard. Unless laminated glass is approved by building official. – Any glass at a 15 degree or more angle must be laminated 12

Features of Metal Look for manufacturers offering all options • • • •

Aluminum (pipe, tubing, bar, extruded shapes) Bronze (pipe, tubing, bar, extruded shapes) Steel (pipe, tubing, bar, mesh) Stainless Steel (perforated sheet, tubing, mesh, cable)

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Finish Options Common Finish Options • Metal – – – –

Painting (liquid, powder coat & primed) Brushed stainless steel, bronze (lacquered) Polished stainless steel, bronze Patinated finishes (oxidized bronze, blackened steel)

• Glass – Tinted laminated glass (tinted glass or colored interlayer) – Fritted (Silk screen or digital printed) – Bent glass (laminated tempered or monolithic tempered)

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Features of Metal Member sizes and spacing – select a pre-designed and tested railing system. Or customize. Each custom request should be reviewed for code compliance and balanced with constructability analysis

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TYPES OF GUARDRAILS

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Glazed Decorative Guardrail Types Base Shoe Supported

Point Supported

Post Supported

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Metal Decorative Guardrails Perforated Infill

Decorative Panel Infill

Cable Infill

Mesh Infill

Picket Infill

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Base Shoe Supported Guardrails Design advantages – Versatile standard systems can work in a wide variety of site conditions with little customization – Clean appearance allows for light transfer with no obstruction to sight lines (LEED - IEQ Credit: Daylight (1-3 points) ) 19

Base Shoe Supported Guardrails Design considerations – Anchors in concrete require minimum 4” edge distance – steel support structure is preferable. – Railing deflection must be addressed in specifications as it is not addressed in code – consult manufacturer. – Thicker panes of glass minimize deflection – Radius conditions are limited to minimum and maximum specific radii – and should be verified with the manufacturer. 20

Base Shoe Supported Guardrails Constructability advantages – Base shoe can be field cut to the jobsite conditions, which can reduce lead time – Using a single source will eliminate coordination issues in the field – Simple system doesn’t require highly skilled laborers for installation

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Base Shoe Supported Guardrails Constructability considerations – Uneven slab conditions must be accounted for in layout and design – Base shoe installation must be level and true – Base shoe installation to steel is preferable and allows for field variances 22

Review Question Base shoe supported glass guardrail systems: a) b) c) d)

Base can be fabricated in stock lengths Steel mounting allows for field variances Demand small slab flatness tolerances All of the above

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Answer Base shoe supported glass guardrail systems: a) b) c) d)

Base can be fabricated in stock lengths Steel mounting allows for field variances Demand small slab flatness tolerances All of the above

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Post Supported Guardrails Design advantages • Pre-designed and tested systems are available to meet project requirements • Wide variety of anchoring options are available to meet design criteria • Creates attractive focal point • Clean appearance allows for light transfer (LEED IEQ Credit: Daylight 1-3 points)

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Post Supported Guardrails Design considerations • Structural considerations should be integrated into system design • Material/finish and workmanship must be specified – Finish of metal and of all welded connections – Exposed fasteners – Linear alignment 26

Post Supported Guardrails Constructability advantages • Posts are more accommodating to diverse site conditions • Maximizing post spacing reduces number of connections, thus cost of labor and material • Correct material sizing can reduce required glass thickness

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Post Supported Guardrails Constructability considerations • Posts may require holes in glass, which limits tolerance and requires more experienced installers

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Review Question Post supported guardrail systems: a) Are customizable to project requirements b) Wide variety of anchoring options are available to meet design criteria c) Can create attractive focal points in themselves d) All of the above

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Answer Post supported guardrail systems: a) Are customizable to project requirements b) Wide variety of anchoring options are available to meet design criteria c) Can create attractive focal points in themselves d) All of the above

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Point Supported Guardrails Design advantages • Modern alternative to base shoe • Minimal structure provides clear sight lines (LEED IEQ Credit: Daylight, 1-3 points) • Provides unique visual glass mounting options • Fritted or silk screen glass options allow designers to match interior design themes

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Point Supported Guardrails Design considerations • May require use of thicker (3/4”) glass depending on mounting condition. • Caps or handrails should be used to limit deflection in system (increasing glass thickness can also offset deflection)

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Point Supported Guardrails Constructability advantages • Point attachments can be applied to both steel and concrete stairs at slab edges

Constructability considerations • The height of the glass and vertical placement of glass supports in this design is critical in determining the horizontal distance between supports and the thickness of the glass 33

Review Question Point supported guardrail systems: a) Have minimal structure providing clear sight lines b) Can be applied to steel or concrete stairs c) The height of the glass and vertical placement of glass supports in this design is critical in determining the horizontal distance between supports and the thickness of the glass d) All of the above

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Answer Point supported guardrail systems: a) Have minimal structure providing clear sight lines b) Can be applied to steel or concrete stairs c) Require holes in glass, limiting tolerance and requiring more experienced installers d) All of the above

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Labor Considerations High

Base Shoe Labor

Point Supported Post Supported

Low

Cost

High

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MANUFACTURING/ASSEMBLY PROCESS 37

Pre-Planning Common shop drawing software – Autodesk Inventor, AutoCAD, Revit

Optimal field measurement timing – Architect, fabricator, and contractor must coordinate sometimes prior to shop drawings – Field verify minimum 12 weeks before delivery

Expected lead times – Custom glass and metal finishes are typically the longest lead time – Use embeds where practical and design stair stringers to accommodate size of railing mounting profiles. 38

Installation Procedures • Delivery

– Railing systems ship assembled • Shipped in 13’ max sections • Glass is shipped separately

• Special equipment

– Hoisting equipment – Lifts for staff and equipment

• Various stages of the project

– With multiple coordination points, it is critical to involve the railing fabricator early in the process to avoid delays and additional costs 39

Finish & Field Considerations • Factory vs. Field applied finishes – Railing system providers should be used with all finishes factory applied in order to achieve best results – High performance paint finishes can not be applied in the field without voiding the warranty • How does the designer prefer to achieve splices? – Splices are required in railing systems – work with the fabricator if specific locations are required

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CODES TO CONSIDER

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General Code Considerations for Glass Railing

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Handrails (Section 1012) Stairways (Section 1009) Guards (Section 1013) Live loads (Section 1607) Glass in handrails and guards (Sections 2407) 42

ICC 1012.2 and 1013.2 Height Measured above stair tread, nosings, or finish surface of ramp slope, handrail shall be uniform • not less than 34 inches, not more than 38 inches • Suggest 34.5” minimum Height of Guard • not less than 42 inches • Suggest 42.5” minimum 43

ICC 1012.3 Handrail graspability All required handrails shall comply with Section 1012.3.1 or shall provide equivalent graspability. • 1012.3.1 Type I – Handrails with a circular cross section shall have outside diameter of minimum 11/4 inches (32 mm) and maximum 2 inches (51 mm) – If handrail is not circular, it shall have a perimeter dimension of minimum 4 inches (102 mm) and maximum 61/4inches (160 mm) with maximum cross-section dimension 21/4 inches (57 mm) – Edges shall have minimum radius of 0.01 inch (0.25 mm) 44

ICC 1012.3 Exception In Group R-3 occupancies, within dwelling units in Group R-2 occupancies, and in Group U occupancies that are accessory to a Group R-3 occupancy (or accessory to individual dwelling units in Group R-2 occupancies): handrails shall be Type I in accordance with Section 1012.3.1 or Type II in accordance with Section 1012.3.2 , or shall provide equivalent graspability.

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ICC 1012.7 Clearance Clear space between a handrail and a wall or other surface shall be a minimum of 11/2 inches (38 mm). Handrail and wall or other surface adjacent to the handrail shall be free of sharp or abrasive elements. Excerpt from 28 CFR Part 36: ADA Standards for Accessible Design

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ICC 1009.12 Handrails Stairways shall have handrails on each side and shall comply with Section 1012. Where glass is used to support the handrail, the handrail shall also comply with Section 2407.

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ICC 1009.12 - Exceptions 1.

Handrails for aisle stairs are not required where permitted by Section 1028.13.

1028.13 Handrails. Ramped aisles having a slope exceeding one unit vertical in 15 units horizontal (6.7-percent slope) and aisle stairs shall be provided with handrails located either at the side or within the aisle width. Exceptions: 1. Handrails are not required for ramped aisles having a gradient no greater than one unit vertical in eight units horizontal (12.5-percent slope) and seating on both sides. 2. Handrails are not required if, at the side of the aisle, there is a guard that complies with the graspability requirements of handrails. 3. Handrail extensions are not required at the top and bottom of aisle stairs and aisle ramp runs to permit crossovers within the aisles.

2.

Stairways within dwelling units, spiral stairways and aisle stairs serving seating only on one side are permitted to have a handrail on one side only.

3.

Decks, patios and walkways that have a single change in elevation where the landing depth on each side of the change of elevation is greater than what is required for a landing do not require handrails.

4.

Changes in room elevations of three or fewer risers within dwelling units and sleeping units in Group R-2 and R-3 do not require handrails. 48

ICC 1607.7.1 and 1607.7.1.1 Structural requirements Handrail assemblies and guards shall be designed to resist a load of 50 plf (0.73 kN/m) applied in any direction at the top and to transfer this load through the supports to the structure. Handrails and guards shall be able to resist a single concentrated load of 200 lbs applied in any direction at any point along the top and to transfer this load through the supports to the structure. This load need not be assumed to act concurrently with the loads specified in the section above (1607.7.1) 49

ICC 2407.1 Materials •

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• •

Glass used as a handrail assembly or a guard section shall be constructed of either single fully tempered glass or laminated fully tempered glass. Glazing in railing in-fill panels 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). Fully tempered glass and laminated glass shall comply with Category II of CPSC 16 CFR 1201 or Class A of ANSI Z97.1, listed in Chapter 35. 50

SUSTAINABILITY & POSSIBLE LEED CREDITS

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Sustainability • Utilization of glass railings allows for enhanced interior daylighting • Systems contain pre- and post-consumer recycled content • Stainless steel, steel, bronze, aluminum and glass are recyclable • Can contribute to project LEED Certification 52

Possible LEED Credits Materials and Resources – MR Credit: Building Product Disclosure and Optimization – Sourcing of Raw Materials – MR Credit: Construction and Demolition Waste Management

Indoor Environmental Quality – IEQ Credit: Interior Lighting – IEQ Credit: Daylight 53

Possible LEED Credits MR Credit: Building Product Disclosure and Optimization – Sourcing of Raw Materials (1-2 points) Intent: To encourage the use of products and materials for which life cycle information is available and that have environmentally, economically, and socially preferable life cycle impacts. To reward project teams for selecting products verified to have been extracted or sourced in a responsible manner. 54

Possible LEED Credits MR Credit: Construction and Demolition Waste Management (1-2 points) Intent: To reduce construction and demolition waste disposed of in landfills and incineration facilities by recovering, reusing, and recycling materials.

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Possible LEED Credits IEQ Credit: Daylight (1-3 points) Intent: To connect building occupants with the outdoors, reinforce circadian rhythms, and reduce the use of electrical lighting by introducing daylight into the space.

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CASE STUDIES

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Worcester Trial Court Complex This base shoe supported system with caprail combines maximum light transmittance with superior strength in this heavy-traffic public building. The same guardrail system was used throughout, lending project continuity to all spaces.

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Cass Regional Medical Center Frosted, laminated balusters in this point-supported guardrail system allow light transmittance while maintaining user privacy. The rotunda serves as an entry point on the exterior and a doorway to every department on the interior: surgery suite, ICU, patient and public elevators, behavioral health unit, and expansion space. 59

Lindenwood - J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts The facility’s theme is reflected in a decorative panel guardrail system that makes a harmonious design statement of its own, and wood handrails reflect the adjacent paneling.

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PNC Center, Indianapolis Stainless steel and glass with integrated LED handrail downlighting saved installed cost of security lighting while making a bold visual statement at PNC Center’s entrances.

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Review Having completed this course, the design professional is now able to: • Identify various types of decorative guardrail systems and how they provide safety and superior aesthetics • Describe proper railing installation in terms of preparation, hardware, and edge distances • Apply various guardrail mounting configurations to address surface transitions • Discuss guardrail safety and accessibility standards in compliance with ICC and ADA regulations 62

Course Sponsor:

Lῑvers Bronze Co. 4621 E. 75th Terrace Kansas City, MO 64132 816-300-2828 www.LiversBronze.com

Designing With Decorative Architectural Handrail Systems LBZ05A Credit for this course is 1 AIA HSW CE Hour Please proceed to the online quiz to receive credit for this course

© Ron Blank & Associates, Inc 2015