We specialize in a frameless glass system to suit NZ homes and the beautiful landscape of New Zealand; we can all enjoy every day. Our team have had many years of experience in the glass fencing and frameless glass balustrade industry and wanted to share some good industry practices when installing fencing around swimming pools and your outdoor entertaining areas.
Have you ever considered the significance in being able to wake up to a complimentary view in your most valuable investment?
We all need to consider the value of our views from our windows and doors. Occasionally it will be the view that drives your property value up higher. Frameless glass fencing and balustrades can help protect and keep those valuable views undistracted. Frameless glass pool fencing is a great way to ensure you can keep the pool in good site; it also decreases the risk of any fatality in your pool area as you will have a clear view through the glass fencing, while also preventing people entering the pool area unsafely.
Glass fencing also allows the pool area to appear more seamless and open. This feature of giving an open feeling means your backyard will feel a lot larger in size, meaning the area is a lot less cluttered. If you opt for putting in fencing or balustrading other than glass, you will feel more closed in meaning the area begins to feel smaller and more crammed. So, if you are installing a pool in a small backyard, it would pay to consider maximizing the space and the landscape. Frameless Glass pool fences would be the best option to go for in this situation.
Balustrade heights are something to consider, especially when you are wanting to protect your view. Think about the purpose of the balustrade then consider what height you want your glass panels? Take a seat outside, sit down, and measure your eye level. We offer a minimum of 900mm high panels with the glass balustrades, the most common height installed throughout New Zealand is 1000mm high panels, these are high in stock and have been popular for many years.
The minimum height for pool fencing panels needs to be 1200mm in height. Our glass pool fencing panels are 1200mm high, and along with the additional 30-60mm height for the spigot stands, the total height from the ground to the top of the glass fence would be 1230 to 1260mm, depending on what pool fencing spigots you choose.
Frameless glass fencing is the most popular glass system for fencing around pools and along outdoor decks and outdoor areas. It provides a timeless and quality feel to your property.
Keep it Compliant!
If you are looking to install a frameless glass balustrade or glass panels to protect a fall of over 1mtr, there are some requirements to comply with the Building Code Clause F4 and New Zealand Standard 4223:2016. If you use 12mm toughened glass panels for your balustrade, you will need to install a handrail to comply. The only way you can look to have a totally seamless view is to choose the sentry glass panels. These glass panels in the balustrading range, can smash the entire glass panel, but with the stiff interlayer between the 2 laminated panels, the panel will stay standing when smashed. The only downside to these glass balustrade panels is the cost of them, being around 4 to 5 times the price of 12mm toughened grade glass panels.
To keep the undistracted, seamless look, we have kept the handrail to be as minimal as possible. This doesn't need to be large to be compliant, so we have a 21mm high stainless glass handrail available. It is minimal and slightly obstructive, though it is also a lot safer and compliant to the New Zealand Standards!
Toughened glass is designed to smash into a safe shape and size so the glass will not cause serious harm if a panel has been smashed. Standard annealed glass is not acceptable for any glass fencing or balustrades as it breaks into shards of glass that have extremely sharp edges and becomes too dangerous when broken. For this reason, we will only supply toughened glass of 12mm thick.
Our glass and balustrade fencing systems are put through significant pressure testing to have our systems signed off by a chartered engineer and to be provided with PS1s for the local councils around New Zealand to comply with the New Zealand glass pool fencing and balustrade standards.
A few important Building Codes need to be adhered to when doing a glass fencing or balustrade system to comply with New Zealand regulations. Find out more about New Zealand Standards and Building Code Clauses here. Still, here at Belaire, we have taken all the worry away with our glass fence and glass balustrades systems by having our systems engineered to comply with the following codes: F9 for swimming pools, F4 for fall protection, you can view others here...
You can be assured that our systems comply with the current New Zealand laws. This includes toughest of our systems, being the Rakaia balustrade channel system. It is super robust and very easy to install. When the channel system was going through testing processes, we found there was no way we could break the toughened glass panel. The other great thing about our channel system is that it is face mounted and gives the infinity look, and from the outside, the Glass balustrade channel appears as a simple flashing.
The Rakaia frameless glass channel is the best glass bracket system you can find for your proposed frameless glass fence or balustrade installation.
Finally, cleaning your glass fencing and balustrade panels, all glass needs cleaning, but there are nano coat coatings that make glass cleaning a lot simpler and faster. We have a fully stocked range of glass panels coated with Enduroshield. Buying the glass panels precoated saves cost and time but not only that, when you purchase our glass balustrade or pool fencing panels, you will also get a 10 year warranty on the EnduroShield coated glass panels.
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