Outdoor Railings

Glass railings offer several significant advantages for outdoor applications in Florida, making them increasingly popular for both residential and commercial properties throughout the state. The most compelling benefit is their ability to preserve views while providing effective wind protectionfactors we prioritize in all our South Florida projects. Properly engineered outdoor railings can withstand even the most severe weather events when designed specifically for hurricane conditions. The Florida Building Code establishes stringent requirements for railing systems, including the ability to withstand wind loads of 170+ mph in high-velocity hurricane zones (HVHZ). Our engineering process includes detailed structural calculations that account for both positive and negative pressure scenarios, considering factors like elevation, exposure category, and building geometry that affect wind forces. Material selection plays a crucial role in hurricane performance. Our aluminum systems feature internal reinforcement at critical stress points and specialized alloys with higher strength characteristics than standard grades. For glass railings, we use laminated safety glass in hurricane-prone locations, which maintains its structural integrity even if cracked, unlike tempered glass that can completely separate from its mounting when damaged. Anchoring systems represent perhaps the most critical element of hurricane performance. We utilize deeper embedment, additional fasteners, and specialized anchoring techniques appropriate for different substrates. For concrete mounting, we employ stainless steel wedge anchors or epoxy systems with embedment depths that exceed minimum requirements. For wood substrates, through-bolting with backing plates distributes loads more effectively than standard lag screws. Post-hurricane assessments consistently show that railing failures typically result from inadequate anchoring rather than material failure. Beyond structural considerations, we incorporate design elements that reduce wind loading, such as perforated panels that allow partial wind passage rather than creating solid wind sails. For waterfront installations, we often recommend removable sections that can be temporarily stored during storm warnings when evacuation is required. Our systems have successfully withstood multiple direct hurricane impacts, including Hurricane Irma (2017) and Hurricane Dorian (2019), with our engineered installations showing excellent performance even in severe coastal exposure conditions.