A frameless glass railing eliminates the vertical posts that support glass panels in conventional semi-frameless systems. Instead, a continuous stainless steel U-channel or shoe is anchor-bolted directly into the structural slab or fascia. The glass panel sits inside this channel, which grips it firmly along its base and transfers all lateral and vertical loads directly into the building structure.

The visual result is a clean, uninterrupted run of glass with no metal interruptions between panels. This is architecturally significant for hotel atriums where sightlines matter, for IT campus voids where the open floor plate needs to remain visually connected across levels, and for high-rise residential balconies where the view is part of the product.

Because frameless systems carry all their structural load through the base channel and the glass panel itself, the glass specification is critical. Sun Railings specifies 12mm laminated safety glass as the standard for all frameless installations. For high-rise buildings, exposed locations with significant wind loads and any installation where people may be below the railing, we specify 15mm laminated. Toughened-only glass is not appropriate for frameless applications — laminated glass is non-negotiable because it holds together on breakage rather than falling.

A continuous stainless steel handrail at the top of the glass panel is required for all commercial and public installations. The handrail transfers no structural load — it is a safety element and a grip surface. We fabricate handrails in 42.4mm or 50mm round SS316 tube for outdoor and coastal installations, and 38mm or 42.4mm SS304 round tube for interior locations.