Barrier glazing

Barrier glazing is glazing designed to prevent people from falling to a lower level. In the event of impact on the glazing, the risk of injury is supposed to be low. Furthermore, the lower-lying traffic area must not be endangered by fragments. Barrier glazing includes, e.g., glass balustrades or stair railings made of glass as well as floor-to-ceiling glazing.

Usually a glass structure which provides fall protection contains a laminated safety glass which has a favrouable fracture behaviour due to the interlayer used. Apart from the glass structure, the support of the panes is decisive for barrier glazing. Barrier glazing must be able to resist both abrupt actions (impact) and structural actions (wind loads, lateral live loads). This means that two verifications must always be provided: dynamic (pendulum impact test or alternatively through calculation) and static verification (calculated).

Regulatory framework

Barrier glazing is executed in accordance with DIN 18008-4. For construction techniques which deviate significantly from these provisions, DIBt grants general construction technique permits (aBG).

For products used in the construction technique which are not covered by harmonised European standards, DIBt grants national technical approvals (abZ). European Technical Assessments (ETAs) can also be issued for these products.

Please also note the provisions of the relevant federal state following MVV TB, Section A 1.2.7.

EAD 090040-00-0404 Cantilevered structural glass railing/balustrade (21 pages ) Version: March 2016; Decision (EU) 2022/381; EOTA

The document "Technische Regeln für die Verwendung von absturzsichernden Verglasungen (TRAV); Januar 2003" has been replaced by DIN 18008 Part 4.

National procedure

A national technical approval (abZ) and/or oder general construction technique permit (aBG) is granted upon application (see Model Building Code (MBO), Sections 16a(2) and18(2) and (4)). This also applies to amendments and supplements to, or renewals of existing approvals and/or construction technique permits.

No formal requirements apply. The following information is needed: name and address of the applicant, description of the product and/or construction technique and its field of use or application, type of decision required (new decision, amendment or supplement to, or renewal of, an existing decision).

Please feel free to use the template below.

European Technical Assessment (ETA)

To start the ETA procedure, please submit the form below. We will then check if the prerequisites for issuing an ETA are met, i.e., in particular, if the product is not fully covered by an existing harmonised standard. If the prerequisites are met, we will check whether a European Assessment Document (EAD) covering the requested assessment scope already exists or still needs to be developed. If an EAD needs to be developed or amended, a complete technical file needs to be established before the procedure can begin.