Choosing the glass is one of the most important decisions when ordering a terrace railing – it affects safety, appearance, and price alike. The two most commonly used types are ESG (tempered) and VSG (laminated) glass. Here’s how they differ and when each one is used. This applies to both a balcony railing and a stair railing — in either case the glass thickness depends on the mounting system.
ESG glass – tempered
ESG (Einscheiben-Sicherheitsglas, single-pane safety glass) is glass that has undergone a thermal tempering process, which makes its resistance to impact and stress several times higher than ordinary float glass. If broken, ESG glass shatters into small, blunt fragments that significantly reduce the risk of injury – hence the term “safety glass”.
Important feature: once broken, an ESG pane loses its integrity entirely – it disintegrates completely. That’s why this glass is mainly used in framed railings, where the pane sits in a profile and doesn’t act as a structural element on its own.
VSG glass – laminated
VSG (Verbund-Sicherheitsglas, laminated safety glass) is made by bonding two or more panes of glass (often tempered) with a flexible PVB film under high pressure and temperature. Even if one layer cracks, the fragments stay bonded to the film, and the pane retains its structural integrity.
That’s why VSG glass is the standard in self-supporting railings – where the glass alone carries the load and cannot simply “disappear” if one layer is damaged.
Comparing ESG and VSG
- Safety after breakage: VSG retains its integrity thanks to the film; ESG disintegrates completely.
- Structural use: VSG – self-supporting railings (glass as a load-bearing element); ESG – framed railings (glass as infill).
- Thickness: VSG, being multi-layered, is usually thicker and heavier than a single ESG pane of comparable strength.
- Price: VSG is usually more expensive due to the lamination process and greater thickness.
- Acoustics: the PVB film in VSG glass additionally dampens sound, which can matter in dense urban development.
Which glass to choose for a terrace railing?
If you’re planning a self-supporting railing, VSG glass is practically a necessity – it’s what carries the entire structural load. For a framed railing, where the posts and handrail form the load-bearing element, ESG glass is fully sufficient and more economical. The final choice of glass thickness and type depends on the railing’s height and local safety requirements – we cover this in more detail in our article on glass railing safety standards.
Not sure which glass suits your project? Ask us – we’ll advise based on your terrace’s dimensions and location.