ASTM E2353-16

Standard Test Methods for Performance of Glazing in Permanent Railing Systems, Guards, and Balustrades

SCOPE
1.1 These test methods cover procedures to be followed in testing the performance of glazing in permanent railing systems, guards and balustrades including components such as rails and swing gates or other forms of required guardrail opening protection installed in and for assembly, commercial, educational, industrial, institutional, stadiums, recreational, and residential buildings and other structures such as towers or elevated platforms.  
1.2 These test methods are applicable to such railing, guard, and balustrade systems having glass or other glazing materials as the major structural component or the infill panel including swing gates and other forms of guardrail protection.  
1.3 These test methods can be used to determine whether permanent rails, guards and balustrades including components, having glass or other glazing material comply with requirements of performance specifications, codes, norms, and standards.  
1.4 Specifically, these test methods cover procedures for determining the static strength, impact performance, and post-breakage characteristics of railing systems, guards, and balustrades, including a component with glass or other glazing material installed in one, two, three and four-side support systems fastened to concrete, masonry, wood, metal, and related products.  
1.5 No consideration is given in these test methods to any possible deterioration of the railing, guard, or balustrade system or their connections and fasteners as resulting from adverse environmental or in-service conditions. The performance of special tests covering this aspect may be desirable.  
1.6 These test methods are limited to the application of loads and impact resistance described herein. Whenever uniformly distributed loads are to be resisted by a railing system, guard, or balustrade in accordance with governing specifications, codes, norms, and standards, the effects of such loads on the member stresses shall be determined by calculation and the corresponding concentrated and linear loads shall be tested. Should computations make it possible to provide the needed information, testing can be employed for verification.  
1.7 These test methods address the capability of glass or other glazing material supported by rails, guards, or balustrades, or both, in one, two, three, and four-sided support systems to continue in their function as a barrier by remaining in the designed framing system after impact or glazing breakage. These test methods do not address structural limitation of glazed or glass rails, guards, and balustrades or vehicular guards except when in the area of a pedestrian walkway.  
1.8 All values are stated in SI units and are to be regarded as standard. Values given in parentheses are for information only. Certain values contained in reference documents cited and quoted herein may be stated in inch-pound units and must be converted by the user.  
1.9 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 14-Feb-2016
• ICS: 81.040.20 - Glass in building
• Technical Committee: E06 - Performance of Buildings
• Drafting Committee: E06.56 - Performance of Railing Systems and Glass for Floors and Stairs

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: E2353 − 16
Standard Test Methods for
Performance of Glazing in Permanent Railing Systems,
1
Guards, and Balustrades
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2353; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope specifications, codes, norms, and standards, the effects of such
loads on the member stresses shall be determined by calcula-
1.1 These test methods cover procedures to be followed in
tion and the corresponding concentrated and linear loads shall
testing the performance of glazing in permanent railing
be tested. Should computations make it possible to provide the
systems, guards and balustrades including components such as
needed information, testing can be employed for verification.
rails and swing gates or other forms of required guardrail
opening protection installed in and for assembly, commercial, 1.7 These test methods address the capability of glass or
educational, industrial, institutional, stadiums, recreational, other glazing material supported by rails, guards, or
and residential buildings and other structures such as towers or balustrades, or both, in one, two, three, and four-sided support
elevated platforms. systems to continue in their function as a barrier by remaining
in the designed framing system after impact or glazing break-
1.2 These test methods are applicable to such railing, guard,
age. These test methods do not address structural limitation of
and balustrade systems having glass or other glazing materials
glazed or glass rails, guards, and balustrades or vehicular
as the major structural component or the infill panel including
guards except when in the area of a pedestrian walkway.
swing gates and other forms of guardrail protection.
1.8 All values are stated in SI units and are to be regarded
1.3 These test methods can be used to determine whether
as standard. Values given in parentheses are for information
permanent rails, guards and balustrades including components,
only. Certain values contained in reference documents cited
having glass or other glazing material comply with require-
and quoted herein may be stated in inch-pound units and must
ments of performance specifications, codes, norms, and stan-
be converted by the user.
dards.
1.9 This standard does not purport to address all of the
1.4 Specifically, these test methods cover procedures for
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
determining the static strength, impact performance, and post-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
breakage characteristics of railing systems, guards, and
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
balustrades, including a component with glass or other glazing
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
material installed in one, two, three and four-side support
systems fastened to concrete, masonry, wood, metal, and
2. Referenced Documents
related products.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.5 No consideration is given in these test methods to any
E329 Specification for Agencies Engaged in Construction
possible deterioration of the railing, guard, or balustrade
Inspection, Testing, or Special Inspection
system or their connections and fasteners as resulting from
E631 Terminology of Building Constructions
adverse environmental or in-service conditions. The perfor-
E699 Practice for Evaluation of Agencies Involved in
mance of special tests covering this aspect may be desirable.
Testing, Quality Assurance, and Evaluating of Building
1.6 These test methods are limited to the application of
Components
loads and impact resistance described herein. Whenever uni-
E935 Test Methods for Performance of Permanent Metal
formly distributed loads are to be resisted by a railing system,
Railing Systems and Rails for Buildings
guard, or balustrade in accordance with governing
E1481 Terminology of Railing Systems and Rails for Build-
ings
1
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E06 on
Performance of Buildings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.56
2
on Performance of Railing Systems and Glass for Floors and Stairs. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved Feb. 15, 2016. Published March 2016. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 2004. Last previous edition approved in 2014 as E2353 – 14. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/E2353-16. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor D
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: E2353 − 14 E2353 − 16
Standard Test Methods for
Performance of Glazing in Permanent Railing Systems,
1
Guards, and Balustrades
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2353; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 These test methods cover procedures to be followed in testing the performance of glazing in permanent railing systems,
guards and balustrades including components such as rails and swing gates or other forms of required guardrail opening protection
installed in and for assembly, commercial, educational, industrial, institutional, stadiums, recreational, and residential buildings and
other structures such as towers or elevated platforms.
1.2 These test methods are applicable to such railing, guard, and balustrade systems having glass or other glazing materials as
the major structural component or the infill panel including swing gates and other forms of guardrail protection.
1.3 These test methods can be used to determine whether permanent rails, guards and balustrades including components, having
glass or other glazing material comply with requirements of performance specifications, codes, norms, and standards.
1.4 Specifically, these test methods cover procedures for determining the static strength, impact performance, and post-breakage
characteristics of railing systems, guards, and balustrades, including a component with glass or other glazing material installed in
one, two, three and four-side support systems fastened to concrete, masonry, wood, metal, and related products.
1.5 No consideration is given in these test methods to any possible deterioration of the railing, guard, or balustrade system or
their connections and fasteners as resulting from adverse environmental or in-service conditions. The performance of special tests
covering this aspect may be desirable.
1.6 These test methods are limited to the application of loads and impact resistance described herein. Whenever uniformly
distributed loads are to be resisted by a railing system, guard, or balustrade in accordance with governing specifications, codes,
norms, and standards, the effects of such loads on the member stresses shall be determined by calculation and the corresponding
concentrated and linear loads shall be tested. Should computations make it possible to provide the needed information, testing can
be employed for verification.
1.7 These test methods address the capability of glass or other glazing material supported by rails, guards, and balustrades or
balustrades, or both, in one, two, three, and four-sided support systems to continue in their function as a barrier by remaining in
the designed framing system after impact or glassglazing breakage. These test methods do not address structural limitation of
glazed or glass rails, guards, and balustrades or vehicular guards except when in the area of a pedestrian walkway.
1.8 TheAll values are stated in inch-poundSI units and are to be regarded as standard. The values Values given in parentheses
are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.for information
only. Certain values contained in reference documents cited and quoted herein may be stated in inch-pound units and must be
converted by the user.
1.9 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E329 Specification for Agencies Engaged in Construction Inspection, Testing, or Special Inspection
1
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E06 on Performance of Buildings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.56 on
Performance of Railing Systems and Glass for Floors and Stairs.
Current edition approved May 15, 2014Feb. 15, 2016. Published September 2014March 2016. Originally approved in 2004. Last previous edition approved in 20062014
as E2353 – 06.E2353 – 14. DOI: 10.1520/E2353-14.10.1520/E2353-16.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For
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