glass handrails

huangyhg

glass handrails
i have a commercial project with a 1/2" laminated glass railing with a 3" diameter brass top rail that needs to have 3 more inches of vertical height added to top to accommodate change in floor elevation (3 inches higher) and requirement for 42 inch high railing.
the bottom of the existing glass is set in an aluminum shoe moulding designed to support a load of 300 lbs in any direction at a 42 inch height.  the mall owner is requesting that we analyze the railing for the load at a height of 45 inches instead of 42 inches.  it appears that the aluminum shoe moulding will work at 45 inches as well as 42 inches since it can take 300 lbs. (only need 200 lbs.). doesn't the increase in height increase the stress on the glass since it acts like a cantilever from base to top rail.  there are no intermediate posts to drive load to base. how do we analyze this load.  what is allowable stress on 1/2" laminated glass ?
mostly these types of products have a design table alongwith or a design guide. have you checked with the manufacturer ?
look in your building code or glass code for allowable properties of glass. for handrails it needs to be acertain type.
csd