Frameless Glass Stair Railings
Frameless Glass Stair Railing Systems
Clean lines from bottom to top. ICC-certified, no top rail required.
A staircase is one of the most visible architectural elements in any home or commercial space. Glass Vice® frameless glass stair railing systems deliver a completely unobstructed sightline from landing to landing — no top rail, no bottom rail, no visible hardware on the glass face — using the same patented double-friction technology trusted on California's most demanding residential and commercial projects.
ICC-ES Certified — ESR-3563 & ESR-4639 ✦ LARR Approved — California ✦ No Top Rail Required ✦ No Drilling Through Glass ✦ Top-Fixed & Side-Mounted Options ✦ 316 Marine-Grade Stainless Steel
Two Systems. One Finish.
Glass Vice® stair railings are installed using either the Direct Fix top-fixed bracket or the Architectural Vice side-mounted bracket — or a combination of both across the same staircase where the substrate or design intent requires it.
Glass Vice® Direct Fix → top-fixed to the stair tread substrate or structural landing. Ideal for concrete and steel stair construction where top-fixing is practical and the full deck surface is available.
Glass Vice® Architectural Vice →side-mounted to the face of the stringer, beam, or structural substrate. The natural choice for timber stair construction, open stringers, and applications where keeping the tread surface clear of hardware is a design priority.
Both systems use the same patented double-friction clamping mechanism. No drilling through glass. No top rail required with laminated safety glass. Full ICC-ES documentation for building department submission.
Specifications
| System type | Frameless glass stair railing — top-fixed and side-mounted |
| Fixing method | Patented double-friction clamp — no glass drilling |
| Hardware material | 316 marine-grade stainless steel / Duplex 2205 option |
| Finishes | Mirror polish / Brushed satin / Matte black |
| Glass — no top rail | 9/16" or 5/8" SGP laminated tempered safety glass |
| Glass — with NanoRail cap | 1/2" or 5/8" tempered safety glass |
| Bottom rail | Not required |
| Top rail | Not required with laminated glass |
| Substrate | Concrete, timber, steel stringer |
| Orientation | Straight runs and raking stair applications |
| Code references | IBC Section 1014 Handrails / IBC Section 1015 Guards |
Why Installers and Architects Specify Glass Vice® Stair Railings
The cleanest stair finish available — no top rail, no bottom rail, no clamps on the glass face. The glass panel runs from stringer to top of run with nothing interrupting the sightline. The staircase becomes a feature rather than a barrier.
No drilling through glass — patented double-friction clamping holds every panel securely without penetrating the glass. Lower breakage risk on site, cleaner finish on completion.
Top-fixed or side-mounted — specify the bracket configuration that suits the substrate and design intent. Both deliver the same finish. Mix configurations across a single staircase run where required.
Adjustable on site — panels reposition freely before final torque. Critical on stair applications where substrate tolerances and raking angles add complexity to the install.
Full compliance documentation — ICC-ES certified under ESR-3563 and ESR-4639, LARR approved for California, and Florida HVHZ compliant. Everything your building department needs for permit submission on residential and commercial stair projects.
Suitable for interior and exterior — 316 marine-grade stainless steel hardware performs in both indoor and outdoor environments. Duplex 2205 stainless available for high-exposure coastal applications.
A Note on Stair Railing Compliance
Stair railings in the USA must satisfy both IBC Section 1014 handrail requirements and Section 1015 guard requirements. Requirements vary between residential and commercial applications and between jurisdictions. Glass Vice® supplies certified hardware to licensed contractors who are responsible for confirming local compliance requirements before installation. Our technical team can provide ICC-ES documentation and project-specific engineering support for building department submission on request.
The cleanest stair finish available — no top rail, no bottom rail, no clamps on the glass face. The glass panel runs from stringer to top of run with nothing interrupting the sightline. The staircase becomes a feature rather than a barrier.
No drilling through glass — patented double-friction clamping holds every panel securely without penetrating the glass. Lower breakage risk on site, cleaner finish on completion.
Top-fixed or side-mounted — specify the bracket configuration that suits the substrate and design intent. Both deliver the same finish. Mix configurations across a single staircase run where required.
Adjustable on site — panels reposition freely before final torque. Critical on stair applications where substrate tolerances and raking angles add complexity to the install.
Full compliance documentation — ICC-ES certified under ESR-3563 and ESR-4639, LARR approved for California, and Florida HVHZ compliant. Everything your building department needs for permit submission on residential and commercial stair projects.
Suitable for interior and exterior — 316 marine-grade stainless steel hardware performs in both indoor and outdoor environments. Duplex 2205 stainless available for high-exposure coastal applications.
A Note on Stair Railing Compliance
Stair railings in the USA must satisfy both IBC Section 1014 handrail requirements and Section 1015 guard requirements. Requirements vary between residential and commercial applications and between jurisdictions. Glass Vice® supplies certified hardware to licensed contractors who are responsible for confirming local compliance requirements before installation. Our technical team can provide ICC-ES documentation and project-specific engineering support for building department submission on request.
Have a question?
We would love to hear from you!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Glass Vice USA provides CAD details, load data, and product specifications for use in architectural drawings and permit documentation. Contact us directly or request downloads from the relevant product page.
Yes, Glass Vice USA operates as a wholesale supplier and distributor. We work directly with licensed glaziers, railing contractors, and builders through our national distributor network. If you're a trade professional looking to specify or supply Glass Vice hardware, get in touch to discuss your project or set up a trade account.
We also provide hands-on training and maintain a comprehensive library of installation videos on our YouTube channel to support your team on site.
If you're looking for an installer, just reach out to us and we can put you in touch with a trusted local installation company.
Building codes generally require tempered safety glass or laminated safety glass meeting CPSC 16 CFR 1201 Cat II or ANSI Z97.1 Class A. Minimum panel thickness and configuration will depend on the hardware system, post spacing, and application. Glass Vice USA can provide technical documentation to support your glazier or engineer in specifying the correct glass. we are one of the only companies with a product range ICC Certified without a top cap. other systems must have top caps installed when used as a railing.
ESR-3563 and ESR-4639 are available to download from the product pages on usa.glassvice.com, or you can contact Glass Vice USA directly and we'll send them through along with any additional compliance documentation your project requires.
Glass Vice and Clearline clamps are designed to accept either 9/16" or 5/8" laminated safety glass for frameless glass railing installations without a top cap rail, achieving the required 42" guard height. For installations where a top cap rail is used, 1/2" tempered glass is also an accepted specification.
For commercial applications — including stadiums, hospitality venues, and large-scale developments — Glass Vice hardware can accommodate thicker glass configurations. We recommend contacting Glass Vice USA directly to discuss the right specification for your project.
Glass specifications should always be confirmed with your glazier, installer, or engineer against local IBC and IRC requirements. Some jurisdictions have specific interpretations on laminated versus tempered glass for guard applications, and your Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) has final say on what is accepted at permit stage.
Glass Vice hardware systems are designed for installation into a range of structural substrates including concrete, structural timber, and steel. The appropriate fixing method and anchor specification will depend on the substrate type, thickness, and the load requirements of the installation. ICC-ES Evaluation Reports ESR-3563 and ESR-4639 provide substrate-specific installation guidance, and Glass Vice USA can supply full technical documentation to support your installer or engineer in confirming the correct specification for your project.
Yes. Glass Vice supplies SouthernLites™ wholesale nationwide. Contact us for freight quotes to your location.
