Installation Systems

Face Mounted Glass Balustrade Systems

Standoff buttons, face mount brackets, and point-fixed systems — a versatile alternative to channel or spigot base fixing.

When Floor Fixing Is Not an Option

Glass Fixed to the Face — Not the Floor

Face-mounted glass systems fix glass panels to a vertical face — a wall, fascia, or existing structure — rather than to the floor or decking below. This opens up a wide range of installation scenarios where floor fixing is impractical, structurally unsuitable, or simply undesirable.

Common applications include Juliet balconies across door openings, landing balustrades along a stairwell wall, mezzanine edges where the floor structure cannot accept spigots, and raised platform edges with a vertical face to fix to. Face mounting can also deliver a cleaner, wall-mounted aesthetic even where floor fixing would be possible.

System 01

Standoff Buttons & Spacer Fixings

The most minimalist face-mounted option. Small polished or satin stainless steel standoff buttons are fixed directly into the wall or structural face. The glass panel is drilled and countersunk at each fixing point, and the standoff button passes through the glass, holding it at a set distance from the face behind.

The result is a completely frameless appearance — the glass appears to float in front of the wall with no channel, no frame, and no visible supporting structure other than the small stainless fixing points. This system is used extensively on Juliet balconies and is the most visually refined face-mounted option available.

Polished or satin stainless steel standoff buttons — matching surrounding ironmongery
Glass panel drilled and countersunk at each fixing point — precision work carried out by our team
Glass held at a consistent set distance from the face — typically 20–40mm
Completely frameless appearance — no channel, no rail, no visible structure
Number and positioning of standoffs determined by panel size, glass thickness, and loading
Used extensively for Juliet balconies — the most specified face-mount system we install

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System 02

Face Mount Channel

An aluminium U-channel is fixed to the fascia or vertical face, with glass panels dropping vertically into the channel from above. The channel grips the bottom edge of the glass, providing a secure base fixing without any floor penetration.

This system is particularly well-suited to retrofit installations — such as where an existing balcony or mezzanine edge needs guarding added, or where access below the floor is not available for traditional spigot or post base installations. The channel can be surface-finished in powder coat or brushed stainless to suit the surrounding architecture.

Aluminium U-channel fixed to the fascia or vertical face
Glass panels drop into the channel — no floor penetration required
Channel depth and width matched to the specified glass thickness
Excellent for retrofit installations where floor access is not available
Channel can be powder coated to any RAL colour or supplied in brushed stainless
Suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications

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System 03

Face-Mounted Post System

A framed face-mounted system using stainless steel wall brackets into which the posts slot directly. Rather than fixing posts through the floor or deck surface, each post is held by a bracket bolted to the vertical face of the structure — a fascia board, concrete edge beam, or masonry wall.

This is the preferred solution where floor penetration is not possible or desirable, but a full post-and-rail or semi-frameless system is required. Glass infill panels and handrail are specified in the same way as a standard post system — the only difference is how the posts are anchored.

Stainless steel face-fix brackets — posts slot in and bolt secure
No floor penetration required
Compatible with post-and-rail and semi-frameless glass infill
Brushed or polished stainless steel finish
Suitable for fascia boards, concrete edges, and masonry
Handrail options available as standard

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Common Applications for Face-Mounted Systems

Face mounting is the right choice in a wider range of scenarios than many customers initially expect:

Juliet Balconies

The most common application. Standoff buttons fixed to the door reveal or surrounding masonry hold the glass barrier across the door opening. No floor fixing needed, no damage to the floor finish below.

Stair Landings

Where the stairwell wall is the closest structure, glass panels can be face-fixed to create a landing balustrade without any floor penetration — ideal where underfloor services or solid concrete landings make floor drilling impractical.

Mezzanine Edges

On mezzanine floors with a fascia board or structural edge beam, a face-mounted channel system allows guarding to be installed with all fixings going into the beam face rather than the floor deck — cleaner and structurally superior in many cases.

Raised Platforms

Any raised structure with a substantial vertical face — stage edges, raised terracing, commercial podiums — can accept a face-mounted glass guarding system, subject to the face structure being adequate for the applied loads.

Frequently Asked Questions

Face mounting works on masonry (brick, block, stone), concrete, structural timber, and steel fascias — subject to the face being substantial enough to accept the imposed loads from the balustrade. We assess the fixing substrate at every project. Hollow blockwork, lightweight studwork, or thin cladding panels are generally not suitable without reinforcement. Where the substrate is uncertain, we investigate before specifying the fixing method.

Yes — when correctly specified and installed into a suitable substrate, face-mounted systems meet the same structural performance requirements as floor-fixed systems. All balustrade systems we install are specified to comply with BS6180, which sets the load requirements for guarding. The fixing method is separate from the structural performance of the balustrade — what matters is that the fixings are into solid, suitable structure.

Yes. All our face-mounted hardware is manufactured from A2 or A4 stainless steel rated for external use. Standoff buttons and face mount channels are routinely used in exposed external locations — on balconies, Juliet balconies, terraces, and mezzanine edges. Where the environment is particularly harsh (coastal or industrial), we specify A4 marine-grade stainless steel as standard.

Glass must be drilled before it is toughened — this is done by our glass manufacturer as part of the manufacturing process, not on site. The drilling locations are specified by us at the design stage based on the standoff positions. Once toughened, the glass cannot be drilled without shattering. This means precise measurement and planning at the design stage is essential — which is why we carry out a thorough site survey before any glass is ordered.

Not Sure Which System Is Right for You?

Talk to our team about your project and we will recommend the most appropriate fixing system — whether face mounted, floor fixed, or a combination of both.

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