Fasteners for Architectural Railings
Mudge Fasteners has always excelled at providing customized support for niche industries, and even niches within niche industries. One such example is in architectural railings, where fasteners are used in bulk but are often overlooked as a primary component in the design, engineering, and installation of this specialty construction trade.
Several factors come into play when choosing fasteners for structural railings, architectural railings, or glass balustrades. These factors include, but are not limited to, the surface that the railings are being attached to, the material that the railings are made of, and whether the railings consist of complete welded systems or “stick-build” components that are mechanically fastened together.
The following illustrations provide detail into just how many fasteners can be used on a single commercial construction project’s aluminum railing installation.
Expansion Anchors
When mounting railings into a concrete slab, either on high rise towers or on the first two levels of podium buildings, expansion anchors from brands like Powers or Hilti are often used.
Lag Bolts
When attaching railing to wood framing of a building, stainless steel lag screws are commonly used.
Elco Dril-Flex
Sometimes it’s necessary to attach architectural railings directly to a metal substrate, whether that’s a steel plate or an aluminum deck. In these instances, Dril-Flex screws from Elco are commonly used.
Hex Bolts
Once in a while, structural engineers will require railings to be attached by going though a truss or beam, resulting in the use of what’s colloquially known as “through bolts”. In the fastener industry, this type of assembly typically refers to a stainless steel hex bolt paired with a stainless steel hex nut.
Elco Bi-Flex
Lastly, whether using welded systems or component-based railing products, sections must be attached to one another to complete the system, and Elco Bi-Flex bi-metal screws are often recommended at these “splice” locations.
No matter what type of railing system you’re designing or installing, Mudge Fasteners can help you get the result you’re looking for. Contact us at (800) 634-0406 for assistance with these and any other fasteners for architectural railings.
*Mudge Fasteners is not an engineering company and does not offer engineering advice. All illustrations shown are strictly for the purpose of education. Please consult a licensed structural engineer in your state before proceeding with any of the mentioned attachment methods.