Versatilt Channel for Frameless Glass Balustrade

How Versatilt channel works

Most channel systems lock the glass at whatever angle the base gives you. Versatilt is different: pressure plates and patented rotator plates sit inside the channel, so you can adjust the tilt of each panel and tighten it in place with the Versatilt spanner. The snap-on covers then clip over the channel to hide every fixing. Corners are simple too: you don’t mitre the channel itself. Butt-join the channels and cut only the covers.

Face mount, deck mount or concealed?

Mounting	Where it fixes	Good for
Face mount (Standard)	To the side of a concrete slab, steel beam or timber framing	Balconies and decks where you want the full deck width clear
Deck mount (Standard and Heavy Duty)	On top of the floor or deck structure	Most decks, terraces and stair landings
Concealed in deck	Set down into the deck structure, so the glass appears to rise straight out of the deck	A seamless, minimal look on timber or composite decks

Drainage: make sure the channel has adequate drainage points and keep weep holes clear. Versatilt isn’t suitable for concealing in a concrete slab, because water can sit in the channel.

Standard or Heavy Duty?

	Versatilt Standard	Versatilt Heavy Duty
Certified glass	15mm Grade A toughened (laminated where the fall is 5m or more)	17.52mm or 21.52mm Grade A toughened laminated
Mounting	Face mount or deck mount	Deck mount
Substrates	Concrete, steel or timber	Concrete or steel
Channel length	4200mm	3600mm
Max panel width	1400mm	1400mm
Handrail	Interlinking Nanorail Deluxe 30×21 or 35 Series	Interlinking 35 Series

Both systems come with covers in Mill, Satin or Black. Heavy Duty suits more demanding sites. Wind ratings, height limits and fixing details are in each system’s Product Technical Statement; ask us for a copy for your certifier.

What to order

1. Choose the channel kit for your install:
   • Face mount kit: 4200mm channel, a full cover, a top cover and a bottom cover, plus 12mm glazing rubbers.
   • Deck mount kit (also used for concealed in deck): 4200mm channel, two full covers and two top covers (use the ones your layout needs), plus 12mm glazing rubbers.
   • Heavy Duty deck mount kit: 3600mm channel for 17.52mm or 21.52mm laminated glass.
2. Choose your finish: Mill, Satin or Black covers.
3. Add the glass hardware for your glass thickness.
   • 15mm glass: 15mm pressure plate kits and the 15mm glazing rubber kit (use it instead of the 12mm rubbers supplied with the covers).
   • 12mm glass: 12mm pressure plate kits. The 12mm glazing rubbers come with the channel kit covers. The Product Technical Statement covers 15mm glass, so 12mm installs need sign-off from your engineer.
   • Heavy Duty: the Heavy Duty pressure plate kit and glazing rubbers for your glass thickness.
   Fit a pressure plate at each end of every panel. Space the rest no more than 300mm apart for Standard, or 250mm apart for Heavy Duty. Need the glass too? See our glass balustrade panels.
4. Add the handrail: a continuous interlinking handrail, such as Nanorail Deluxe 30×21 for 15mm glass or 35 Series railing for Standard or Heavy Duty.
5. Add the extras:
   • End plates for exposed channel ends.
   • Alignment pins to join channels in a straight line.
   • Top infill rubber between glass panels.
   • Stabilising washers for deck mount channels (Standard or Heavy Duty pack).
   • The Versatilt spanner for the pressure plate nuts.

Complete your balustrade

• Glass: shop glass balustrade panels, including 15mm balustrade glass, 17.52mm laminated balustrade glass and 12mm balustrade glass.
• Handrail: browse all glass balustrade handrails, including Nanorail Deluxe 30×21 and 35 Series railing.
• Other fixing options: compare spigots, standoffs and channel in our frameless glass balustrade range.
• Building a pool fence? See Versatilt channel for glass pool fencing.

Compliance and engineering

Under the National Construction Code, a balustrade is generally required where the fall is more than 1m. It must be at least 1m high, with no gap a 125mm sphere can pass through. The glass must meet AS 1288, which requires laminated glass where the fall is 5m or more. Each Versatilt system has a Product Technical Statement (PTS) covering residential balustrades under NCC 2022 Volume Two when installed exactly to the engineering drawings, including:

• A continuous interlinking handrail on top of the glass, with the top of the handrail at least 1000mm above the finished floor.
• Glass panels up to 1400mm wide, with pressure plates at each end of every panel.
• The wind ratings, height limits and fixing details set out in the PTS.
• The building structure verified by your project engineer as able to carry the balustrade loads.

The balustrade systems are not certified as a pool barrier; for that, use the Versatilt pool fence system. Ask us for the PTS for your certifier, and always confirm your design, fixings and substrate with your engineer or certifier before you build.

Frequently asked questions