The Intersection of Design, Durability, and Panelized Railings in Outdoor Living

This podcast examines how panelized railing systems influence project outcomes through material selection, fabrication precision, protective coatings, and installation strategies. Participants will explore how design decisions impact lifecycle performance, maintenance requirements, and long-term durability in exterior conditions. The podcast also reviews key code considerations, inspection requirements, and industry trends shaping the specification of exterior elevated elements. Through practical discussion and real-world application examples, design professionals will gain insights into selecting and specifying railing systems that support safe, durable, and well-coordinated outdoor living environments.

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Transcript

Hello, and welcome to the SpecShaman podcast, the show that explores the world of building product manufacturers, architects and engineers, sustainable design and technology and trends. We engage in thought-provoking discussions with renowned experts, industry pioneers, and visionaries who are making a significant impact in the construction industry. Join us as we explore groundbreaking ideas, revolutionary concepts, and the latest advancements shaping the built environment.

I hope you enjoy this week's episode. Let's get started. Welcome to the Blueprint of Outdoor Living podcast.

I'm your host, Megan Vipond. In this episode, we'll be exploring a topic that plays a critical role in both the safety and performance of the built environment, but often doesn't get the attention it deserves until later in a project. And that's exterior railing systems.

As design professionals, we're constantly balancing aesthetics, code compliance, constructability, and long-term durability. Railing systems sit right in the intersection of all four. And today we're going to take a closer look at panelized railing systems.

What are they? How do they differ from traditional approaches? And why more project teams are considering them earlier in the design process? Today we are joined by four experts who have deep experience in railing systems and the realities of how they perform in the field. Jeff Cerrovi, Architectural Sales Manager for KeyLink, Jason Fora, VP of Marketing Development for Wolf Home Products, and special guests, Kevin Burtt, VP of Innovation and Engineering with Wolf Outdoor Living, and John Kovalon, Regional Sales Manager for Fortress Railing Products. Gentlemen, thank you so much for joining us today.

Hi, Megan. Thank you. Glad to be here.

Yeah. Thanks for having us. All right, gentlemen.

To start us off, can you start by sharing your background and how your experience has shaped your perspective on railing systems and the built environment? I've been in the building products industry for 30 years. From the design and innovation perspective, I've worked on anything on the exterior of homes, anywhere from siding, decking, framing, and railing. So I've got a vast experience in the design, the needs of the customer, the codes that go into the product, into the product design.

So I just have a pretty broad background in outdoor living products, but railing specifically. Yeah. Being the son of a general contractor, I've been exposed to the building materials and construction industry essentially my whole life.

So I like to look at things a little bit more from the perspective of the installer and how things go together and what we can do to make that more of a streamlined process for a contractor. I love when we're on a project and there's challenges that need to be addressed and we can problem solve on the spot and work through those issues using the tools that we have on hand. As far as railing goes, I've installed many different types of railing and that has really shaped my experience in the railing environment.

Now let's begin with the fundamentals. For those unfamiliar, can you tell us how you would define a panelized railing system? I would say anything like a panelized system is anything that's been built in a controlled environment, manufacturing environment where they have dedicated quality assurance programs in place. They have onsite inspections from time to time all the way down to the inspection of the powder coating line.

I would say that a panelized system is going to be a railing panel that is also coded to a very specific set of specifications so that you get consistent coating quality to get a long-term warranty that goes along with the product. Just to piggyback on that a little bit, I would say that some of the key features would be a pre-assembled panel, so it's pre-welded in the factory. Everything's ready to be cut and installed onsite and requires very little labor on the back end when you're actually going to install the product.

I would also add to that, yes, I talked specifically about the panels, but it goes into the post and the accessories, the brackets. Like John said, the goal of a panelized system is once it gets to the job site, it requires very minimal fabrication or adjustments to actually install the product once it's there so you're not damaging that factory finish when you're installing it. How do panelized railing systems differ from traditionally site-fabricated or site-welded railings? Panelized railing systems differ from site-fabricated systems because when you're talking about a fabricated system, that's something that's either going to be assembled and welded in a shop and then installed on the job site, or it's going to be assembled and welded and put in place onsite at the job.

So there's extreme skilled labor involved with that. You have to have someone that's very skilled with welding and precision welding to be able to accomplish those aesthetics and make sure everything's structurally sound. When you're talking about a panelized system, everything shows up to the job ready to be cut and put in place.

The level of skill for the labor is significantly less and can be taught in minutes to hours. I would say those two big things are the differentiators, but I'd love to hear what Jeff has to say or input that Jeff has on this topic. And John, thank you for that.

One of the things that popped into my head as listening to you and Kevin is the fact that with a panelized system, we're offering a system into the marketplace that has been code tested, whereas some of the products that are being field fabricated, while they're done to standards, there's no paper trail for code compliance as it would be. IBC specifically where these products are being installed on multifamily projects, for example, or pedestrian walkways and the like. Again, I think the fact that the panelized system offers a code compliance solution as opposed to a field fabricated solution is peace of mind for the design professional.

I would agree with Jeff 100%. The third party code testing that comes along with panelized systems is critical and very important, but I'd also go on to say that when you have a custom fabrication or a local fabricator make a railing, they may have powder coating in their facility, but a lot of times they're going to be painted and or welded. Once they get to the job site, rather than have brackets like a pre-assembled panel or a panelized system, these fabricated railing sections will actually be welded in place on the job site, so what that does is any coating that you may have applied at your workshop in a more controlled environment is going to be jeopardized by the welding and grinding that you have to do to install it, and then you're left with, if it was a powder coated panel, now the only option you have once it's in the field is to paint it with an oil-based paint or a zinc-rich paint, so I think that's another key differentiator there.

I would also go on to say the material choices. You can buy pre-galvanized steel tubes to produce a panel, but in a factory setting where you're making pre-assembled panels, you get a very specific galvanization level on that, so you have a more durable, longer-lasting product in a panelized system. I'm not going to say in all cases, but the majority of cases, I think that would be it.

Yeah, I want to add an example as even just a case study. I did a $3 million house outside of Philly a few years back, and we had sold them decking, and the customer was very adamant on getting a custom-welded, fabricated on-site steel rail section, and about a year later, he called back and said that our product was leaching rust-colored water onto the deck, and I said, I know a lot about plastics. That's not really possible, and sure enough, it was a site-painted and site-welded project in steel, and it just didn't hold up.

You just don't have that controlled setting to the point of Johnny and Kevin and Jeff are making. You don't have the controlled setting, so it makes a huge difference. Now, one of the things we often hear about panelization, and it's been mentioned here briefly already, but that's the role of factory fabrication.

What role does factory fabrication play in consistency and predictability across large projects? I would say that's the key to a panelized system, is that predictability or the ability to duplicate the same panel over and over, and that's done through jigs all the way from the cutting process, which is quite simple, but then when you get into the actual assembly or fabrication where you're welding the pickets to the rails, there's dedicated jigs for each size of panel that go into that, and then on top of that, you have a robot or an individual who's a certified welder actually making those welds, so you get a consistent weld on every single panel, and then the other consistency part and predictability part goes back to finish. I'll talk about finishes a lot today, but a lot of people aren't going to recognize the quality of a weld. When I was a kid, one of my friends got a Schwinn Predator bicycle when this was back in the early 80s, and I remember being very impressed with the weld quality on it.

It was just fantastic, but most people are not going to realize what a good weld looks like, but they will notice rust when you have a black, a powder-coated black railing or matte, antique bronze color, and then you see rust coming through. That's just like a red flag to a homeowner, and they're going to realize that quite quickly, so that pre-finished certified coating process at the factory level is critical in that consistency and predictability. So, Kevin, this is Jay.

So, you knew your future line of work in engineering was set from the days of your focus point on welds. That's pretty impressive. It was impressive.

It was like a piece of art. It was goofy kid stuff, but I remember it to this day, so it left a lasting impression on me. I think that it all circles back to quality assurance, really.

In those factories, there's a very high level of quality assurance taking place across the board. So, that goes from the very beginning to the very end to make sure that it's a very repeated process and repeated product that leaves the factory. How does pre-welded panel construction influence project management? Pre-welded panel construction really, really simplifies project management.

You get a lot of added benefits from having that consistency, having the availability of the product, and really being able to lean on a bunch of different types of labor to complete the installation. From scheduling, on-site inventory, and guarantees and code compliance, I think these are all things that we think about when we talk about influencing the project management side of the business. In what types of projects do panelized railing systems tend to provide the most value? We see panelized railing systems being used in a bunch of different applications, from residential to commercial, multifamily.

But I would say that it can definitely offer a lot of efficiencies in the multifamily space. How repeatable it is, how easy it is to pick up on, how available it is in the marketplace. These are all things that we focus on and is really a draw to a multifamily GC or installer.

I would add to that that I know that this conversation is probably more geared to bigger multifamily jobs or commercial-type jobs, but in the world of the DIY installer, fabricated systems with brackets, they can't be installed by a homeowner or a local contractor. Probably the biggest value in that is that the homeowner can go, in most of these cases, these panelized systems are going to have code reports. We'll talk a lot about code today.

When the code inspector comes, the homeowner or the contractor has that document that helps to streamline their project approval, and also it gives them peace of mind that they've got a product that's code compliant and safe for their family. I know I made mention of it a little earlier, but a training can take place with anyone, anytime, any skill level, and happen in a matter of minutes to hours. It's a very easy system to pick up on.

The panelized system in general is just a very plug-and-play option for any skill level. That really provides a great overview of the system itself. Now let's zoom out a little bit and talk about how the broader industry has evolved.

From your vantage point, how have expectations for exterior railing performance evolved over the past decade? I would say over the past 10 years, probably the biggest changes have to do with the types of infills. Traditionally, you would have just a vertical picket welded to rails. That was the go-to design, but I've seen horizontal infills where you have a horizontal picket that's more contemporary.

I'm seeing that a lot in a lot of downtown areas where a lot of younger people are living, a more modern style look. You see in the introduction of panelized cable systems that provide an entirely different look. It just provides a homeowner or the architect designing a job with more options on how to make their projects fit in with the architectural styles of the neighborhoods you're building in.

Yeah, there are plenty of infill options available now. Across the board from what Kevin mentioned, the traditional vertical picket, horizontal picket, both vertical and horizontal cable, as well as some glass infill options, there are full glass panel infill options and glass baluster infill options, and then a bunch of decorative infill options. From a design perspective, you can accomplish any design you're looking for in a panelized system.

I'd be really interested to hear what Jason and Jeff have to put in on this question. Yeah, I'd say the last two decades, this is Jay, the biggest thing I've seen is really the push more towards metal railing in general. And I ask the market, why is that? I can say from my experience, there were other type of composite railing products that are out there that have had performance challenges, that have had issues, whether it be spider cracking on the finish, whether it be just downright unfortunately failing, you know, metal's very consistent, it's very strong, obviously treated in the right way and built to the right specifications.

You know, it's a far superior option, and that's from my experience, you know, seeing everything go from wood to more of a composite type of plastic coating on railing to now metal railing, it's night and day as far as, you know, how those expectations have changed, but also the performance, right? They're tied together. So as we build better systems, people's expectations do get better. And I'll just add, from my perspective in providing metal railings, the life cycle assessment that's available that, you know, that we judge longevity of product, maintenance requirements, it's unmatched, metal railings, be it steel or aluminum, far outweigh the competition from, you know, vinyl, composite, wood, even, again, just, it's a great opportunity to find value in metal railings, especially from the life cycle assessment perspective.

Yeah, I would add to what Jeff just said, in that, you know, with the introduction of TREX, you know, back in the early 90s to, you know, with all the composites that are out there now, you know, people, these homeowners expect a long lasting product. So you're starting to see, you know, different framing materials, but, you know, it doesn't make a lot of sense to put a 25 year plus composite deck product down with a wood railing that you're going to have to stain and, you know, have a lot of upkeep on. So these panelized systems, whether they be steel, aluminum, cable, whatever they are, they come with finishes and a lot of, you know, steel is a sustainable material.

So I think that they just touch on a lot of different things that people have grown to become more, it's more of an expectation that they're going to get a long lasting, you know, beautiful product that they can install in their projects. What are some common assumptions that design teams make about metal railing systems early in the design process? I think it depends a lot on the environment or the geographic location. That's going to dictate, you know, where, you know, materials, for instance, if you're building on the coast, you know, you're probably going to be, it's probably going to be more heavily an aluminum market.

You know, if you're in Colorado, it's very likely a more dry climate. You're going to use a lot of steel products out there. So that's, I think the geography is, and the environmental conditions really can dictate what products are used early in the design process.

And then going back, I think I made a comment earlier about just the different types of infills. So there's, you need to have a railing system that complements the architectural style of your home. You know, you're not going to have a modern house with a large, you know, I'll use the word clunky, vinyl railing system.

I mean, vinyl railing has a segment of the market, but it's, you know, you're talking about larger railing profiles, larger balusters. So you're not going to have as much as clear of a view, and it's just not going to fit into the architectural style. So having those options out there early on in the design process really helps the designer or the homeowner plan out their project.

For projects where railings could become a late stage consideration, what tends to be the cause of that? What we're experiencing now, oftentimes with railing selection, what may have been basis of design and specification early on in the project, because of scope creep and other project cost overruns, we're finding that the very end where decks and railing are being installed, visualizing a multifamily project, for example, at this point, we're getting into cost considerations where the building owner or the general contractor, whomever is running the project, is now looking to make some changes based on the design, basis of design specification, oftentimes looking for cost savings. That's where we project railings could become a late stage consideration, and oftentimes a value engineered late stage consideration. We often run into that.

I just caution the design community that, again, while we can certainly offer value engineered solutions, we don't want to sacrifice safety, code compliance, and the like for a few dollars, because the cost of failure is not countable at this point. We're seeing a significant amount of failures. California, for example, has just put in place some new code requirements for deck inspection and railing heights and so on and so forth.

So, again, very careful about late stage changes, specifically related to safety, such as railing. I think something else that's easy to consider as well is scheduling and availability of product. So, when you're talking about scheduling, the railing is going in at the very end stages of a project, whether it be residential, commercial, or multifamily.

It's typically a later stage consideration. So, scheduling for a fabricator can be weeks to months, and availability of that product can be pretty extensive. And when you're talking about a panelized railing system that's readily available, can ship to the job site and start being installed within a week or two, that's a big consideration when you're coming down the line and trying to hit a deadline.

So, I would say those two things, scheduling and availability, would be a big consideration as well. If I could go back, I'd also add to that, to what John just said, again, talking a lot about code. At the late stages of a project, railings are one of the last things to go in for any number of reasons.

But when a code inspector shows up and a site-built railing is not approved, they need to find a quick solution to it, and pre-assembled panels with code testing, they're a good fit for those type of late-stage design changes. And like John said, they're readily available, depending on the size of job. So, if it's a smaller job, it's very likely they can have product within a day or two to correct any issues that may be causing them to make that change.

So, that's something that we hear often, that railings can sometimes be treated as a finishing detail rather than a performance system. So, how does early consideration around railing systems influence the downstream construction decisions? Early coordination can really benefit a project holistically. If a panelized railing system is specified up front, you're going to have a lot less of these challenges because you do have that product that's readily available.

Your labor can hop on site and start installing within a couple of days. So, it's going to really offer a lot less challenges in the long run than some of the other railing types out there. It's really going to fit in the puzzle very seamlessly from a project perspective once it comes time to start installing railing.

I agree with that, too. I would say that for a large apartment complex where you're going to have several hundred of the same repeatable sized balconies or railing requirements, if the railing is considered early on in the design stages, there are companies out there with panelized systems that can actually do custom fabrication or custom sizes. An architect can provide a drawing.

The factory that makes the panelized system can create sign-off drawings for them so that when that product shows up, there's very minimal. I mean, you're already talking about minimal changes to a pre-assembled panel, but when you have an architectural specified drawing that was used to build these panels, you're talking about even less on-site changes and this faster installation. So, it really makes the entire construction process, as far as the railings, go smoother.

Jeff, you had a comment also. Yeah, just thinking about the coordination, and oftentimes when we're providing shop drawings, we're looking at how our particular railing system, again, as an industry, how our railing system is properly anchored to the substructure, and manufacturers that I'm familiar with, they test their railing systems with a specific anchorage process, an anchoring process that needs to be followed for a code-compliant application. We still find, as an industry, that oftentimes contractors or installers may be just doing what comes easy, and it may not end up with a code-compliant installation.

So, we spend a lot of time focusing on the coordination and the proper anchorage of said posts and railing systems. Let's build on all of that now by talking more specifically about materials and fabrication quality. What are the key differences designers should understand when evaluating steel versus aluminum railing systems? I think Kevin touched on it a little bit earlier, but some of the key considerations are going to be climate and your geographical location.

So, when you're closer to the coast or in a setting where aluminum is more applicable, aluminum-type materials are more applicable, that's going to be the go-to. When you're in a drier climate, you're going to lean more on steel. There are a number of considerations there that you have to account for when you're deciding your material that's going to be used.

I would add also that with aluminum railing products, because aluminum is extruded, it's a different manufacturing process than a steel tube. So, you can get more intricate top rail designs, you can get a colonial shape or wider flat top rail profiles. So, you have a little more design flexibility.

A lot of these companies who make these panelized systems, they have different accessories that allow the installer to mix different looks so the same panelized system can ultimately have a completely different look because of the use of aluminum. I would also say that going back to what John said, the climate, the geographic location, the aluminum, because of the way it's manufactured, extruded, you can get easy profiles to make full glass sheet panels. So, it's another design option that's out there.

That material basically lends itself to allowing the installer to have that option. How do material selection decisions affect durability and long-term performance? Material selection decisions, as far as durability goes, you're looking at the two products or two types of metals we've discussed so far. So, aluminum and steel.

Many, many panelized railing systems offer pretty extensive warranties. The two that we're referencing today can be really anywhere from like a 10 to 15-year warranty all the way up to a limited lifetime warranty. So, the durability is really there in both material selections.

And considering the structural strength of steel, we've built bridges with it. We've built skyscrapers with it for hundreds of years. So, we're looking at two products, two material types that can really go the distance as far as weathering and durability go.

What fabrication details tend to have the greatest impact on long-term performance? The fewer cuts that are required in the field is going to have probably the biggest impact on performance. And the reason I say that is when you cut down a panelized system or a prefabricated system, you're going to have raw edges of metal, whether it be aluminum or steel. Aluminum, it does corrode.

It's not red rust like a steel product, but you will get some form of corrosion there. So, you need to recoat the edges. So, using a panelized system and planning your job out where you minimize the number of modifications of the panel, that's probably one of the things that has the greatest impact on long-term performance.

Another big thing that can help with fabrication details is using a manufacturer of a panelized system that allows for pre-attached panel brackets to the post. This is really going to speed up installation in the long-term and help the installer get some efficiencies on their end. Hey, Kevin, quick question.

This is Jay. I know you've had experience in the past with different types of coatings for steel. I know with some of the industry perception as far as steel corroding, can you maybe go into maybe some of the differences with certain factory settings where you can apply a different coating to steel to really give it that long-term durability? Yes.

I mean, there's a lot of different options out there. There's the pre-treatment options. There's zinc phosphate materials that actually etch the surface of the material to get a better grip of the powder coat when it's applied.

There are nano coatings now that are more environmentally friendly so that those very controlled environments help to give you a better performing coating for long-term performance. Probably a word you'll hear a lot in panelized systems is e-coat. E-coat is a process.

It's much like powder coating, but it's a liquid where a panel gets submerged in a vat or a bath of e-coat chemical that is very thin, and so it can flow into the nooks and crannies of a weld on a panelized system and giving you more enhanced performance over a longer period of time. There are companies out there that are able to add to – John had mentioned earlier that they're able to offer these longer-term warranties, and probably the biggest factor in the ability to do that goes back to the coating system like Jay just mentioned. It's like what steps are in there.

Is it a controlled environment where the supplier of the powder coating material or the pre-treatment materials has been on site and approved or certified the coating line to apply those finishes and get the best possible performance out of the product once it's in the field? Weld quality is something that maybe needs to be discussed a little bit more in detail. Why is consistency in weld quality important beyond the visual appearance? That all goes back to the code or meeting the code requirements, so having those testing reports. There are code approval programs out there offered through third-party labs.

They have different names, but the one that I'm more familiar with is the Code Compliance Research Report, and it's a third-party testing lab that takes your quality plan and ensures that the factory or the person making that product is actually following every detail down to the quality of the materials with traceability. The quality of the weld, you're required to have certified welders that are making these welds because you're talking about life safety issues with railings. And the weld, in a lot of cases, that's the main connection point between the rail and the picket, so you have to ensure that there's consistency there so you have an end product that meets all the code requirements and they have confidence that the product is going to perform as it should, and that all goes back to that weld quality.

And how does factory precision help reduce variability from panel to panel? I think that just goes back to the processes. Again, I mentioned in the previous question about the quality systems that are in place, so that quality system is, you know, the spacing of the pickets, you know, there's codes that require that space, any space between two vertical members or horizontal members that a four-inch sphere cannot pass through. So that's the precision you get out of the factory from the length of the rails to the length of the baluster or picket tubes that are cut down, the jigs, going back to the weld quality, again, the jigs hold the pickets and the rails in the right position so you have the right amount of gap between the components so you get the best penetration on the weld, and it's those type of things that go back to that quality assurance report that really give all those panels the precision that they need so you don't get a lot of variability from panel to panel.

Everything is really calibrated on a regular basis in these manufacturing facilities as well, and that's what really fine-tunes the precision from panel to panel. We offer a super consistent product because of those factors. Now, of course, material selection and fabrication are only part of the story.

Protection and coatings play a huge role in long-term performance as well. Why is surface protection such a critical consideration for exterior railing systems? I would say that you're talking about a product that's going to be exposed to the environments around it forever. Rain, shine, sleet, or snow, this product has to stand up against all of that.

So choosing surface protection methods to make sure that the steel or aluminum is going to stand the test of time is super important. I know Kevin mentioned earlier about the e-coating process, the powder coating process, making sure that welds are held to a specific standard. All these things are considered so that when this product is installed, when a panelized railing system is installed, it's going to withstand the test time.

So protecting that surface, protecting those metals is super important so that we see these products stay in place for a very long time. I would add to what John just said in that with a railing product, you're going to be railing, it defines an outdoor living space, so on a deck. And people, they're like the barriers that define the space, so people are going to be interacting with them.

So you get a lot of people, a lot of people are going to be holding on to that railing, resting against it. And it's that, it gets a different type of attention than let's say a fence product that's 40 yards in the back of your yard, where that surface protection is very important to the long-term durability of it. So how should designers think differently about railing protection in coastal areas versus inland environments? I would say it's all about, in coastal environments, it's all about the salt air.

And you're going to probably get better performance out of an aluminum panelized system than a steel system. One of the keys there, I think, is the maintenance. You need to keep it clean.

Salt is very corrosive, and you can keep your product, keep your railing looking nice like the day it was installed, as long as you continue to clean that. But it all goes back to that salt air environment. Similar to the fenestration industry, there are coatings that are available that are designed specifically for coastal applications.

Referring to AMA, the American Architectural Manufacturers Association, the 2605 finish standard, which is typically a fluoropolymer finish, provides the end user the benefit of having the most sophisticated finish option available for their railing. Now, not every railing manufacturer has that available to them. It also might not be available on certain materials, such as steel versus aluminum.

But again, judging the application, the location, make certain that you select the correct finish. And also, read the warranties. Read the warranties of the manufacturers that you're considering.

They may have a specific distance from the coastline. Oftentimes, you have within a mile of coastal waters, or two miles of coastal waters, or brackish waters, that you need to have the upgraded finish. So please give that some consideration.

Yes, absolutely. Those environmental factors are especially important these days, as more projects are being built in challenging climates. Let's shift now from fabrication and coatings to what really happens on the job site.

How does panelization influence installation speed on site? With a panelized railing system, it's very simple. You're going to show up to the job. Your product's going to be there.

You're going to start setting some posts, attaching some brackets, cut your panels to size, set them in place, and away you go. It's a very repeatable process that creates efficiencies for the installer. Versus other railing types, it's going to be anywhere from 37% or more faster than some of the other railing types.

How does reduced field fabrication contribute to overall project efficiency? Once an installer has used the panelized system one, two times, like most everything in construction, it's really going to gain those efficiencies. So when you're looking at some of the case studies that have been performed, I mentioned the 37% faster earlier, that's going to get even better as an installer becomes used to that panelized system. It can really offer a lot of efficiencies and speed for those contractors, and that's only going to benefit them and the homeowner or building owner in the long run.

Now beyond installation, code compliance and inspection requirements are also major drivers of railing design. What primary building codes typically govern railing systems on multifamily projects? The most universally used building code is the International Building Code for Multifamily. This is what's going to regulate railing systems for their implementation on multifamily projects.

This is nationally recognized. Everyone that's in the design and architecture community is familiar with this, and most of the suggestions for a panelized railing system should include code compliance within that International Building Code. And how does inspection and compliance requirements influence railing system design and detailing? In panelized systems, from the early stages of the design of a railing panel, all those code considerations are in there.

I would also add to what John has said about the IBC. So when you do a third-party test, you're also going to be subjected to a safety factor. So there's additional peace of mind going into a panelized system if they have the supporting documentation from a third-party testing lab that the product is safe and it's going to meet the IBC International Building Code requirements.

And that starts at the very beginning stages of the design process of the railing. Are there any recent regulatory developments that have increased the attention on exterior elevated elements? Yeah. So this is a very good question.

When you look at building a building from any perspective, whether it's the architect, the designer, the general contractor, the installers, the end user, safety has got to be top of mind. So there has been some very big focus on these exterior elevated elements over the past decade. Here, recently, we see the developments of the California Senate bills 326 and 721.

So these Senate bills came about because of a tragic accident within a balcony collapse at Berkeley in 2015 that took the lives of six students there. These bills essentially require apartments, rentals, condos, and anything along those lines to get inspections every six years and specifically focus on the exterior balconies, stairways, guardrail systems, and really focus to help drive safety. Essentially, anything that is deemed necessary to be repaired are required to take place within 120 days.

So it's a huge focus on getting these things done quickly. Basically, we'll likely see these same requirements and inspections become mandatory across the country eventually from that safety perspective. What role do industry organizations play in promoting best practices for deck and railing safety? Several different code bodies out there, the ICC, which helps to develop the standards, ASTM, their standards that arrive, that come out of those committees.

In the deck and railing category, there's this organization called the North American Deck and Rail Association, NADRA. And they are very active in promoting deck safety with educational classes. They've done a really good job.

It's been around for, I don't know the exact number, but 20-plus years. And they are beginning to be more and more active and really, I would say, the go-to source as far as an organization that's out there promoting the best practices for deck and railing safety. Jason, you had a comment? Yeah, I would also recommend leaning on individual manufacturers and companies who have a dedicated training program.

Some offer additional warranties. It's great because, again, they're familiar with their product, good and bad. Every product has strengths and weaknesses.

And it's important to align yourself with a company who's going to be proactive in administering the right best practice information. Absolutely. Now, as we wrap up here, let's talk a little bit about lifecycle performance and get into some real-world application.

How should designers evaluate railing systems from a lifecycle and maintenance standpoint? I think it's important for designers to consider essentially everything we've talked about, what they're looking for from an aesthetics purpose, the material being used, whether it's aluminum or steel, and really bringing all of that together so that it can withstand the test of time. I would add that when a designer's evaluating a system, a railing system, go to the manufacturer's website. You're going to find the warranty policies, labor warranty policies, any code compliance reports that are out there, care and maintenance guidelines, so they can make very informed decisions on the products that they're going to use on their projects.

And how can material choice and fabrication methods reduce long-term maintenance demands? I guess that goes back to an earlier answer. You're talking about composite decking and the consumer's expectation that these outdoor living environments are going to last a long time. I think there's just an expectation out there now, and then I go back to the geographic location of the coastal environments.

That's going to really dictate the material choice. The salt air that we mentioned earlier is going to be more likely to be an aluminum product. And then Jeff mentioned the AMA standards.

So there's like the fluoropolymer powder coatings that give better performance. But that's going to have the biggest impact on long-term maintenance demands. I think something else to add there too is when you're considering a panelized railing system versus a fabricated railing system, the maintenance required over the long term is going to be a lot less for a panelized system.

You still have to pay attention to it. You still have to make sure that you're cleaning it and inspecting it on a regular basis. But there's a lot less room for error in the long term with a panelized railing system versus a fabricated railing system.

Can you share a real-world project example where a panelized railing system helped solve a design or construction challenge? Yes, there was actually a recent project in Lansing, Michigan area that was completed by Lakeshore Customs, a contractor up there. Very well-known, reputable contractor in the area. And this particular project was a restoration and remodel project where stairs and balconies on a condo complex were kind of getting to the point where they needed to be considered for replacement.

Lakeshore Customs and the HOA chose an aluminum panelized system really that met every single need that they had. So they were looking for a solution where they could go in and remove the old railing system, the stairs, and everything else involved and replace it with a new section and system within just a few hours as to not disrupt the occupants of these condos. So they were able to do all of that and more, and they got the aesthetic that they were looking for in the long run.

So they accomplished really three big things. They accomplished the speed they were looking for. They accomplished the aesthetics that they were looking for and the strength in the product they were looking for.

So there's going to be a formal case study published on this project in the near future and is nearing completion. Happened really from late 25 to early 2026. As a final takeaway today, what key considerations would you encourage design professionals to keep in mind when specifying railing systems on future projects? Some of the biggest things I would encourage design professionals to keep in mind would be the speed of installation and the availability of product when you're talking about a panelized railing system.

It's a very flexible product from start to finish and can fit into that jigsaw puzzle of a project really as needed. So that's one of the biggest things. And all that considered, you're not jeopardizing any of the things we've talked about with strength or aesthetics.

You can really accomplish anything you're looking for with a panelized railing system. I would add to that that I would say three things. So number one, when you're talking about panelized systems, look at the design options and material options that are out there that are being offered.

Number two, look for code compliance reports, third-party testing reports that support a safe product. And then number three, look at the warranty that's offered by the manufacturer. Those would be the three things that I would encourage design professionals to keep in mind.

Jason, you had a comment also? Yeah, I would just add to work with a manufacturer's rep, get reps involved. It's important we can help to narrow maybe potential problems. We see, remember, we're at the bottom of the funnel.

So we see all the good, the bad, the ugly products that may have been not specified for the right application. We can make better recommendations. We can, again, use our expertise to help make your projects go smoother.

And in the end, we can help you to market those projects. We have a lot of companies have outlets where we can utilize the information and get pictures, professional pictures, use it in social media and help market your own company at the same time. And I'll just finish by saying that Jason and I have worked on this podcast now.

This is our eighth episode. And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the trusted advisor capacity that the manufacturer reps offer. And that ties into what Jay said.

Just ask us. We're going to ask the reps that you're familiar with, trust them, that they're going to give you the best advice and guidance in product selection, installation, and maintenance. And thank you for the opportunity to bring this to you today.

Fantastic conversation and insight. I think it all really highlights how railing systems are much more than just a finishing touch. It's clear that early planning, thoughtful material selection, and quality fabrication can have a significant impact, not just during construction, but throughout the life of a building.

Gentlemen, thank you for sharing your expertise and helping us better understand the role of panelized railing systems in today's built environment. We appreciate you joining us on the Spec Shaman Podcast as we continue exploring the details that make great architecture possible. Thank you for listening to the Spec Shaman Podcast.

If you enjoyed today's episode, please subscribe to our show and leave us a review. A huge thank you to our guests who made this show possible. Thanks all for this episode, folks.

See you next time.