According to the recommendations of BS 6180, the British Standard code of practice for barriers, where the barrier protects a difference in level greater than 600 mm, a handrail should always be used unless a laminated toughened glass construction is used that would remain in‑situ if a panel fails.

BS 6180 also recommends that continuous fixing should be used for fixing the handrail to the glass, or individual fixings where calculations or tests demonstrate that component failure will not occur.