What Is the Sliding Glazing System?
Everything you need to know about the Glaxior Sliding frameless glazing system — components, configurations, and technical specifications.
The Glaxior Sliding system is a frameless glazing solution for terraces and balconies in which tempered glass panels slide horizontally along upper and lower aluminium tracks. Unlike the Retractable system, the panels do not fold — they glide in and out of the lower support and stack at the end of the track, keeping the opening completely clear when open.
The system is installed between an upper profile fixed to the terrace ceiling or roof, and a lower profile fixed to the floor or top of a balustrade. Glass panels are suspended from the upper track and guided at the bottom, and cannot exceed 3 metres in height. Vertical and lateral silicone sealing profiles cover all gaps between the glazing and surrounding structures, providing adequate protection against water, wind, and noise.
The Sliding system is designed for use in balconies and terraces worldwide and adapts easily to different space configurations and customer requirements.
Installation Types
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| High glazing (floor-to-ceiling) | Glass spans from floor to ceiling/roof structure |
| Low glazing (balustrade-mounted) | Glass is installed on top of an existing balustrade or railing |
Key Components
Upper Profile
The upper profile is fixed to the ceiling or roof and houses the rails along which the glass panels slide. Two configurations are available depending on the number of glass panes per opening:
- 3-rail upper profile — for openings with up to 3 sliding panes
- 5-rail upper profile — for openings with up to 5 sliding panes
Lower Profile
The lower profile is fixed to the floor or top of a balustrade and provides the bottom guide for the glass panels. It mirrors the upper profile in rail configuration:
- 3-rail lower profile
- 5-rail lower profile
- Reduced lower profile — for flush or recessed floor installations
Upper Components (Guides)
Upper rail guides are fitted to each glass panel and run inside the upper profile track. In angled or corner systems, the guide position is offset from the profile edge to accommodate the corner geometry.
Lower Components
Three key lower components keep the glass panels stable and aligned:
| Component | Function |
|---|---|
| Bottom rail guide | Guides the bottom edge of each glass panel along the lower track |
| Safety device | Prevents glass panels from being lifted out of the lower profile |
| Opening limiter | Restricts how far an opening panel can travel to prevent the handle colliding with the adjacent pane |
Glazing Strips (Blade Profile)
Each glass panel is fitted with a two-part blade/slat profile — the glazing bead and the wedge profile — which secures the glass within the system. The blade profile varies by glass thickness (6, 8, 10 mm), though the same wedge component is used across all thicknesses.
Glass Panels
Available in 6 mm, 8 mm, and 10 mm tempered glass. Glass panes cannot exceed 3,000 mm in height (subject to wind pressure conditions).
Handle and Latch
The Sliding system uses a single handle and latch type: the lower latch, a push-operated handle fitted at the bottom of the designated opening panel. This is the standard option for both high and low glazing installations.
Note: A two-sided handle (key + key) is not currently available for the Sliding system.
Seals and Weatherproofing
The Sliding system uses four types of seals to protect against weather and noise:
| Seal | Description |
|---|---|
| Brush seal | Fitted to the upper profile; provides a continuous seal along the top edge of the glass panels |
| Vertical profile (between panes) | A transparent plastic gasket combined with a brush seal (4.5×4 mm) running between each pair of adjacent panes |
| Wall profile | Aluminium profile with integrated seal placed at the wall termination of the system |
| End seal | Rigid seal with adjustable silicone lip (20 mm or 30 mm) at the open end of the track |
| Corner seal | H-shaped seal used at 90° corners between sides |
Product Limits and Standards
| Feature | Glaxior Sliding |
|---|---|
| Sliding panes per opening | 1–3 (3-rail) / 1–5 (5-rail) |
| Fixed panes per opening | Up to 12 |
| Number of sides | 1–8 |
| Starting angle | 40–140° |
| End angle | 40–140° |
| System angle | 80–280° |
| Max pane weight | <65 kg |
| Glass width — sliding panes | 300–1,200 mm / min 15% of height* |
| Glass width — fixed panes | 200–1,200 mm / min 10% of height* |
| Glazing height — 6 mm | 420–2,100 mm* |
| Glazing height — 8 mm | <2,600 mm* |
| Glazing height — 10 mm | <3,000 mm* |
| Minimum pane width | >200 mm |
| Maximum profile length | <6,000 mm |
*Depending on wind pressure. All values subject to structural verification.
Application Cases
The Sliding system supports a wide range of layout configurations:
- Single side — straight run with panes sliding left or right; up to 12 movable panes per opening with up to 2 fixed panes per side
- Single side with additional opening — 4 panes sliding in one direction with an extra opening panel at the other end (only possible with 180° system angles)
- Split opening — panes sliding in both directions from a central point (e.g. 3 left + 3 right)
- Two sides at 90° — L-shaped corner configuration; corner pass-through possible even with a single pane on the opening side
- Two sides at 135° — obtuse corner layout
- Three sides with 3 rails — U-shaped enclosure
Important constraint: Configurations with panes sliding in opposite directions on a single side (e.g. 2 left + 2 right) are only possible when the system angle is 180°. Splitting directions on angled systems is not supported.
When to Use the Sliding System
The Sliding system is the right choice when:
- The glass panels need to slide laterally rather than fold — ideal when stacking space at one end is limited
- The installation is on a straight or gently angled run (single side or up to 8 sides)
- A low-profile, minimal handle solution is preferred (lower latch only)
- The project involves up to 5 sliding panes per opening with a 5-rail profile
- Glass height up to 3,000 mm (with appropriate thickness)
For installations requiring folding/retractable panels, multiple opening directions per side, or floor-to-ceiling outward opening, see the Glaxior Retractable Glazing System article.