We can all admit that the last couple of years in the construction industry haven’t been easy. However, the future is looking a lot more positive as we see projects finally coming to life across residential, commercial and infrastructure. The balustrade market is no exception to the troublesome times, the focus on better building standards and regulations has meant suppliers have had to embrace change and innovation to stay competitive and be able to fulfil customers expectations. 

2025 will see even more emphasis on sustainability, safety, technology, design and ease of installation. Here we take a deep dive into the trends and innovations keeping the railing industry alive next year…

Sustainability

Probably the biggest talking point of this year, at every trade show, conference and we are sure always on the agenda for business leaders is how to improve sustainability in construction for the future and what is our role and how can we do better? 

In 2025, railings and balustrade providers will need to embrace sustainability with more eco-friendly practices and importantly providing the right information to architects to know and account for carbon properties. 

Glass, stainless steel and aluminium will continue to dominate for their recyclability, however to go a step further suppliers will be looking to provide EPD’s (environmental product declaration) which quantifies the lifecycle of a product. Without this documentation, architects and designers will struggle to specify, putting those who have them in a prominent position on the supply chain.  

Q-railing is working hard behind the scenes to ensure our products are meeting sustainability standards, with EPD’s incoming!

Safety

Since changes to the Building standards and regulations, safety will remain at the forefront and in consideration for urban designs and infrastructure. Since the restrictions to using standard laminate glass for residential buildings over 11m, Q-railing introduced fire-rated and toughened glass alternatives, to ensure projects could still include glass in the design of the building. 

Aluminium railings were also innovated with the introduction of the modular designs, giving the added benefit of being pre-fabricated and pre-assembled and even pre-cast to be installed direct to buildings. 

Testing certificates and new research into safety will continue to be a talking point for next year, and we are proud to be part of Government studies to ensure that the construction industry is continuing to improve standards. Watch this space!

Technology

As with all industries, adopting technology to enhance product development, ordering and warehouse processes and marketing a product is being embraced for construction too! 

We see ever more influencers from the construction world taking on podcasts, growing their Youtube channels and Instagram profiles and collaborating with the best product & system brands on the market, which ultimately make their lives easier and projects stand out from the crowd.

Are we moving away from the traditional catalogues for ordering? Online configurators where you can design and order your railing system online are becoming more popular and welcomed for both the b2b and b2c markets. Webstores where you can order whole balustrade systems 24/7 with quick delivery times are now also available. 

Although we are implementing technology as we should, there is still a need for human interaction and support, with our sales teams more than ever needed to ensure projects are being specified correctly, complying to regulations, and ensuring there is enough variety in designs to meet modern architecture and aesthetic trends.

Design & Installation

With a shortage of skills on the construction site, it is no surprise more bespoke services are required from suppliers to reduce time of complexity of installation.  

Pre-fabrication and pre-assembly along with site surveys, CAD drawings and expert product and installation knowledge sharing are just a few of the most important services now being offered to ensure less time is required on the construction site and precision installing is achieved. 

Design remains at the forefront of specification of materials and railing systems. Frameless glass stays on trend and is a timeless choice, often serving the purpose of preventing falls in both residential settings and even in stadiums, airports and shopping centres but can also be a showstopper for interior or exterior design providing an uninterrupted view whether looking out over to a sea view or onto a football pitch. 

With the UK having such a large coastline, mirror polished stainless steel remains the ideal solution for properties with balconies over looking the ocean to prevent damage from the sea elements. 

Aluminium railings are becoming more popular than ever and give property designers choice in detail from different coloured powder-coating to a range of infills from glass, vertical bar and perforated panels. Its sustainable qualities and modular design and competitive pricing point makes it an attractive system to many installers.  

In summary, balustrade and railing systems are evolving to meet the modern day demands of architects, fabricators and installers to be cutting-edge in design and uphold the stringent safety standards to make the UK construction industry more responsible than ever before. 2025 looks to push even more boundaries to innovate, reduce time and costs and blend safety, aesthetics and sustainability.