CRL Glass Railing Parts Explained: Base Shoe, Cladding, Cap Rail, Hand Rail Brackets and Taper-Loc Sets

A dented length of cladding, a lost end cap or a handrail bracket without its gaskets: on a C.R. Laurence (CRL) glass railing, the replacement follows the base shoe series, the cap rail family and the bracket series. CRL's Architectural Glass Railing Systems and Hardware catalog lists the parts under those three. The CRL products we carry are on our C.R. Laurence brand page.

Find your base shoe series

Twelve base shoe series form six pairs that share a cladding page, and in each pair CRL calls the first 30% lighter than its traditional partner: 8B and B5S, 8B58 and B6N, 8B34 and B7S, 9BL56 and L56S, 9BL68 and L68S, 9BL21 and L21S. Three more have cladding of their own: the B5T tapered shoe, the B5L low profile shoe, which is for wet glazing only, and the L25S heavy-duty laminated shoe.

On the 8B and B5S pages, 8B10D6 reads as series 8B, 120 inch stock length, drilled hole pattern D (the other is F) and 6 inch (152 mm) hole centers; without the final 6 they are 12 inches. 8B10 alone is the undrilled extrusion, which the catalog says cannot be used for the Taper-Loc dry glaze system unless fabricated to CRL's tested and approved hole and counter bore pattern.

Cladding, corner cladding and end caps

Straight cladding for the 8B and B5S comes in 120 inch lengths in seven finishes, two pieces per shoe to cover both sides. CRL offers outside and inside fascia cladding for a shoe installed to the side of the substrate. Corners get 12 inch mitered corner cladding in 90 and 135 degree sets of four pieces; B5S90DU is the 90 degree set in dark bronze anodized.

End caps differ within the pair. The 8B takes 8BC end caps held by four included screws; the B5S takes B5SEC end caps bonded to the shoe. In these tables BS means brushed stainless, DU dark bronze anodized, and a final 6 the 316 grade version (B5S90BS6), unlike the 6 in 8B10D6. The letters are explained in our guide to CRL item numbers and finish codes.

Cap rails: start from the family

The catalog sorts cap rails into families, among them roll formed (GRRF), low profile 11 gauge (GRL10), crisp corner 11 gauge (GRLC10), premium round (GR) and premium square (GRS). Corners, connector sleeves and end caps are listed per family, with the rail each part fits. Two family-specific notes from the catalog:

• Roll formed: "CRL Roll Formed Cap Rails, End Caps, Corners, Connecting Sleeves and Rubber Inserts are style specific and cannot be used with any other CRL Cap Railing System."
• U-channel: "These U-Channels are not designed to be used as a top rail for guard rail applications."

In the 11 gauge and premium square tables, H marks a 90 degree horizontal corner and H3 a 135 degree one, so GRLC10H3BS is the brushed stainless 135 degree corner for the GRLC10BS rail. The GRLC10, GRL10 and GRS corners each need two connector sleeves, and the premium pages add: "Always use Connector Sleeves made of the same metal as the Cap Rail, Cap Rail Corner, or Hand Rail metal to be joined."

Handrail brackets: glass, wall and post mounted

In several bracket series a letter in the number gives the mounting. HR2SGBS is the Manhattan glass mounted bracket in brushed stainless; HR2SWBS and HR2SPBS are its wall and post versions. A selection from the catalog:

In La Jolla, Pismo and Del Mar numbers, 15 means 1-1/2 and 1.66 inch tubing, 20 means 1.9 and 2 inch. HR20B3BS is a Del Mar long arm wall bracket, HR20T a short arm one.

Every glass mounted series above carries the note "Requires 3/4" (19 mm) hole in glass". La Jolla and Pismo are listed as "Designed for 1/2" to 3/4" (12 to 19 mm) Glass", while Manhattan, Malibu, Sunset, Coastal and Newport are "Designed for 1/2" to 1-1/16" (12 to 25.52 mm) Glass".

Replacement gaskets come in packs of two rubber gaskets and one plastic grommet: RGGP1 for the HR15G, HR15GA, HR20G and HR20GA series, RGGP2 for HR2DG, HR2EG, HR2FG, HR2JG, HR2SG, HR3EG and HR4G. CRL's own RGGP2 page leaves out HR2EG and HR2JG, so for a Malibu HR2EG or Sunset HR2JG bracket, ask us before ordering.

Taper-Loc sets, tools and seals

Taper-Loc is CRL's dry glaze method. The catalog describes its X set, TL5X10, as two reinforced polymer tapers and one L-setting block; compressed with the TLK12 tool, the tapers expand and lock the glass in the shoe. Table 11.1 of CRL's current GRS Taper-Loc Installation Instructions matches sets to shoes. Selected rows as printed, with rows of the same glass and set combined:

For the 9BL21 and L21S, the 2025 catalog gives the glass as 27/32" (21.52 mm), the instructions as 13/16" (21.52 mm).

The TLK12 kit, with its integrated torque wrench, installs, adjusts and removes tapers. For tapers stuck too tight for the TLK12, CRL lists the TLEX1 extraction tool.

The catalog sorts safety seals by glass type and side: SMBSG drop-side and MBSG inside seals for monolithic glass, SLBSG and LBSG for laminated. Table 11.1 also lists seals per row: with the TL5 and TL6 sets it gives MBSG inside and SG6X drop-side. BSG100 and BSG500 are rolls of CRL's Push-In Top Rubber Gasket for Monolithic Tempered Glass Base Shoe, rolled in with a vinyl roller such as the VR04. For setting, adjusting or removing glass, work from the instructions themselves.

What this page does not decide

Railing height, guard rail or handrail, glass type and anchors belong to the project. CRL's catalog says that "Code Requirements and safety requirements are subject to local regulations, and can often change without prior notice," and asks customers to check with their local authorities.

Not sure which series you have? Our customer support team is available Monday - Friday, 8 AM - 4 PM Central Time, at 1-888-800-7789 or [email protected].