ᐅ Glass Wall as Wind Protection – How High Should It Be? How Does Wind Behave?

Hello,

Our terrace is somewhat exposed and elevated. It can get quite windy there at times. On the main side where the wind comes from, there is a retaining wall, so a fall protection system needs to be installed there anyway (currently there is only a temporary solution).

The idea now is to install a glass panel instead of a railing. Ideally, this would serve two purposes at once: wind protection and safety.

Now the appearance comes into play, especially since this wall is located in the line of sight looking out from the living room into the distance. We don’t want to obstruct the view more than necessary. Even though it’s glass, the view will still be somewhat limited.

So the question is, how high should this glass panel be? I estimate that the minimum height for safety reasons is about 90cm (35 inches). Most panels are available with a maximum height of 180–200cm (71–79 inches). That would be too tall from an aesthetic point of view but probably the best option for wind protection.

Here’s where it gets more detailed: some panels come in heights of 100, 120, 140, or 150cm (39, 47, 55, or 59 inches), depending on the supplier. From an aesthetic perspective, 120cm (47 inches) would be a good solution, 140cm (55 inches) might still work.

Before I jump to the conclusion that 140cm (55 inches) is the best compromise—providing the highest shielding with still acceptable appearance—I would like to know how the wind behaves behind a panel like that.

I have also heard that with a taller panel, the wind can swirl strongly directly behind it and cause strong downdrafts.

The seating furniture is about 1–2m (3–6 feet) away from the glass panel.

Could someone possibly give an assessment?
- Is higher always better?
- How are these swirling effects?
- Is it pointless if the panel isn’t at least 2m (79 inches) high?

Thank you very much.