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The demand for innovative and sustainable design solutions is increasingly important in Toronto, and significant headway is being made when it comes to residential balcony architecture. Leading the charge is Lumon Canada and their balcony glazing technologies. Their system was recently approved by Ontario's Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing in April, significantly reducing regulatory hurdles and paving the way for broader adoption in balcony designs across Ontario.
Lumon Glazing Retractable is a frameless glass system that allows for the opening of the glazing to keep out the elements, enabling enjoyment throughout the year. The system's glazing opens inward towards the balcony, allowing for easy operation and cleaning. Additionally, it provides control over airflow and openness, enabling slight adjustments for minimal gaps or full openings for an unobstructed balcony experience. The system is top-hung, meaning that all the weight is supported from above, while the lower track serves as a guide.
The system has been recognized as an alternative solution within the Building Code. This designation is reserved for innovative products that, while not directly addressed by the standard code, are proven through engineering reviews and testing to meet or exceed the performance levels of traditional solutions.
The design features frameless retractable glass panels that slide and fold. Its panels are interconnected with roller bearings and robust hinge components, allowing them to move laterally and swing open up to 90 degrees, except for one hinged panel at the end of the sequence. This end panel is designed to be fixed yet can fold inwards for flexible usage and is secured with a latch mechanism for safety and partial opening.
A key feature in Lumon Retractable Glazing is that it is not hermetically sealed; the intentional ventilation gaps between the sliding and hinged panels ensure that while the system offers significant protection from wind, rain, and noise, it does not convert the balcony into an additional conditioned living space. This ruling enables developers to incorporate the system as both a windbreak and a fall-protection guard in their projects, maximizing usable outdoor space.
Evaluated and approved by the Canadian Construction Materials Centre (CCMC) since 2012, the system meets the National Building Code of Canada 2020 for various critical aspects, including loads on guards and handrails, specified wind load, and glass in guards. These tests were conducted in a CCMC-recognized laboratory in Mississauga.
Lumon Glazing Retractable is featured in multiple completed and upcoming projects. In Markham, Mattamy Homes’ 58 Adam Sellers Street features units with the system in both phases. In addition, LGR is used for the amenity room on the roof. Mattamy’s Union Mount Pleasant was the first concrete project in the Brampton area, and Lumon’s third project with the developer.
AALTO Development’s Lākhouse in Barrie, nestled on the shores of Lake Simcoe, has Lumon Retractable Glazing installed on all of its units. This development won the 2022 Project of the Year by the Simcoe County Home Builders’ Association (SCHBA).
Several notable upcoming developments will also feature Lumon Glazing Retractable. This includes Luna, part of Pratt Hansen Group’s Elements Condominiums in Barrie. Awarded the 2023 Winner for the Mid-Rise Building category by the OHBA Awards of Distinction, it will use the system to merge indoor comfort with unobstructed views. Additional low-rise developments featuring the system include CH Clement's Domaine Du Golf in Rockland and CH Clement's Condos de la Sapinière in Emburn.
Additionally, Mattamy’s Clockwork Phase 3 at Upper Joshua Creek in Oakville will feature the Lumon system in selected areas of the project, enhancing the development's modern design. Similarly, Carding House in Oakville will also feature selected units with the system, as well as a full-height Lumon Glazing Sliding system for its outdoor amenity space. At Soleil Condos in Milton, the system will be used in selected units to offer improved balcony usage and provide views set against the Niagara Escarpment.
Not only is Lumon retractable balcony glazing being recognized in Ontario, it is also being widely adopted on Canada’s west coast. In British Columbia major developments such as Solhouse 6035 by Bosa Properties, Sage by Diverse Properties, Hayer Town Centre by Hayer Builders Group, and long-standing believers in Lumon retractable glazing like Quadra Homes, are designing balconies for better living.
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