User:Subtextdesign/Void-Edge Protection

Void Edge Protection is an architectural term that describes materials or components that form a physical barrier, but in of itself does not necessarily provide any significant structural support. The components or materials that make up void-edge protection are usually part of a larger structure, such as a staircase, or the scaffolding on a building. The materials and components may be composed of glass, steel, wood, stone, plastic, or other tangible materials.

As an example, a staircase that utilizes cantilevered glass infill panels is employing void-edge protection. The cantilevered glass infill panels provide minimal structural support, but are still necessary in order to establish a solid physical boundary for the person walking up the stairs. Likewise, a scaffold does not support the structure which it surrounds, but rather provides a clear physical boundary for those individuals working in or near the larger structure.