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Balcony Balustrades – Advice on Design, Installation and Regulations

This article provides advice on designing balcony balustrades, including building regulations, performance and installation.

 

Relevant Building Regulations

The latest Building Regulations, which arrived in December 2018, ban the use of combustible materials in balconies. As a result, architects and developers are no longer permitted to use a number of materials that were commonly used prior to the legislation, particularly with regards to decking and flooring. It also affects the choice of materials for balcony balustrades. The new regulations only permit materials that are A2-s1, d0 rated or Class A1 under the European classification system (Euroclass) set out in the standard BS EN 13501-1. This rules out any timber elements, such as wooden handrails, but glass and metals such as aluminium and stainless steel are fully compliant. If you choose stainless steel for your balcony balustrades, Grade 316 is recommended for external use due to its higher corrosion resistance.

 

balcony balustrades

Stainless steel balcony balustrades

 

All balcony balustrades should meet performance requirements in accordance with BS 6180:2011. Other relevant regulations include BS8300 Section K2 which recommends that the height of the toprail should be a minimum of 1100mm for external balcony balustrades in residential and commercial environments. Cold conditions can cause metal handrails to become extremely cold and uncomfortable to the touch in external installations. In the 2009 edition of BS 8300, a note added to clause 5.10.5 refers to this context in relation to the recommendation that handrails should not be cold or hot to the touch. The recommendations don’t formally apply to balconies, but it is worth considering them for your balcony balustrades – for example, aluminium can be powder coated for low thermal conductivity to reduce the effect of extreme temperatures. Powder coating also provides a maintenance-free finish for lasting aesthetic quality.

 

Balcony balustrades

Balcony balustrades in powder coated aluminium

 

Balcony Balustrade Design options

Listed buildings often stipulate a more traditional aesthetic, usually in the form of stanchions with vertical or horizontal rail infills (which we recommend installing at 100mm centres). Using toughened glass panels (with minimal structural support from a toprail and/or stanchions) provides a more visually appealing, contemporary look. Glass also maximises visibility and solar penetration to make the best use of natural light and give interiors a spacious and airy feel.

 

balcony balustrades

Glass balcony balustrades

 

Balcony balustrades

Railed balcony balustrades

 

Manufacture and Installation of Balcony Balustrades

Balcony balustrades are usually supplied in one of two ways: fabricated on site or delivered ready-made for installation as part of an all-in-one modular balcony solution. Fabrication often requires hot works such as welding, which creates waste and mess whilst increasing energy consumption and time spent on site. In contrast, modular balconies are constructed from pre-fabricated components, all provided and assembled by one supplier. They come complete with handrails, balustrades and flooring – these systems can be fitted by a site team or, in some cases, the manufacturer’s own technical support (the latter is often preferable as they will be more familiar with the product).

With all engineering done in a factory prior to delivery, modular balconies reduce construction time, minimise energy consumption and leave no waste products or off-cuts on site. Getting all your balcony components from a single source also enables easier quality control (a high-quality manufacturer will be able to provide written confirmation demonstrating performance and compliance across all elements). Modular balconies are designed for straightforward installation to the building exterior, but it is important to consult a professional structural engineer to determine the most suitable fixing method and confirm that the wall construction is capable of withstanding the applied load.

For more advice about balcony balustrades, please contact our technical support team on 01653 695721 or enquire here

Stair balustrade design – advice and technical guidance

Both performance and aesthetics are important considerations in stair balustrade design.

A stairwell or stairway is a space where furniture is largely or totally absent, so balustrade is usually the focal point which allows design expression and defines the overall look. When it forms part of a more open space – for example, providing access to a mezzanine floor – it can also be a striking signature feature. In that regard, it’s a building element that allows architects to explore their creative instincts, but first and foremost in any design formulation is the need for safety and regulatory compliance.

Key regulations/references

Designing balustrade for stairs, and any other part of a building, should meet performance requirements in accordance with BS 6180:2011 which gives recommendations and guidance for the construction of barriers in and around buildings which are designed to protect people from hazards. It provides a comprehensive guide to the design, structure, height and strength of barriers. Approved Document K is also a vital reference for stair balustrade design.

Document K states that guarding should be provided where it is reasonably necessary for safety to guard the edges of any part of a floor, balcony or any other place to which people have access. In the case of dwellings, guarding should be provided that is capable of preventing people from being injured by falling from a height of more than 600mm. For buildings other than dwellings the protection must be capable of preventing people from falling from a height of more than two risers.

Required height & width

Document K requires a minimum stair width of 1200mm between enclosing walls, strings and upstands. If the stairs are wider than 1000mm, a handrail is required on both sides. A minimum width of 1000mm is required between handrails (whether they are part of balustrade, wall-mounted, or both). If the flight is more than 2000mm wide, Document K recommends that it is divided into flights of minimum 1000mm wide, which can be achieved with a central balustrade/handrail.

Document K states that the height of the top of the balustrade (i.e. a handrail or top rail) should be 900mm – 1000mm from the pitch line of the floor for internal installations in residential stairs and landings. This applies to stair balustrade, stair guards and wall-mounted handrails. For external balustrades in residential and commercial environments, Document K recommends that the height of the balustrade top rail/wall-mounted handrail should be a minimum of 900mm for stairs. In buildings other than dwellings, if you provide a second (lower) handrail on a full-height structural guarding, the vertical height from the pitch line of the steps to the top of the lower handrail should be 600mm.

stair balustrade design

 

Horizontal Load Requirements

Stair balustrade must comply with Minimum Horizontal Imposed Loads which are determined by the type of use and intensity of activity. The below table outlines Minimum Horizontal Imposed Loads with loads relevant to stair balustrade indicated with an asterisk (*)

 

[table id=7 /]

 

 

Handrail guidance

 

Document K requires continuous handrails on each side of flights and each side of landings in buildings other than dwellings (and for common access areas in buildings that contain flats and do not have passenger lifts). In these types of buildings, you also need to ensure that handrails do not project into an access route and ensure that they contrast visually with their background without being highly reflective.

 In dwellings, certain guidance applies in exceptional circumstances: where there is a stepped change of level within the entrance storey, perhaps on a severely sloping plot, then handrails are required on each side of the flight (if it comprises three or more risers) and each side of any intermediate landing.

 In environments subject to excessively hot or cold temperatures, the surface of the handrail should have a low thermal conductivity – powder coating, commonly applied to metals such as aluminium, can achieve this. The handrail should be slip-resistant and the end of the handrail should be finished in a way that reduces the risk of catching on clothing. For the same reason, avoid handrails which include external screws or fixings.

 

stair balustrade design

 

In commercial and public buildings, you should consider DDA obligations in Part M of the Building Regulations.  In accordance with Part M, BS8300 recommends a circular handrail with a diameter between 32 and 50mm. For more details on DDA compliance in handrails, please read our comprehensive handrail design guide here.

Installation

Balustrade can be fixed by various methods, including stanchions attached to the stair treads/steps with grouted-in bases (see A, below), flat plate bases (see B) or female socket bases (see C). If the stairway is narrow, particularly if it needs to accommodate frequent two-way flow of traffic, it’s often advisable to install the balustrade with side fixings (see D) attached to the vertical surface of the stair structure. This maximises available floorspace. If you are using structural glass balustrade, it should be installed with a similar side fixing method (see E). On flat surfaces, structural glass is generally secured within a floor channel, but this is usually complex and problematic in raked installations, so side fixing is a much easier solution.

stair balustrade design

 

Balustrade infills

Modern stair balustrade design is characterised by a host of aesthetic options. Infills provide plenty of variations . Two popular choices are rails (see 1, below) and – similar in style but more economical – tension wire (see 2). If used for the guarding of stairs in a building that may be used by children under five years of age, you need to ensure that a 100mm sphere cannot pass between the rails/wire. Alternative options such as glass panels (see 3) and perforated metal panels (see 4) take this consideration out of the equation. Structural glass balustrade – with free standing glass and no supporting stanchions – provides a stylish modern aesthetic (see 5). Make sure that glass is toughened and compliant with glass safety regulations which you can read about here.

 

stair balustrade design

 

stair balustrade design

 

Materials

Timber is seen as a traditional choice for stair balustrade design, but metal represents a more contemporary alternative that requires less maintenance. Powder coated aluminium (below left) is smooth to the touch and provides a non-chip, maintenance free finish for stanchions and handrails. It also combines well with glass panel infills. Neaco provide aluminium balustrade in a wood-effect finish to provide the natural aesthetic of timber without the drawbacks such as surface deterioration/damage and splintering.  Satin polished stainless steel (below right) is also a maintenance free option providing a high aesthetic that combines well with glass too.

 

stair balustrade design

 

Stair balustrade design can be an engaging creative challenge which has the potential to enhance your overall design concept, but it can also be a complex task which benefits from expert guidance from experienced manufacturers and installers. For free advice in relation to the specific requirements for your project, please feel free to call Neaco’s technical team on 01653 695 721 or submit an enquiry on our Contact page.

Implications of the Latest Government Advice Note

This article discusses the latest government advice, issued in June 2019, which has widespread implications for the assessment and management of balcony fire risk.

The Grenfell disaster gave rise to new Building (Amendment) Regulations in December 2018, requiring stricter fire safety compliance for new, refurbished and converted residential buildings with a floor above 18 metres from the ground. Architects, developers and contractors have been adjusting to those changes, but the recent Barking balcony fires have prompted a new government publication, Advice Note on Balconies in Residential Buildings, which will have a wider impact. It applies to all existing residential buildings with multiple dwellings, irrespective of their height.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) issued the document on 24 June, recommending fire risk assessments on existing buildings which have potentially serious implications for building owners in particular. In many cases they could result in retrospective measures such as the replacement of balcony flooring materials.

Key requirements

The Advice Note sets out clear responsibilities for building owners, stating that they “should be aware of the materials used in the construction of their external wall, including the construction of balconies and the potential for any horizontal and vertical fire spread due to their arrangement on the external wall. These should be considered as part of any fire risk assessment.” 

The December 2018 amendment to the Building Regulations only expressly prohibits the use of combustible materials in buildings with a floor above 18 metres in height. However, the Advice Note states that building owners should “ensure that they understand the materials used in the construction of existing balconies, irrespective of the building height. Building owners should assess the associated risk of external fire spread and take appropriate action to manage this risk and to ensure compliance with the principle set out in Requirement B4 of the Building Regulations.” B4 refers to external fire spread and the Advice Note also cites paragraph 12.5 of Approved Document B which sets out that “the external envelope of a building should not provide a medium for fire spread if it is likely to be a risk to health or safety.”

Meeting requirements

The Advice Notes states that “the removal and replacement of any combustible material used in balcony construction is the clearest way to prevent external fire spread from balconies and therefore to meet the intention of building regulation requirements and this should occur as soon as practical.”

The final part of that statement suggests a need for urgency. The new document identifies the new Building (Amendment) Regulations as key reference point for assessing the fire risk of balconies on existing buildings. These regulations require the use of use materials that are A2-s1, d0 rated or Class A1 under the European classification system (Euroclass) set out in the standard BS EN 13501-1 subject to exemptions.

These standards have a significant impact on the compliance of existing decking and flooring materials. Various materials with elements of wood, including composite decking products, were previously compliant but are no longer permissible under the new Building (Amendment) Regulations as they are not A2-s1, d0 rated or class A1 under Euroclass. In meeting the requirements outlined in the Advice Note, building owners need to be mindful of these standards when assessing the fire risk of their existing balcony decking.

Aluminium has become an exceptionally popular choice of decking as it provides unequivocal compliance as an A1 Euroclass-rated material. It is lightweight yet strong, providing exceptional spanning capabilities which reduce the need for structural supports. This is an especially useful attribute in buildings where timber joists need to be removed from balconies in order to meet compliance. As a corrosive-free metal with a design life of at least 60-100 years, aluminium also represents a long-term, maintenance-free solution for building owners.  

Conclusions

Whilst the Building (Amendment) Regulations addressed a general need to improve fire safety on external wall systems and balconies, a response to the dangers starkly illustrated by Grenfell, the latest government advice focuses on the specific risks involved in balconies which were brought to widespread attention by the Barking fires. It’s certainly a belated measure: the problem was highlighted over three years ago when BRE Global published ‘Fire safety issues with balconies’ (a report which is acknowledged in the government’s Advice Note). Nevertheless, it’s a welcome step in the right direction and will lead to improvements in safety for building occupants.

It is not yet clear what regulatory authority will be responsible for overseeing the requirements expressed in the Advice Note. The document also omits any clarification regarding how compliance will be enforced. However, one point is clear: there is growing and irreversible momentum for change in the way we assess and address fire safety in our buildings. Considering their health and safety duties to residents and the view of the MHCLG, it would be prudent for building owners to follow the guidance set out in the document.

Seeking expert advice

Navigating government guidelines and building regulations can be a daunting prospect, but expert advice can make the route to compliance relatively easy and stress-free. The Advice Note recommends that building owners seek professional advice from an appropriately qualified and competent professional such as a fire engineer or construction professional with significant knowledge and experience of fire safety.

Specialist manufacturers can play a valuable advisory role in helping building owners to assess the combustibility of the materials used in balconies. Neaco has been supplying aluminium decking for 47 years and, when it comes to firesafe balcony flooring, we’ve been way ahead of the curve. If the latest building regulations, standards and guidance had existed in 1972, our flooring products would have been A1-rated and fully compliant, much like they are now. With protection against external fires becoming an increasingly prominent issue, we have been able to impart our experience to help architects, contractors, facilities managers and building owners who are seeking to minimise fire risk on their properties.

For free expert advice on the compliance of your building or project, please feel free to call Neaco’s specialists on 01653 695 721 or submit an enquiry on our Contact Page.

 

Does the Current Building Legislation do Enough?

 
Since this article was written and published, the The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has released an advice note about balconies on residential buildings. You can read about the implications of this advice note here.

 

In light of the recent balcony fire in Barking, East London, maybe we should be asking: Does the current building legislation do enough to protect residents?

The recent change in building legislation – Building (Amendment) Regulations 2018 – bans the use of combustible materials on residential buildings over 18m above ground level and this was a welcome change following the Grenfell Tower disaster in June 2017. Although this is definitely a step in the right direction, do the changes go far enough?

Last week, we saw yet another fire devastate a residential building in the UK. This time, the fire started on the balcony of an apartment block in Barking, East London. It has since come to light that both residents and fire experts had raised concerns about the fire risks that were present before the block of flats went up in flames, yet nothing was done to address these worries. Thankfully, nobody was seriously hurt during the blaze and, as the fire occurred on the side of the building that faces a road, London Fire Brigade was able to access and extinguish the flames without facing too many obstacles.

It is thought that the fire broke out as a result of a barbecue setting fire to the wood-based (ThermoWood) balcony that it was sat upon. The flames were able to spread easily as the apartment building is also clad in the Class D, wood-based material.

Something that is apparent, and somewhat alarming, is that, under the new building legislation, it would be perfectly legal for this exact development to be built again in the future – along with its Class D fire rated balconies and cladding. This is because the apartment block is under 18m (approximately 6 storeys) so, legally, the recent changes made to the building regulations are not relevant to this building.

As we have mentioned in a previous article, this ‘18m rule’ gives little reassurance to anybody who is disabled because one flight of stairs is just as unscalable as six flights of stairs to those who are wheelchair-bound or have mobility issues.

Another way in which the legislation falls short is how none of these amendments need to be implemented if a building is being converted from a non-residential development into a residential development. No residential building in the UK should be legally allowed to have combustible materials on the exterior walls, regardless of how many storeys it has, the year it was constructed or what its original purpose was.

If UK laws will not change to protect residents, then measures should be taken by developers and specifiers to ensure the safety of the people living in their buildings by only incorporating non-combustible materials on the external walls.

Neaco gets the Green Light at City Green Sunderland

The £4M City Green development in the City of Sunderland has undergone some major external changes recently. The building’s exterior was previously clad in timber and heavily featured this material within its numerous balconies. In order to uplift the aesthetics, these have now been replaced with contemporary, non-combustible materials.

City Green

Gentoo Housing Association’s City Green development was formerly the University of Sunderland’s Engineering department. It was originally designed by Ryder Architecture and the 3,448 square metre multi-storey is a mixed-use scheme comprising of offices, sheltered accommodation and a doctors surgery. 58 apartments are included in this 7-storey development; each with a private balcony and some even have access to large roof terraces.

Neaco’s Involvement

Gentoo appointed ENGIE to implement and manage these changes as part of a Sunderland-wide, 4-year housing improvement programme.

We supplied and installed our Spectrum nylon-coated balustrades with glass infills and Neatdek aluminium decking with alternate inserts on every balcony. Frosted glass screens were also supplied between balconies to provide an element of privacy for the occupants.

How Did We Do?

A spokesperson from ENGIE says, “Neaco offered an excellent service from start to finish, offering a sample of the finished product for a client/tenant liaison information event which was well received. Neaco had the task of designing and installing their product to the existing structural steel which they carried out with very few issues and all modifications were handled by the teams promptly and efficiently, so that our programme was maintained throughout. Overall, the service provided from Neaco was outstanding”.

Our Products

Our modular balustrade and flooring systems are manufactured to any design requirement, which reduces the time, manpower and energy needed on-site. We also design and manufacture a range of other architectural products including stainless steel balustrade, industrial balustrade, structural glass balustrade, adaptive bathing facilities and aluminium open grilles for screening, cladding and solar shading.

City Green balustrades

The Development of Care Homes – Legality vs Morality

The external use of combustible materials on Care Homes with floors under 18m – just because it’s legal, does that make it moral?

The building regulations that came into force on 21st December 2018 ban the use of combustible materials on the external walls of residential developments over 18m above ground level. This means that as long as a building has less than approximately 6 storeys, combustible materials are still permitted to be used.

Even for an able-bodied individual, 6 flights of stairs would be quite daunting to have to descend in the event of a fire, so how would this affect a person residing in an Assisted Living development or Care Home? Though it would be perfectly legal for a developer or specifier to use combustible materials on the external walls of a Care Home under 18m, would it be considered morally right?

In residential developments catered towards the older generation, it would be expected that many of the inhabitants would be less able-bodied or even wheelchair-bound. This means that in the event of a fire, both lift and stair access would not be available to a large number of residents and they would, essentially, be trapped on whichever storey they reside on.

Using non-combustible materials on the external walls of an Assisted Living development or Care Home with floors under 18m, though not necessary by law, certainly has its benefits. If external building features, such as balconies, are manufactured from non-combustible materials they could, in the event of a fire, not only help to prevent the spread of flames, but provide a safer place for residents to await rescue.

As well as this, A1 (Euroclass system) fire rated materials, like aluminium, that are used in the production of balconies, are able to structurally withstand the fire for a longer period of time when compared to its traditional, combustible counterparts such as timber and composite. Additionally, aluminium does not burn, it melts and even then, its melting-point is between 600 and 660 degrees Celsius. This high melting-point should provide enough time for firefighters to rescue any residents that may be waiting.

Castleoak create Care, Assisted and Retirement Living developments and are setting a precedent for ethical building as they continuously specify non-combustible products, such as ours, on the external walls of their buildings, regardless of the building height.

Specifiers of Care Home, Assisted and Retirement developments are in a very important position as decisions surrounding the inclusion of combustible materials could have extremely serious repercussions for perspective residents. This leaves us with the question of, although using combustible materials externally on residential developments is, in some cases legal, is it moral?