Over the last few years the topic of environmental impact has become an increasingly important factor for key decision makers in the construction industry. This is perhaps due to both reasons of morality (we would all like to think we are doing our part to help the environment) and because it helps with a project’s…More
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…More
This article outlines the balcony fire regulations which came into effect in December 2018. As we have noted in a previous blog, in the past few years there has been an undercurrent of action within the construction industry to address a need for improved fire safety on balconies. When the Grenfell disaster threw an…More
Decking design is undergoing something of quiet revolution. For years two materials – timber and wood-polymer composites – have been the overwhelming choice for flooring applications in gardens, terraces, balconies and external walkways. That duopoly has been broken in recent years by a rapidly emerging alternative: aluminium open grille decking. Demand for aluminium decking has…More
As countless people in the construction industry will readily acknowledge, knowing the Building Regulations inside-out is no guarantee that the progress of a project can be navigated without obstacles. Below the surface of official legal compliance, there are often undercurrents of preferred practice which architects and developers need to be aware of and follow with…More
Balustrade for stairs, mezzanine floors, partitions and barriers involves a wide range of technical and aesthetic considerations. Neaco’s Guide to Balustrade Design is a four-part series which explains each key requirement. Having covered stanchions, handrails and infills in Parts 1- 3, our final part focuses on materials and finishes. This aspect can be very important…More
