What Are The Key Factors To Consider When It Comes To Building Regulations?

Will The Balustrade Be A Safety Feature?

Document K also lays out the government’s Workplace Regulations Act of 1992, which highlights how employers have a responsibility to ensure their workplace is safe for their employees to use. These regulations are ultimately put forward with the goal of preventing personal injuries, and ensuring that all individuals, including those with disabilities, have adequate access points.

Different buildings will necessitate different balustrade building regulations. When it comes to homes, balustrades are necessary when there’s a change of 600mm or more in the floor level. For public buildings, this drops to 380mm, or when a staircase has more than two risers (the vertical space between steps).

What Building Regulation Inspectors Will Want To See

Building regulation inspectors will want to see a number of things, but predominantly, they will want to ensure any and all balustrades are adhering to their specific height requirements. In addition to the different regulations that apply depending on the building category, there will also be different regulations depending on the type of balustrade.

Regulations For Metal Balustrades

If you’re fitting metal system in a public building, with stairs less than 1,000mm wide, then at least one handrail is required. If the stairs are wider than 1,000mm, then there must be a handrail on both sides. All landings and ramps must also feature a continuous handrail, with a finish that reduces the chances of clothing becoming snagged on the end and causing personal injury. Height requirements are still in effect, with any change in floor level of at least 600mm requiring a balustrade 1100mm from the ground, with any bars no more than 99mm apart.

Regulations For Glass Balustrades

Tempered and laminated glass are two of the most frequently used materials for this product in the UK, with glass systems on the whole becoming increasingly popular. One common misconception that often arises with the glass version is that a metal handrail is required; frameless glass balustrades are a popular option when it comes to balconies, thanks to their seamless look, and as long as they follow all building regulations, then don’t necessitate a continuous handrail.

Like with metal balustrades, glass ones also have height requirements. In homes they must be 900mm high, with external balconies 1100mm from the ground. When it comes to public buildings it’s typically also 900mm, although this can be 1100mm too if required. Landings and assembly points are the same, although assembly points with fixed seating must have balustrades 800mm high, with 540mm between the seats and the system to allow for access. Finally, any that are in an area that’s going to be used by children must have no gaps between sections that can fit a sphere of 100mm.

Important Considerations

Balustrade building regulations don’t only enforce the height, they also give strict guidance for their load requirements too. When it comes to glass, there are three important considerations:

Firstly, there’s the line load. This is the horizontal force on the balustrade, which would equate to someone leaning on it.

Secondly, the uniformly distributed load (UDL) needs to be considered. This is the horizontal force that the balustrade’s midsection will have to withstand.

The final consideration is the concentrated load. This is the horizontal load that accounts for any sudden force, such as an impact from an individual.

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