Balustrade/balcony ideas

AlabamaW

Hi all, I’ve bought a house with patio doors that open on to a garage roof used as a balcony. There’s a low wall (about 2.5 foot) around the balcony area but I need some sort of railing to stop my children plummeting the 12 foot to their deaths. What is an affordable but not ugly system? Railings? Glass? Wooden? Any advice most welcome as I want to get it installed ASAP for peace of mind. Thank you.

Fire_Fox

A major consideration is that the structure (floor/ roof not just railings) complies with Building Regulations. You may also need planning permission for the roof terrace. Loads of useful information is online: see the Planning Portal.

Rusty_Shackleton

I know a welder/fabricator who does balustrades (stainless steel and glass) for members of the public so a lot cheaper than a big company, where abouts are you? He's based in East Yorkshire if you're within a sensible distance?

If not close, I suggest looking at local tin bashers - you'll pay a lot less than going to a building company or your windows/conservatories type people!

Mistral001

I would get Building Control Approval for any balustrade you put here. It is common that balustrades or walls such as this have not been designed to meet the Building regulations and are, frankly dangerous as the OP has correctly pointed out.

I would NOT get your local fence maker or steel fabricator just to provide a fence unless they and the builder who installs the balustrade can prove to you that the installed balustrade complies with the Building Regulations.

Such balustrades have to be a certain height (usually 1100mm) and space between any infill bars have to be limited to a certain distance (usually 100mm) and most importantly the balustrade and what it is fixed to has to be able to withstand stipulated minimum horizontal and vertical forces.

AlabamaW

Hi, I’m so sorry I’ve just seen the replies here. Thank you. I’m in Cheshire so potentially East Yorkshire is a possibility. Are you allowed to post details? Don’t want to break any rules on the side. Re building regs. Anything we do to the house - particularly regards safety - will be passed via building control. That’s a given. We’ve already had to speak to them about something else. It’s more the style and affordability I was interested in. Thanks for your help.

snowcat75

Mistral001 wrote: »

I would get Building Control Approval for any balustrade you put here. It is common that balustrades or walls such as this have not been designed to meet the Building regulations and are, frankly dangerous as the OP has correctly pointed out.

I would NOT get your local fence maker or steel fabricator just to provide a fence unless they and the builder who installs the balustrade can prove to you that the installed balustrade complies with the Building Regulations.

Such balustrades have to be a certain height (usually 1100mm) and space between any infill bars have to be limited to a certain distance (usually 100mm) and most importantly the balustrade and what it is fixed to has to be able to withstand stipulated minimum horizontal and vertical forces.

Any decent fabricator (myself being one) will know the compliance better than a building inspector. Part k is the compliance regulation document. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protection-from-falling-collision-and-impact-approved-document-k

Most fabricators are now working under BS 1090.

https://www.bsigroup.com/LocalFiles/en-
GB/Kitemark/EN1090/BSI-EN-1090-Structural-Steel-Guide-UK-EN.pdf

Few building inspectors are unaware that 1090 even exists and are even less aware that all structural steels going into a building need to complie to 1090.... Which says a how little they understand about the industry.


I have just pulled apart an architects "vison" on a steel and timber staircase, No drawings, No calcs, an unworkable design which means a big no from me.


I would certainly speak to a local fabricator, Most are doing far more critical work than balustrades so are very much qualified to give you options.