Curved Glass Railing

Designing Balustrading – 3 Loads You Must Be Aware Of

There are three primary loads to consider when designing glass balustrading to BS6180, which is the code that regulates barriers (Balustrades and Railings).

In this code it specifies the loads for different usages relating to building types or occupancies of buildings.

Although the different occupancy types will specify different loads, for instance in a public environment the load will be higher than for a private residential occupancy, in each occupancy there will always be three loads types that have to be met.

more…

To the uninitiated, metal is metal but there are many different types of metals, all of which can add their own style and feel to a finished product. Metal is a common part of the home and surrounding areas and over the centuries, one of the most common features of a home or building has been the railings surrounding it. Metal railings have a combined role in the surroundings of a home, providing an added level of security in addition to looking good. There have been many different types of metal used for metal railings throughout the years and the following are some of the most popular.

more…

UK Regulations

There is some confusion regarding the requirement for a handrail on glass balustrades and glass railings and in order to ascertain this matter we need to get the answer to the following question: What are the legal or regulatory requirements in respect of handrails on glass balustrades? Are there criteria that allow glass barriers to have no handrail on top?

more…

Curved vs Flat

Since time immemorial, curved elements in buildings have been used to create superior aesthetics. These curved elements not only carry an inherent strength but are also pleasing to the eye. Curved balconies, curved top windows and doors, curved walls, domes, ellipses and spiral stairs are just some of the elements used by architects to enhance the building they are designing. It is interesting to note that in the modern age, where budget and cost are many times a main driver in design and chosen solutions, that these curved elements are often discarded or ruined by introduction of “facetted” curves rather than good old “round” curves. With the industrialisation of the building industry, many companies have become proficient in producing quantities of standard “flat” elements including glass. These industries cannot cope with curved elements and when curved glass and other elements are introduced this creates a “hiccup” in the system as these cannot be industrially done.

more…

Effi Wolff joined his father’s company in 1993 after his military service. The company had been successfully creating glass banisters and balustrades in Israel since it’s formation in 1984. After eleven years, in 2004, Effi brought the concept to the UK. Bringing innovation to the already popular trend, he was able to bring down the cost per unit, even when making customs sizes and shapes. The company took off and is now the leading UK manufacturer of glass balustrades and Juliet balconies, as well as curved patio doors and windows.

more…

What are the handrail systems made from?

We get asked are the handrails made of stainless steel? The answer is no, they are made from something better than stainless steel. They are made from anodised aluminium. Stainless steel is correctly named in that it stains less, but anodised aluminium is actually more corrosion-resistant, and that’s why we use it.

more…

How are the corners joined?

We get asked a lot, how are the handrail corners joined together?

An internal corner bracket is screwed to the handrail with screwed plate and pan to covered plate. The handrail corners are fixed together mechanically by way of an internal corner bracket premade to the correct angle.  Each side of the handrail is screwed into the plate through the prefabricated holes on the handrail ends. On the Balcony 2 system it is then hidden by a cover plate.

more…

One of Balcony’s largest-ever curved sliding glass doors has been installed at a new £3.5 million visitor and education centre dedicated to the Battle of Britain overlooking the English Channel in Kent.

Read the full story here

The Wing, which is home to the interactive Scramble Experience, was officially opened by Her Majesty The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in March 2015 during the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

A spokesman for the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust said: “The Wing is built in the shape of a Spitfire wing, with a central ‘cockpit’ area on the first floor housing a café with unbeatable views out over the channel.

“At 19 metres wide, this is certainly one of our largest curved doors and it looks absolutely amazing! The Battle of Britain Memorial Trust’s Cockpit Café must have one of the best views in Kent and we are delighted to have helped the client realise their vision with this prestigious project.” Concluded Effi Wolff, Managing Director at Balcony Systems.

Balcony’s products add space and privacy to marina home

An impressive curved sliding patio door, glass balustrading and composite decking, all supplied by Balcony Systems, have added the ‘Wow factor’ to this Portsmouth home overlooking a marina.

more…

Self-installed by John Sharp, this stunning glass balcony supplied by Balcony Systems does full justice to fabulous south-facing views from his East Ayrshire bungalow.

John, a retired valuation surveyor, found fitting the 17 metre-long curved and straight balustrade at his extensively-renovated 1930s Newmilns property was a relatively straightforward job. “It’s a technically competent design and what’s great about the Balcony Systems’ balustrade is that you can’t see any fixings,” continues John. “Once the posts were welded in position, the Chrome handrail fitted well and I am absolutely delighted with the result. The balcony is much admired – and the Wow factor is a major part of it!” Far-reaching views Glass was essential to keep the far-reaching views over the Irvine Valley from the quarter-acre plot, with the added benefit of not needing any time-consuming painting or maintenance. “To have put a wooden balustrade would have been nuts!” I would not have wanted anything to disrupt the view,” he says. Curved balcony design John opted for a curved balcony, having changed his original rectangular concept as it had ‘no architectural feel whatsoever’. A former neighbour told him about Balcony Systems’, having installed one of their Juliet balconies on a similar property to his. He explains: “Having seen the case studies on the website, I designed my balcony round the Balcony Systems’ products and asked my architect to send the drawings to them. This required overcoming major changes, including shaping the deck’s structural steel beam into a curve.” The installation John installed his balustrade gradually, enlisting the help of a friend to weld the posts to the steel and timber joists of the cantilevered deck built onto the property. The straight and curved sections were easy to do, using just three lengths of handrail to cover the 17 metre length. Measuring over 8.0m wide and 3.0 metres deep at the centre point , narrowing to 1.5 metres at each end, the balcony area provides a flexible area for entertaining and is accessed from two sets of sliding patio doors from the main living rooms as well as a set of stairs giving access to a patio.

Refurbishment of the former six-bedroomed bungalow included demolishing internal walls to create larger rooms and open-plan living areas, flooding the interior with light.

Design, ordering and logistics throughout the project progressed smoothly, according to John, who adds: “Delivery and service from Balcony Systems was absolutely first-class and I would recommend the company wholeheartedly. The quality is there to be seen and I’m confident the balcony will deliver what I want.”

Three-climate views

As for their new balcony, John and his wife Kath, who downsized from a much larger property, are looking forward to enjoying what is undoubtedly a unique feature of their hillside home.

How? “With a bottle of wine enjoying watching the birds, clouds and constantly-changing scenery,” concludes John. “Here we can get three climates in one day – and a clear glass balcony provides the perfect vantage point from which to take it all in.”

Balcony Systems

Balcony Systems is a specialist in sophisticated glass and aluminium balustrading solutions and stunning curved patio doors, supplying straight or curved external and Juliet balconies to exact client specifications.

From a single balustrade to multi-apartment developments, the company works with architects, designers, developers and specifiers to deliver the most cost-effective, stylish and durable balustrade solution.