Choose an elegant glass safety barrier and create a truly inspiring space – characterised by natural light, clean lines and uninterrupted views. Glass balustrades, with their sleek and refined finish, offer the perfect balance of style, safety and durability, and are a worthwhile investment in any property.
Whether forming edge protection on a staircase, balcony, mezzanine or deck, a glass balustrade enhances the look and feel of any space, achieving a greater sense of openness than is possible with other materials.
At BM Architectural, we offer extensive architectural glazing expertise and supply high quality, fully tested systems to the requirements of BS 6180. We have a proven track record of supplying residential, commercial and public sector projects, large and small, throughout the UK and Ireland.
Explore our range online. Frameless glass panels can be fixed with continuous channels, spigots or stand-offs, while fully framed glass balustrades feature posts and rails, and semi-framed glass feature posts only. Contact us on 0114 254 3226 for expert, project-specific, sales and technical advice. We’re here to help with the correct selection, specification and ordering of your perfect glass balustrade.
There is legislation covering the location, height, spacing and strength of balustrades. Relevant documents include ‘Approved Document K – Protection from Falling, Collision and Impact’ and ‘BS 6180:2011: Barriers in and about buildings. Code of practice’.
As a summary, a balustrade is required at drops of 600mm or more in a residential setting or 380mm or more in commercial environments; with the latter accounting for the increased risk to people of unfamiliar surroundings.
The minimum height of balustrades on an internal staircase is 900mm and typically 1100mm for all other locations e.g. balcony, mezzanine. A 100mm sphere should not be able to fit through any opening in the balustrade to prevent a person, particularly a small child, from being held fast.
Balustrade systems providing a horizontal uniformly distributed line load of either 0.74kN/m, 1.5kN/m and 3.0kN/m meet the majority of requirements. A 0.74kN system is suitable for all applications in a single-family dwelling and most commercial areas clear of obstacles and not susceptible to overcrowding. A 1.5kN/m system is suitable for retail areas and car parks, and commercial applications where tables and chairs are present and where people might congregate. A 3.0kN/m heavy-duty system is required for applications such as stadiums, theatres, shopping malls etc used by a large number of people and susceptible to overcrowding.
We’re here to help. Contact the BM Architectural team on 0114 254 3226 for assistance with understanding your legal responsibilities and correct product selection and specification for your application.
Alongside our modular, off-the-shelf glass fittings, BM Architectural offers bespoke solutions. From curved handrail to extended height privacy screens, we would be happy to meet your individual project requirements. Contact our team on 0114 254 3226 to discuss your needs.
While it is possible for a competent DIY-er to install a glass balustrade, a professional installation is recommended to ensure the system is level and secure, especially in safety-critical applications such as landings and balconies where compliance with building regulations is required.
Contact BM Architectural for installation advice on 0114 254 3226. If you’re a homeowner and, at your request, we’ll be happy to put you in touch with installers in your area.
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