Australian BalustradeStandards and Specifications

AristoBalustrades.com.au

Balustrades are getting very popular

because not only they can add beauty and

elegance to a home or office but they can

also make the whole area very safe.

Here in Western Australia, the government

is very strict in implementing rules and regulations

regarding balustrading and balustrading

specifications.

The fact is, companies offering balustrade

installations in Western Australia follow strict

balustrade standards and specifications

very meticulously.

So, before you try to install balustrades

in your home or office, be sure that you adhere to

these balustrading standards without compromising

the aesthetics of balustrades.

And always put in mind that safety is always your

priority when doing so.

Here are the specifications of balustradesaccording to Australian Standards:

A balustrade should be installed alongside of any roof

where the public has access.

Any floors, corridors, hallways, balconies, decks,

verandas, mezzanines, and access bridge, should have

balustrades installed if:

A) It is not bounded by a wall; and

B) Its level above the surface beneath is

more than 1m.

The height of the balustrade and other types of

barriers must be in accordance to the following factors:

A) The height must not be less than 865 mm

above the nosing of the floor of a ramp or

the stair treads.

B) The height must not be less than:

a) 1m above the floor of any access path,

landing, balcony, among others; or

b) It should be 865mm above the floor of a stair or

ramp where balustrades are provided alongside the

inside edge of the said ramp or stair, and should not

exceed more than 500mm in length.

There should be incorporation with the transition

zone where the balustrade or any kind of barrier

height changes from 865mm to 1m, from stair

flight, for example, to the landing.

Should there be any openings in balustrades or

other barriers, they must be constructed so that they

don’t permit a 125-mm sphere to pass through it and

this includes decorative balustrades.

For the stairs, the opening is measured above

the nosing line of the treads of stairs.

If a balustrade or barrier is to be installed, it must

be designed to take loading forces in accordance with

AS/NZS 1170.1

If a wire balustrade should be the option to be

installed, it must be constructed also in accordance with

the following balustrade standards and specifications

and should meet the requirements of:

A) For horizontal wire balustrades

a) It must be in accordance with the tension

values when measured with a strain indicator

shown here:

b) It must not exceed the maximum deflections

shown earlier.

B) For non-continuous vertical wire balustrades, it

must be in accordance with the tension values

provided by the rules and regulations that apply to it,

when measured with a strain indicator.

C) For continuous vertical sloped wire balustrades:

a) Must have wires of no more than 2.5mm

diameter with a lay of 7x7 or 7x19 construction;

b) If there are any changes in direction at

support rails, they must pass around a pulley

block without causing any wire deformation that

is permanent;

c) It should have supporting rails. These rails

must be constructed with a spacing that should

not exceed 900mm and the materials should not

permit any deflection that can decrease tension

of the wire when it is loaded; and

d) If the wire is measured with a strain indicator, it shouldfollow the regulations/measurements shown here:

These are some of the balustrade standards

and specifications that you should be aware of

in case you want to install any type of balustrade in

your home or office. Be it wire balustrades,

steel, or wood balustrades.

The thing is you should remember

these specifications and standards so that no

problem may arise in the future that are in

conflict with the rules and regulations.

Also remember that to keep the

surrounding beautiful and neat, aesthetic

balustrades should also be in mind.

Luckily, you can find many

balustrading companies in the whole of

Western Australia including Perth.

References:

• Aristo Balustrades Pty Ltd

• Unit 2, 5 Geelong Court, Bibra Lake WA 6163, Australia

• Phone: 08 9418 8914

• E-mail: admin@aristogroup.com.au