Internal Balustrade Option Within The Housing Code

Balustrade or banister are common words that are used for describing the components of a railing or guard system. The upright standing posts that provide the support to the entire railing are called balusters. They are usually spaced evenly along the balustrades. Traditional options are made of wood & clay and other metal components.

There are lots of different settings where a balustrade would be needed inside a building mainly being a mezzanine level balcony, a well balcony or a staircase balustrade. Sometimes, a mezzanine is referred to as a viewing gallery and is most typically a short level between the ground floor of a building and the first floor with a balcony.

To comply with Building Regulations, internal balustrades in a domestic location that serve a single family need to be at the height of 900 millimetres. On the contrary, external balconies need to be at least on a height of1100 millimetres.

Regulations also specify gaps and it is important to see and check that the width between balusters is not wide enough for a child to pass through. The building codes state that a sphere (ball) of 10 centimetre should not be able to be squeezed through anywhere on a balcony or balustrade. You can also have a well balustrade where you can see down to the next level/s. Balustrades can also run down a staircase acting as a handrail support and the baluster guards.

In the past, traditional balustrades were most commonly made from timber, which is still a common material used as an internal balustrade. Other materials that are used include wrought iron, steel, wire, glass, stone, and other metals. However, 

Glass balustrade systems with steel handrails have many benefits as opposed to other more common materials. If you are looking for a more traditional system, wood would be the best one. But if you're not sure enough, hire a staircase and baluster manufacturer to determine the suitable option for your building setup. Whatever balustrade system they provide, it will be safe and also meet the standard building codes.

Balustrades are not just protective but also provide an aesthetic appeal to a building. Govern your options carefully with professional staircase installers.