by Conrad Harrison | 4 Dec, 2016 | Technical Notes
As I seem to have difficulty explaining the difference between handrails and guardrails and when each is needed, I have added an XY chart to my balustrade design spreadsheet so that I can illustrate the different situations. Handrails and guardrails are not the same...
by Conrad Harrison | 4 Dec, 2016 | #TechNote, Technical Notes
Barriers versus: Partitions, Walls, Doors, Windows, Balustrades, Guard Rails, Hand rails, Grab Rails Codes provide no real guidance regarding classification of a structure as a barrier or a wall. AS1170.1 specifies barrier loadings to the top edge of the barrier: this...
by Conrad Harrison | 16 Oct, 2013 | Structural Products
The Structural Provisions of the BCA The Building Code of Australia (BCA) does not itemise objects and does not define the loads they have to be designed for. No where does it say a balustrade has to be designed for the AS1170.1 barrier loads. Similarly it...
by Conrad Harrison | 9 Sep, 2013 | Structural Products
The BCA does not clearly define and distinguish between walls, partitions, balustrades, guard rails, hand rails and barriers. AS1170.1 gives top edge loads for barriers. Applying a load to the top edge of a barrier of any height is not considered appropriate: the line...
by Conrad Harrison | 5 Sep, 2013 | Structural Products
{This is a partial rewrite of report originally written in 2011 for a specific project, involving the testing of existing balustrade installations, which resulted in an uneasy feeling that few balustrades were BCA compliant, and that the testing was a hazardous...
by Conrad Harrison | 4 Sep, 2013 | Structural Products
Synopsis {This is a partial rewrite of report originally written in 2003 for a specific project, involving a custom fabricated aluminium balustrade. The owner of a building had looked around at commercially available balustrade systems and decided they were too...
