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 thing. Whilst it is common for industrial guardrails to use a […]
TechNote#300 Barriers
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 doesn’t always make sense. {NB: AS1170.1 does not identify imposed loads for vertical surfaces […]
Barriers
The Structural Provisions of the BCAThe 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 doesn’t mention cafe screens or any other specific form of […]