Guidelines to Building Regulations (England & Wales), including British Standards

Within the industry there are a number of regulations and standards that determine what systems can be installed for each scenario. We’ve put together a brief summary of the regulations for your reference; please note that all the information contained here is intended for guidance only.

Below is a guide to building regulations that relate to balustrades within England and Wales. More information can be found on the BSI website (http://www.bsigroup.com/);

Key points and abbreviated guide to relevant standards (England & Wales)

When the type of barrier is being determined the type of building and its intended use must be given careful consideration to ensure the appropriate barrier is installed.

- In general where there is a change in adjacent floor levels (as set out below) a barrier is required;

- A barrier is required to restrict the movement of people or vehicles.

- These barriers must have no gap greater than 99mm and must be designed to restrict climbing and be a minimum height of 1100mm.

There are three types of barrier and each type requires specific loadings to be taken into account;

- Free standing glass;

- Post & rail with infill panels;

- Full height barrier (this may be a conventional window)

When glazing is used as guarding for stairs, parapets or as a balustrade it must be capable of withstanding the loadings and satisfy a minimum height requirement. Below we have set out the different heights required for the different uses; 

Minimum barrier heights

Use

Position

Height

Single family dwelling

a) barriers in front of a window

800mm

b) stairs, landings, ramps, edges of internal floors

900mm

c) external balconies including Juliette balconies, edges of roof

1100mm

All other uses

d) barrier in front of a window

800mm

e) stairs

900mm

f) balconies and stands, etc having fixed seating within 530mm of the barrier

800mm

g) balconies and stands, etc having fixed seating within 530mm of the barrier, provided the sun of the barrier height is greater than 975mm

750mm

h) other positions including Juliette balconies

1100mm


Note: the height at which the applied load is located, is not necessarily the height of the barrier itself i.e. the barrier could be higher.

We’ve set out the minimum horizontal load the glass needs to meet in specified locations in the table below; 

Minimum horizontal 

Type of occupancy for part of the building structure

Examples of specific use

Horizontal uniformly distributed line load (kN/m)

Domestic and residential activities

All internal areas serving single family dwellings; stairs and landings

0.36

External and residential situations with multiple occupance

0.74

Offices and work areas not included elsewhere, including storage areas

Light access stairs and gangways – not more than 600mm wide

0.22

Light pedestrian traffic routes in industrial and storage buildings, except designated escape routes

0.36

Areas not inline for overcrowding in office and institutional buildings

0.74

Areas where people might congregate

Areas having fixed seating within 530mm of the barrier, balustrade or parapet

1.5

Areas with tables or fixed seating

Restaurants and bars

1.5

Areas without obstacles for moving people and not susceptible to overcrowding

Stairs, landings, corridors, ramps.  In addition external balconies and edges of roofs including areas adjacent to basement/sunken areas

0.74

Areas susceptible to overcrowding

 

Footways to pavements less than 3m wide adjacent to basement/sunken areas

1.5

Theatres, cinemas, bars, shopping malls.  Footways to pavements greater than 3m wide adjacent to basement/sunken areas

3.0

Retail areas

All retail areas including public areas of banks/building societies or betting shops

1.5

Vehicular

Pedestrian areas in car parks, including stairs, landings, ramps, edges of internal floors.  Internal loads imposed by vehicles

1.5

 

The final table below shows details for toughened and laminate glass for use on free standing glass protective barriers (based on 1100mm top rail from finished floor level).  Using the above and below tables you’ll be able to reference what glass size will sort which situation;

Design level horizontal UDL

(line load) (KN/M)

Sentry Glass (mm)

EVA laminate thickness (mm)

Toughened glass thickness( mm)

0.36

0.74

1.50

3.00

13.5

17.5

21.5

25.5

17.5

21.5

25.5

31.5

12

15

19

25