Project Portfolio: Balustrade Height Extension (Bristol Specialist Care)

Project Overview

Client: Private Care Facility

Location: Bristol (South West UK)

System: Bespoke Stainless Steel Box-Section Balustrade Extension

Purpose: Risk mitigation for vulnerable residents and compliance with enhanced safety standards.

Safety Engineering: Retro-Fitting for Resident Protection

When a specialist care facility in Bristol identified that their existing 1100mm external balustrades posed a climb-risk for residents, they required a solution that was structurally sound but visually unobtrusive. Dio-Met designed a bespoke extension system that utilized the strength of the original 50x50mm stainless steel box-section posts to create a taller, safer barrier.

• Structural Tie-Backs: To ensure the heightened system remained rigid under pressure, our engineers "tied" the new handrail back into the building’s masonry. This triangulation of strength ensures the extended height doesn't create a "lever effect" on the original base fixings.

• Material Continuity: By using matching Grade 316 stainless steel and 10mm toughened safety glass, the extension looks like an original part of the architecture rather than an afterthought.

• Bespoke In-House Fabrication: Every steelwork component was manufactured in our Sheffield workshop, ensuring that the proprietary clamps and box-sections aligned perfectly with the site-specific geometry of the existing Bristol balcony.

Technical Expert Insight: Overcoming the "Leverage" Challenge in Balustrade Extensions

When you increase the height of a balustrade, you aren't just adding steel; you are increasing the physical leverage exerted on the base fixings. According to BS 6180, a balustrade must withstand specific "line loads." If you heighten a post from 1100mm to 1800mm, the force at the base increases significantly. This is why we don't just "bolt on" glass; we often utilize structural tie-backs to the building's facade. This transfers the lateral load (pushing force) into the building itself rather than relying solely on the original floor fixings. For this Bristol project, this engineering approach allowed us to solve a critical safety issue without the massive cost and disruption of a full structural replacement.

Sheffield Engineering, National Safety

From our central workshops, Dio-Met provides innovative structural solutions for homes and healthcare facilities nationwide. Whether you need to meet Building Regulations for a new Bristol apartment block or upgrade an existing structure for vulnerable resident safety, we provide the CAD design and UKCA-marked manufacturing you can trust.

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