FAQs
Technical Compliance & Regulations
Do your products conform to building regulations?
The majority of our products (staircases, balustrades, balconies) are designed to meet current UK Building Regulations (Parts K, B, and BS 6180). However, final responsibility for checking compliance against specific project requirements, required floor loadings, and the item's intended use lies with the customer and their Local Building Control Officer (BCO). All structural steelwork is UKCA certified where applicable, a legal requirement.
Is my staircase, glass floor system or balustrade UKCA certified?
Yes, all structural steelwork supplied by Dio-Met Fabrications Ltd is UKCA certified, assuring the quality and compliance of the steel components used in your installation.
Do you design General Access Stairs for commercial buildings?
Yes, we routinely fabricate General Access Stairs. We design to meet the stricter regulations under Approved Document K.
Are stainless steel wire balustrades safe for my children?
Due to safety concerns (the ladder effect- failing under BS6180), we strongly advise against horizontal wire rope balustrades in domestic settings. We recommend glass or vertical bar infills for residential projects.
Do I need planning permission for a walk-out balcony?
Almost certainly- always check with your local planning authority to gain clarification if in doubt.
Product Specifics & Popular Items
Do you supply walk-on glass floors or wine cellar doors?
Yes, this is one of our most popular bespoke products. We supply hinged walk-on glass floor systems and wine cellar doors, available with manual operation (gas struts) or fully electric automated systems. They are designed for a minimum load capacity of 150kg/sqm and use toughened laminated glass. See our dedicated Hinged Glass Floor / Wine Cellar Door FAQ for full specifications.
Do you supply glass covers for wells or basement voids?
Yes, we custom fabricate walk-on glass covers for wells, sumps, and basement voids. These are built using 25 to 33mm thick safety glass set in a steel frame. We can design for light display or access, and the system can be fabricated in any shape or size. Contact us directly for bespoke pricing on glass well covers.
What kind of decking/floor can I use with your steel balcony kits?
Our framework is designed to accept composite decking as our standard preferred product. We can also integrate options like walk-on structural glass flooring or steel grating as part of the custom kit design.
What grade stainless steel do you use?
We generally use G316 Marine Grade for external items and G304 for internal polished to 320 grit for a high quality finish. Please check the specific product page for your chosen item to confirm the material grade.
Ordering, Service & Logistics
What areas do Dio-Met service?
Dio-Met Fabrications Ltd provides UKCA-certified metalwork nationwide. We dispatch products across the entire UK every week from our Sheffield workshops. International delivery is available by custom request.
Do you install the products?
Yes, we offer a full installation service across the UK using our own installers rather than subcontractors. You do not have to have us fit it, though — everything we make can also be bought supply-only, whatever the size. See the question below.
Do you have a showroom?
While we do not operate a traditional public showroom, you are more than welcome to visit and see where the magic happens. Our products can often be viewed at our Sheffield workshop and what is available to view will vary depending on our current orders going through production. If you wish to see any specific product, please contact us first so we can advise.
How long will it take to manufacture my item?
It depends on the product. Balustrades and handrails are usually the quickest; balconies, staircases and structural glass floors take longer, because there is more steel, more drawing work and often a glass lead time on top. Everything is made to order, so the clock starts at drawing sign-off rather than at the order. A firm lead time for your specific job is always given on your quotation — ask us before you book a fitter or a plasterer, and we will tell you honestly.
How do you deliver glass balustrades or heavier items?
We use specialized pallet couriers to transport steelwork and protected glass across the UK. All pallet deliveries are strictly kerbside only. For larger jobs including staircases, walkout balconies or bigger wine cellar doors, these would be delivered by flatbed vehicle and customer required to provide offloading provisions.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept all major credit/debit cards, BACS transfer, PayPal, and cash at our Sheffield premises. Items cannot be paid for on delivery.
What information do you require to provide a quotation?
Please provide photos, sketches, and dimensions. For bespoke work, also specify the intended use (domestic or commercial) as this affects design compliance.
Can I cancel my order?
We can cancel standard products upon request. However, bespoke products cannot be cancelled once manufacturing has begun as they have no re-sale value. Please refer to our full Terms and Conditions.
How are your prices so much cheaper than your competitors?
Our pricing advantage comes from our volume and efficiency. Working with major building contractors gives us excellent buying power for raw materials, and we pass these savings on to you.
Buying, prices and payment
Can I buy supply-only and fit it myself?
Yes, and plenty of people do. Everything we make can be bought supply-only, whatever the size — there is no point at which a job becomes installation-only. Some jobs suit it less well than others: a curved handrail that needs skilled fitting and adjustment on site is one where we would usually say let us do it. We will tell you honestly which yours is rather than take the order and hope.
Can I buy just the glass, or just the parts?
Yes to both. We sell glass on its own regularly, in a lot of different sizes and specifications, and we sell individual parts and fittings — posts, clamps, handrail sections, replacement panels. Most of it is listed in our webshop with prices on, so you can order it without waiting for a quotation. If what you need is not listed, ask us.
What are your payment terms?
On a quoted bespoke job it is generally a 25% deposit to get started, with the balance due when the job is ready to ship or install. Anything bought through the webshop is paid in full at the point of order. We do not offer credit terms.
Do you offer trade prices?
Yes, for trade quantities and repeat business. A one-off order is charged at the normal price whoever is buying it. If you are a builder, developer or fabricator placing regular work with us, talk to us about it.
Survey, site work and guarantee
Do you survey before you make anything?
On installation jobs, generally yes, unless it is something blindingly straightforward. On supply-only we can still survey if you want us to, but we normally work to the dimensions you give us and supply a drawing so that you or your builder can check it before anything is cut. That drawing is the moment to catch a mistake — once it is signed off, we make it to those sizes.
Do you bring your own access equipment, and do you make good afterwards?
We normally work from our own tower scaffold and bring lifting equipment where it is needed, and that is included in an installation price. Making good is not included unless we have quoted for it — we are not general builders. We will often quote to excavate and set posts in concrete for a balcony, or to take out an existing structure, but we do not make good walls, paint, render or paving.
What fixings are included, and who is responsible for the wall?
Supply-only orders include everything needed to assemble the product, but not the fixings into your building, because those depend entirely on what we are fixing to. On installation jobs we bring a range of fixings to suit most situations and that is included in the price. The building itself remains the customer’s responsibility: the walls, floors and surfaces we fix to have to be sound. We can only fix to what is there, in whatever way we judge most appropriate.
Is there a guarantee?
Yes — a free 10 year warranty on everything we make, covering any defect attributable to a manufacturing, assembly or material fault. Parts and labour are covered for the first twelve months, and parts for the remaining nine years. If we installed it we will repair it on site wherever possible; supply-only goods come back to us in Sheffield for rectification. The full wording is on our terms and conditions page.
Product-specific questions
Some products have enough detail behind them to need a page of their own. If your question is about one of these, start here:
- Hinged glass floors and wine cellar doors — nineteen questions on glass, loadings, safety features, sizes, colours, weight, installation and what sits below the door.
- Glass well covers — twelve questions on glass type and thickness, whether you need a steel frame, condensation, slip resistance and removal for maintenance.
Background reading rather than a question? Our building regulations guides cover balconies, balustrades, staircases, handrails and glass floors in full, and our material finishes page covers galvanising, powder coating, stainless grades and glass standards.
Still not answered?
These are the questions we are asked most often, but every job is different and most of ours start with a photograph and a rough size. Send those over and we will tell you what we would build and what it is likely to cost.
Call 0114 243 9009 or email sales@diometonline.co.uk. If your question is about the rules rather than the product, our building regulations guides go into far more depth than we can here, and our material finishes page covers galvanising, powder coating, stainless grades and glass standards.
