Glass Balconies in HerefordGlass Balconies in Hereford

As the glass panels are fixed from the inside, any replacements can be done easily and safely from the balcony itself, rather than hiring costly and time-consuming scaffolding or ‘cherry pickers’. Tim adds: “Recent changes to the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2007 put the onus on builders and designers to incorporate greater health and safety considerations into what they build. “The Balcony system addresses the long- term practicalities and maintenance issues to ensure compliance with the regulations. This is a real plus, as no one wants to go back to a job if things go wrong!” The Balcony system represents a real break- through for those seeking an inspirational, affordable alternative to railings or spindles and meets all relevant European and British Standards, including BS 6180 and BS 6399. As the system relies on the handrail to provide the required strength, in many cases the glass balustrades require no vertical supports. This provides a clear view to the outside, looking like structural glazing at a fraction of the cost The 10mm toughened glass panels are held securely top and bottom, with no need for unsightly clamps, clips or ‘lugs’ to spoil the look. This structural integrity also allows for longer or wider runs without the need for posts or clamps, while Juliette balconies do not require vertical posts at all. Handrails are available in powder-coated white or anodized in silver, bronze or Royal Chrome, which looks like stainless steel, but without the associated discolouration problems. The system is compatible with timber, steel, stone, brick and concrete walls, making it suitable for all types of applications. It connects to walls using A2 or A4 stainless steel fixings with a permitted load line of 0.74 kN/m and a point load to infill of 1.0kN. At Oldham, the Balcony system met the specifications to maximise light, satisfy strict aesthetic requirements and enhance the feeling of spaciousness at luxury retirem ent apartments, built by Wiggett Construction Ltd. According to client Renaissance Living, the elegance and simplicity of Balcony’s “Balconette” Juliette Balcony system provides the secure 1.1 metre high balustrade to satisfy Building Regulations, but without any ‘visually intrusive’ bars and “at very reasonable comparative cost.” Balcony also provided the technical advice and design criteria for curved balconies and curved sliding patio door access for two large penthouse apartments. “Having discussed the technical aspects with Balcony and learned about the curved sliding door system, which was very reasonably priced, we had our solution,” explains Dave Higgins, Projects Director at Wiggett Construction. “Before then, we had not been able to find an answer to the structural curves in glass/aluminium on the British market. “Balcony’s solution is both aesthetically satisfying and achieved considerable economies on other quoted systems – none of which could deal with the curves. Their installation teams also integrated well with the contract programme and we are extremely satisfied with the company’s contribution to this successful pr oject,” adds Dave. For more information, contact Balcony Systems Ltd on 01342 410411 or visit www.balconette.co.uk for further details