Balcony railing height

Designing a building and each of its components is an important aspect that should not be neglected. A feature of multi-storey buildings, in comparison with private one-story buildings, are balconies, which are built exclusively according to strict rules and regulations. To make a balcony on your own, or to carry out repair work, you need to know the standards for the height of the fence and other characteristics in order to rely solely on them.

In the planning of any apartment building or private household of several floors, there are balconies or loggias. According to SNiP, a balcony is a platform that goes beyond the building and is located in line with the floor. The loggia, on the other hand, is part of the building and has walls in common with it. The balcony may not have a roof or walls, but a floor is required. In Soviet times, balconies were made in two ways:

1. using standard runs;
2. thanks to the reinforced concrete base.

In the first case, the structure is fastened with a reinforced concrete or metal beam, which deepens into the wall by 0.5 m. In the second version, a reinforced concrete slab serves as the basis.

Modern high-rise buildings are more diverse in terms of the design features of creating balconies. Distinguish:

• products mounted on external supports;
• hinged balconies;
• attached structures.

Regardless of where exactly the balcony is being built, in a high-rise building or in a private house of two or more floors, the norms for the length and width of the slab, as well as the height of the fence, must be performed correctly. The standard width of such a protrusion should be within 80cm, and the length may vary depending on the dimensions of the working wall.In a panel house, this figure is 70 cm, and the smallest width is 65 cm. The height of the structure is also regulated, the distance from floor to ceiling according to GOST should be 2.6-2.65 m.

Each balcony is unique, and it can differ not only in color, but also in material. Fences made of various materials can be found in residential buildings.

• Metal - forged products look beautiful and stylish. They can become a real decoration of an apartment or a multi-storey private house.

• Wood - the fence can be made of simple slats, which allows you to insulate the balcony and close it from the wind. Carved wooden products made to order from real craftsmen are considered more original.

• Stone - brickwork or concrete blocks can be an excellent base that will protect the balcony from bad weather and allow the frame to be securely installed for increased comfort and additional protection.

• Glass or plastic - it is possible to install glass or plastic panels, which are lightweight, easy to assemble and serve for a long time. Outwardly, the design turns out to be original and quite beautiful.

In order for the fence to perform its functions, as well as to be convenient for use, it is necessary to know what design features it consists of. And this:

• vertical posts - they act as a frame on which the whole structure is supported;
• railings - complement the main frame from above for the convenience of people;
• additional elementshelping to protect the balcony space.

The frame of the balcony must be properly fixed to the slab in order to ensure its safe use in everyday life. To increase the lifespan of the balcony, it is best to reinforce it with metal frame, to which it will be much more convenient and faster to attach vertical posts.

To make the use of the balcony not only convenient, but also safe for both adults and children, there are certain norms for the height of the balcony railing:

• GOST 25772 - 83 - where all indicators are indicated regarding the balconies and stairs;
• GOST 23118 - 99 - information about steel building structures.

According to the requirements, the height of the fence for high-rise buildings not exceeding 30 m must be at least 1 m, and in higher buildings, the recommended indicator is 110 cm from the floor level.

With proper planning, the indicators should be as follows:

• fence height - 1 m;
• the distance between the railing and the floor is 90 cm;
• the distance between supports for glass or plastic structures should be no more than 30 cm.

If the balcony is organized in a kindergarten or school, then the height of the railing there is 120 cm, which increases the protective function of this structure. A special feature in this case is also the absence of horizontal racks, along which one can climb up and roll over. The distance between the balusters should be within 12 cm and no more, otherwise there is a risk that the child will fall between them.

Any balcony should not have sharp corners or elements, as this compromises safety during its use. If a country house is equipped with a balcony, then the requirements here will be less stringent, and the height of the fence can be at the level of 90-110 cm from the floor level. If there are children in the house, it is better to raise the structure up to 120 cm.

In order for the safety when using the balcony to be at the highest level, it is necessary to worry about a number of factors. The specific gravity on a balcony slab is on average 200 kg, therefore you should not overload it by placing unnecessary things in an apartment or house, or inviting a large company outside the premises. These data must also be counted on regarding the load on the fence, which must fulfill the tasks assigned to it and not break.

In case of accidental displacement or cracking of the material, people who are at that moment on the balcony may suffer.

To make the railings comfortable and durable, you should choose them from the right material, which does not lend itself to:

• exposure to temperatures;
• not afraid of open fire;
• does not react to moisture;
• does not react with chemicals;
• not afraid of loads.

Based on this, the most suitable materials for railings are metal, stone and specialized glass.

Thinking over the design of the balcony, you need to position it so that water does not accumulate inside, which will lead to self-destruction of the product. A properly designed and built balcony will be easy to use and visually attractive. To enhance the thermal insulation properties of the room, the protruding structure is often glazed. The main rule for installing a balcony frame will be to place it in such a way that the maximum amount of light gets into the room.

In order not to be mistaken with measurements, you need to determine the distance from the floor to the window of the room and compare them with the height of the railing. If the outer structure is equal to or lower than the window, then there is no need to redo something, and the frame can be installed immediately.

If the fence is significantly higher than the window and prevents sunlight from entering, it is necessary to revise the balcony project.

Only the correct layout and compliance with GOST standards will allow you to create a beautiful and functional balcony, which will delight you with its appearance and comfort from use for many years.

A video about Holzhof WPC fencing for balconies and terraces can be seen below.