When it comes to choosing handrails and balustrades for a building, the design is one of the most important considerations along with the fact that how well the design and colour go with the rest of the interior, or the exterior in case of external balustrades. Other than the design, the other important thing that you should consider carefully and thoroughly is the safety and health regulations associated with balustrades and handrails.
The first thing associated with the safety of balustrades is that there should be proper checking as to see that the structure in which the balustrade is being fitted is firm and strong and there is no deformation in any part of the structure. The connection points at the beams should also be checked so that it can be made sure that there is no deterioration.
Another factor associated with checking the safety of balustrades and handrails is to make sure that there is no rusting anywhere in the rails and the metal is not rusted. Rusted metal might result in loosening and thus may cause instability of the balustrades and handrails which poses a serious threat.
If the balustrade and handrail of wood, then it is important to check that the timber is not rotted as it does sometimes at the joints. The bolts and brackets should also be examined, and you also need to make sure that the timber is not soft and spongy. Probing something sharp in the wood can help in achieving this.
Other than these careful measures, there are also regulations regarding the height of the balustrade. There is also a fixed difference which has to be maintained, and if the difference is more than that, a handrail is required for supporting the load and for interlinking. The kind of glass that can be used in such a handrail has to be toughened.
The location of the glass and its height in linking a handrail is also regulated while keeping the best safety measures in view, and to make sure that the interlinking handrail functions well for the purpose it is meant to serve.
There are also regulations associated with the glazing of the balustrades and handrails. There are different kinds of balustrades, and hence, different regulations apply to them in terms of handrails and other safety measures.
There is a building code associated with balustrades and handrails, and the buildings have to be constructed while complying with this code as it is illegal to do otherwise. There are also inspections made to see the level of compliance to the code and to look at the safety conditions of houses in relation to balustrades and handrails for children as well as the adults residing in a place. The height of the balustrade and the infill in between is specified in the code and thus has to be followed. It is important that the regulations should be complied in order to remain safe from any financial loss as well as loss of lives.