Balustrades 1

[Junior1234]

Hi Eng-tips family

does anyone know where to find balustrade deflection limits on the australian standard

kind regards,

 

[Agent666]

In AS/NZS1170.1 commentary the following limit is suggested: -

Note:-
h is the barrier height
l is the post spacing


While not Australian, I'd also suggest a read of the following NZ document as it offers some guidance on things not covered in the AS/NZS loadings code:-

https://www.building.govt.nz/buildi...lity/b1-structure/guidance-on-barrier-design/

https://engineervsheep.com

 

[Tomfh]

Yes, if your balustrade leans h/60 under AS1170.1 service loading it should be ok. That’s a fairly large load. Most people only push with a fraction of the design service load.

 

[Settingsun]

Agent, do you know if the side-mounted posts can be pushed from 1000 to 1600 centres as long as the third layer of nogging is added? (And post and btm connection checked). I don't see what else is different in the two arrangements.

 

[Agent666]

1600 spacing and third nog/blocking is only applicable for top mounted posts, not side mounted. The two details are quite different scenarios, one for side fixed and the other for top fixed.

https://engineervsheep.com

 

[Settingsun]

I see they were side vs top, but 1m seems very close. The panels would be square. I don't recall ever seeing that but maybe it doesn't come up often because of balustrade being fixed between full height posts up to roof. It's certainly less than many boardwalk-type structures that wouldn't see crowds, so comparable loading.

Are your aware of testing behind this? Or is it just how it's always been done in NZ?

 

[Agent666]

No one uses this method, usually we use proprietary connectors (

https://miteknz.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Deck-Joist-Fixing.pdf)..

This detail has been tested as far as I'm aware..

https://engineervsheep.com

 

[Settingsun]

Thanks, Agent. Looks as though NZ takes this seriously as there are another couple of proprietary systems and none of them is available in Aust.

 

[dik]

That's proprietary? I've often use something similar, for decades, except usually use a double dimensioned lumber member at the post.

Rather than think climate change and the corona virus as science, think of it as the wrath of God. Feel any better?

-Dik

 

[Agent666]

Proprietary in so far as you just specify it, no calcs required, capacities based on testing.

I'm sure if you were to do the numbers it just wouldn't work out, but that's just the nature of a lot of these hard to prove timber details which actually have a lot of redundant load paths compared with what we as diligent engineers might be willing to rely on.

https://engineervsheep.com

 

[dik]

thanks...

Rather than think climate change and the corona virus as science, think of it as the wrath of God. Feel any better?

-Dik

 

[glass99]

as a matter of reference, OSHA specifies H/12, not H/60. People in the US frequently use 1" as a balustrade deflection allowance.

 

[blihpandgeorge]

further to Agent666 post, there are deflection limits in appendix C of AS1170.0 that are a guide and not absolute limits