Australia have its own standards and specifications for balustrades. So if you're planning to install balustrades in your home or commercial building make sure to comply with this set of rules.

1. Australian Balustrade
Standards and Specifications
AristoBalustrades.com.au

2. Balustrades are getting very popular
because not only they can add beauty and
elegance to a home or office but they can
also make the whole area very safe.

3. Here in Western Australia, the government
is very strict in implementing rules and regulations
regarding balustrading and balustrading
specifications.

4. The fact is, companies offering balustrade
installations in Western Australia follow strict
balustrade standards and specifications
very meticulously.

5. So, before you try to install balustrades
in your home or office, be sure that you adhere to
these balustrading standards without compromising
the aesthetics of balustrades.

6. And always put in mind that safety is always your
priority when doing so.

7. Here are the specifications of balustrades
according to Australian Standards:
 A balustrade should be installed alongside of any roof
where the public has access.

8. Any floors, corridors, hallways, balconies, decks,
verandas, mezzanines, and access bridge, should have
balustrades installed if:

9. A) It is not bounded by a wall; and
B) Its level above the surface beneath is
more than 1m.

10.  The height of the balustrade and other types of
barriers must be in accordance to the following factors:

11. A) The height must not be less than 865 mm
above the nosing of the floor of a ramp or
the stair treads.
B) The height must not be less than:

12. a) 1m above the floor of any access path,
landing, balcony, among others; or

13. b) It should be 865mm above the floor of a stair or
ramp where balustrades are provided alongside the
inside edge of the said ramp or stair, and should not
exceed more than 500mm in length.

14.  There should be incorporation with the transition
zone where the balustrade or any kind of barrier
height changes from 865mm to 1m, from stair
flight, for example, to the landing.

15.  Should there be any openings in balustrades or
other barriers, they must be constructed so that they
don’t permit a 125-mm sphere to pass through it and
this includes decorative balustrades.

16. For the stairs, the opening is measured above
the nosing line of the treads of stairs.

17.  If a balustrade or barrier is to be installed, it must
be designed to take loading forces in accordance with
AS/NZS 1170.1

18.  If a wire balustrade should be the option to be
installed, it must be constructed also in accordance with
the following balustrade standards and specifications
and should meet the requirements of:

19. A) For horizontal wire balustrades
a) It must be in accordance with the tension
values when measured with a strain indicator
shown here:

22. b) It must not exceed the maximum deflections
shown earlier.

23. B) For non-continuous vertical wire balustrades, it
must be in accordance with the tension values
provided by the rules and regulations that apply to it,
when measured with a strain indicator.

24. C) For continuous vertical sloped wire balustrades:
a) Must have wires of no more than 2.5mm
diameter with a lay of 7x7 or 7x19 construction;

25. b) If there are any changes in direction at
support rails, they must pass around a pulley
block without causing any wire deformation that
is permanent;

26. c) It should have supporting rails. These rails
must be constructed with a spacing that should
not exceed 900mm and the materials should not
permit any deflection that can decrease tension
of the wire when it is loaded; and

27. d) If the wire is measured with a strain indicator, it should
follow the regulations/measurements shown here:

28. These are some of the balustrade standards
and specifications that you should be aware of
in case you want to install any type of balustrade in
your home or office. Be it wire balustrades,
steel, or wood balustrades.

29. The thing is you should remember
these specifications and standards so that no
problem may arise in the future that are in
conflict with the rules and regulations.

30. Also remember that to keep the
surrounding beautiful and neat, aesthetic
balustrades should also be in mind.

31. Luckily, you can find many
balustrading companies in the whole of
Western Australia including Perth.

32. References:
• Aristo Balustrades Pty Ltd
• Unit 2, 5 Geelong Court, Bibra Lake WA 6163, Australia
• Phone: 08 9418 8914
• E-mail: admin@aristogroup.com.au