If your project has a balcony, then you may be required to submit calculations to the local authority to ensure it complies with BS6399. Whilst this might appear straightforward, it is often very difficult to design the connection between the balustrade and the walls, because balconies are often cantilevered. BS6399 stipulates that balustrades have to be designed for a certain value of horizontal loading (depending on the use of the balcony).

Whilst this may appear unnecessary for a domestic property, most balconies do occasionally have a group of people on them and if they were all to lean on the balustrade then it needs to be strong enough not to collapse.

We need the following information to design a balustrade:

architectural layout or sketch drawing with dimensions showing the size of the balcony and the loadbearing walls were the balcony can be fixed to

Design information

All design work is carried out in accordance with BS6399 and the appropriate material code, depending on whether the balcony is constructed from timber or steel.

The calculations provided will be suitable for Building Regulation approval.