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Balustrade Wire


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Balustrade Wire

Balustrading wire is a speciality of ours. Here at Rope Services Direct we stock and manufacture a wide range of  wire-rope assemblies suitable for use on balustrade kits and systems.

 

Wire rope balustrade or cable railing is a versatile way of  creating a barrier to prevent accidents or just to define a specific area whilst at the same time creating a contemporary feel. Choose from a variety of materials (e.g. stainless steel balustrade) to achieve the perfect style for your needs.

Wire rope balustrades are versatile and make a cable railing / barrier system. Commonly used on stairways, boats, garden decking and balconies for safety reasons.

They are also becoming very popular in public areas to safeguard the public. For example castles install them around the castle walls and ramparts to enable the public to walk around them safely. The public simply would not be allowed to go up without these barriers due to health and safety factors.

Our range of galvanised wire-rope and stainless steel wire-rope along with numerous swaged terminal or swageless fittings will provide an aesthetically pleasing architectural type metal balustrade design with excellent durability.

Wire Rope Balustrade Fittings

We can create wire rope balustrades in a kit. Bespoke to you to suit your specific requirements in any design you choose, e.g. stainless steel balustrade for stairwell. We offer both swaged and swageless terminations. These are to suit the vast majority of applications whether permanent, temporary, and professional and self-assembly.

Our swaged fittings undergo a process using specialist dies in our presses. Once the die, rope and termination are inserted into the press machine many tonnes of pressure are applied. This compresses the fittings to form a permanent connection.  This type of connection is used for permanent rigging applications.  Commonly using forked terminals, rigging screws, studs and eye type end terminations.

Other Fittings

Rigging screws and turnbuckles are excellent for fine adjustment of the tension of the rope. This is so you can have it extremely taught or a little slack, the choice is yours. Rope needs to be tight for barrier and security purposes. For aesthetic wire rope balustrades such as decking, then the rope may be slack to give a slightly draped effect. There are hand held swagers and other tools which can enable the fitting of some permanent swaged fittings on site. This could be good if you are not sure of the exact lengths of rope, great for you DIY’ers.

Swageless terminals are ideal for semi-permanent applications and do not require professional assembly.  They are also commonly used by the DIY’er as it is fairly simple to change/replace a swageless fitting. All you need is some wire cutters to cut off the old, worn rope, and a couple of wrenches to secure the fitting to the newly cut end of the wire-rope. Our swageless fittings are perfect for self assembly of steel wire balustrades.

Cable Railing

Some of the fittings commonly used in wire rope cable railing systems are listed below. All supplied in hard wearing stainless steel you will find fittings to enable easy fitment to wood, steel and more. All you will need is a good drill with the correct drill bits for the material you will be drilling, i.e. wood, masonry, metal.

If you would like some help in calculating what you are likely to need for a DIY job give our team a call on 01384 78004. We are always ready to help if we can. Alternatively if you know exactly what you need you can use the contact us page or the rapid enquiry button to send us an email with your requirements.


Do Wire Balustrades Meet Building Regulations?

Wire balustrades are a great option to provide safety and security while still allowing for an unobstructed view. The balustrade wire consists of vertical or horizontal wires attached to a frame and are commonly used in indoor and outdoor applications, such as decks, stairs, patios, and balconies. That said, regulations vary depending on where you live and the building you are working on. Wire balustrades are generally required to meet specific safety standards like any other type of railing. According to UK Building Regulations, "Any barrier intended to protect people from falling a distance which could cause personal injury must be constructed so that it cannot be easily climbed."

In essence, wire balustrades installed in areas with a risk of falling, such as stairs or balconies, must be designed so they cannot be easily climbed. The spacing between the wires must be no more than 100mm (about 4 inches) to prevent a person from being able to put their foot or head through the opening. In addition, the wire balustrade must support a weight of at least 0.36 kN/m (about 175 pounds per linear foot). The wire must also be adequately tensioned so it can't break or sag over time.

 

The difference between domestic and commercial height regulations

For domestic use, there are no height restrictions for wire balustrades. However, for commercial use, the height of the barrier must be at least 950mm (about 3.1 feet). The wire should be properly secured so it can't be easily pulled loose. This is especially important if the wire balustrade is being installed in an area where some small children or animals could potentially get tangled in the wires.

If you're installing a wire balustrade on a deck or balcony, additional requirements must be met to ensure the safety of those using it. For example, the posts or columns that support the balustrade must be securely fastened to the deck or balcony. And, if it is more than 30 inches (76 cm) above the ground, it must be equipped with a midrail to provide additional support.

 

What are some of the key advantages of Balustrade Wire?

Wire Balustrades can be a great way to combine safety with security and style. Yet it's essential to ensure they are correctly installed and meet all the necessary safety requirements. Assuming that your wire balustrade meets all of these criteria, it should comply with most building regulations. However, it's always best to check with your local authorities to be sure. They may have specific requirements that need to be met in your area. With good research and planning, you can be sure that your wire balustrade meets all the necessary building regulations.

Here at Rope Services Limited, we can provide you with everything you need to install a wire balustrade that meets all the required safety standards. We offer a wide range of high-quality wire rope products that are perfect for indoor and outdoor applications. We also provide a variety of fittings and hardware to help you create a secure and stylish wire balustrade.

Contact us today to learn more about our products and services. We would be happy to help you select the right wire rope and fittings for your project.

There are many different types of rope balustrade, and the regulations for each type can vary. Generally, the regulations will state that a wire balustrade must be able to withstand a certain amount of force, to prevent falls and injuries. That said, the overall strength of a wire balustrade is usually determined by the size and type of wire used, as well as the spacing between the wires. In some cases, a metal frame may also be required to provide extra support.

 

Picking the Correct Balustrade Wire - Research is critical

With regards to the current regulations, it's always important to check with your local council, as requirements will vary from one location to another. You also need to ensure any wire balustrade you install meets relevant safety standards. In the UK, these are set out in the Building Regulations (part K), which specify the dimensions and construction of guardrails and balustrades. That said, we can provide some guidance regarding an ideal height and thickness for residential projects.

 

  •        A guard or a balustrade must be fitted to an edge where there is a drop of more than 600mm.
  •        The height of the handrail must be a minimum of 900mm for all areas in internal residential applications.
  •          The height of the handrail must be a minimum of 900mm for stairs and ramps in external residential and commercial applications and a minimum of 1100mm for other areas (like balconies or floor edges).
  •         You should not be able to pass a 100mm sphere between any gaps of the wire balustrade.
  •         A minimum of 4mm diameter steel wire rope must be used for wire infill.

 

Can the wire run around corners?

Whilst it is possible (in some instances), we do not recommend running wire around large corners because it's difficult to maintain the necessary tension. It's better to start a new run at a corner junction because you will not compromise security or safety.

 

What is the best rope for the job?

We provide grade AISI 316 stainless steel rope and stainless steel cable, which complies with EN12385 and EN10264 standards, so you can be reassured of quality. One of the main advantages is its corrosion resistance, and AISI 316 stainless steel is the best you can buy, ensuring your cable balustrade will last for many years.

 

Is it possible to install a steel wire rope balustrade yourself?

You will find plenty of helpful information online, and with the right products, it's definitely possible to install a steel wire rope balustrade, however, it depends on your experience and confidence. In many cases, the key aspect of a balustrade is to provide optimum safety. Therefore, it's always best to consult with a professional installer so that you can meet all of the necessary safety standards.

 

Why buy your balustrade wire & fittings from Rope Services Direct?

We are the UK's leading supplier of rope balustrade fittings, and our products are manufactured to the highest possible standards. We also have a team of highly experienced professionals who can offer advice and support when it comes to selecting the right product for your needs. We specialize in galvanized steel and stainless steel rope and can custom make any assembly to your requirements, thanks to our own workshop and industrial pressing facilities. To learn more about us and how we can help you, please call 01384 78004. 



Types of Balustrade Fittings Available

This short video shows the majority of fittings available for all types of barriers and balustrading.

                                                                                          


Rigging Screws

 

Rigging screws are frequently utilised in architectural type operations and on wire-ropes where extreme tension is required. Available in a variety of sizes and various configurations of end fittings (Swaged or swageless) to match up with a wide range of wire-rope diameters.

Pictured is a Swage Fork / Toggle with turnbuckle Available in 3mm-10mm

 

rigging screw
rigging screw on decking post

Swage Fork

 

Swage forks are one of the most commonly used architectural wire-rope end fitting, normally used with pre drilled anchor plates, eyes or u-bolts. They are also commonly used in yacht rigging and are ideal for the fixing of structural wire-ropes and stainless steel wire balustrade systems. Available in 3mm-16mm

swage fork
swage fork on deck post

Swage Stud

 

Threaded terminals are used to put tension on a rigging/architectural wire-rope, with the help of nuts/washers or part of a rigging screw.

Available in 3mm-16mm

swage stud
swage stud in use

Swage Eye

 

Eyes are mainly used to attach architectural wire-rope to rigging screws or forks.

Available in 3mm-12mm

swage eye
swage eye in use

Swageless Stud

 

The threaded swageless terminal is non-permanent and ideal for site work where professional swaging would normally be required but not possible. These easy to use terminations can be quickly fitted by any competent person with two wrenches. May be used together with rigging screws and are used for tensioning wire-ropes using nuts and washers. Available in 4mm-10mm

swageless stud
swageless stud

Thread Eyebolts

 

Usually used with rigging screws/internally threaded parts or other terminations, as a means of attaching an architectural wire-rope. Ideal for creating a fixed anchor point.

Available in M6-M16

 

threaded eye bolt
threaded eye bolt in use

Woodscrew Eyebolt

 

These eyebolts are ideal on decking areas and around the garden as they screw directly into the wood; they are easy to install and create an anchorage point for your architectural wire-rope, natural fibre rope and much more.

Available in M6-M10

 

wood screw eye bolt
woodscrew eye bolt

Cone Head Stop

 

These terminals are ideal for lighter Architectural fixing of wire-rope; they create a neat looking and permanent end stop when threading wire-rope through a fixture (see pictured example).

Available in M3-M8

cone head stop
cone head stop in use

Medium Eye Plates & Small Eye Plates

 

These plates create a perfect fixing point for many types of architectural wire-rope terminals to an array of surfaces and in stainless steel wire balustrades . Eye plates are ideal for securing a temporary rope barrier with a hooked end fitting. They are easy to secure with 4 screws and area available in a variety of sizes.

 

eye plates
eye base plates in use

Shackles

 

Used as a flexible on/off attachment or a method of lengthening your architectural wire-rope. A shackle makes an ideal connector between any 2 points with suitable end fittings. Available in a wide range of sizes.

shackles


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