Steel wire rope balustrade FAQ’S
We understand that most people have never fitted a steel wire rope balustrade before, there is a lot of questions that we regularly get asked regarding all aspects from fitting, to which products are best and which items work with each other
It is not too difficult to fit your wire balustrade system yourself, here at GS Products we sell all the parts and tools required for all levels of DIY enthusiasts to be able to buy and fit with the minimum amount of hassle… see our FAQs below
Which steel wire rope do you recommend?
We recommend using a 4mm diameter stainless steel 1×19 wire rope, the stainless steel wire rope we supply for your balustrade is A4 grade so it will never rust. 4mm is a industry standard diameter for wire balustrades. The 1×19 relates to the strands (make up) of the wire, it has 19 individual strands which makes the wire rigid and helps keeps your runs as straight as possible. We sell this wire rope by the meter and also in bulk reels.
Do you sell all the tools that will be required?
Yes, We sell the hydraulic crimping tool and the wire rope cutters – these are the only specialists tools you will require. We sell set wire rope kits with these tools included or you can buy them on their own
Is there any other way to make wire balustrade without having to buy the tools?
Yes, we sell wire balustrade runs that are pre-swaged by us at one end and the opposite end is left plain, we supply a DIY swage-less fitting so you can cut the wire to size and simply attached the swage-less fittings. The only tools you will need is 2 x spanners.
Wire balustrade measurements ?
Building regulations state that no gap should be bigger than 100mm in a wire balustrade, because of this we recommend having 100mm wire centres. We also advise on having a maximum 10 meter length maximum per run to be able to maintain good tension, if your runs are longer than 10 meters we recommend to start a new run, best practice on each run over 10 meters would be to make each run length an even length, eg. 16 meter run would look best at 2 x 8 meters. We recommend having balustrade posts every 1.5-2meters.
What are the regulations for wire balustrade?
- 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 all other areas such as 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.
The above basic rules are for your guidance only, please consult your local building officer if you are in doubt over any aspect of your wire balustrade installation
How many balustrade runs can I have?
As long as each run is evenly spaced out at a recommended 100mm wire centers, you can have many runs as you require.
Are all the balustrade fittings Stainless Steel?
Yes, all our fittings are AISI 316 -A4 Grade Stainless Steel – the best grade available to buy – this ensures your cable balustrade will last for many, many years.
How do I maintain the balustrade?
All of our wire balustrade systems have an adjustable rigging screw, this will enable you to re-tension your runs if they have become slack over a period of time.
How do I clean wire balustrade?
We recommend once a year to wipe over your fittings with WD40 and a microfibre cloth, this will remove any residue that may have settled on the wires from the atmosphere. The stainless steel fittings will once again be super shiny!
Will there be any movement in the wires once fitted?
Once the wire balustrade has been fitted there maybe some movement within a few days and the wires may slack, with the rigging screw adjusters you can simply loosen the locking nuts and apply the specific tension required to tighten back up.
How do the adjusters work?
You simply swage the wire rope into the sleeve of the adjuster and simply rotate the body open or closed. These adjusters are very popular as they allow you to easily keep your cables taught once the balustrade is fitted.
Can the wire balustrade be run around corners?
We recommend that you do not run the wire balustrade around corners as it will be very difficult to maintain tension. We recommend that a new run should be started at a corner junction. Small angles can be incorporated into a run.
What about posts?
- We sell fittings to suit wooden post and steel posts (Square and 42.4mm round diameter)
- We do not sell balustrade posts
- The steel wire can be passed through the center posts and terminated at the furthest end
- We recommend having posts every 1.5 meters – 2 meters
- It is best practice to pass the wire through intermediate posts where possible rather than create a new connection at every post
- If passing the wire through the center intermediate posts we recommend drilling an 8mm diameter hole to pass the 4mm wire through
DISCLAIMER – Please note, all of the above information is for your guidance only, GS Products / Galvanised Specialists Ltd or any of its employees will take no responsibility for your steel wire balustrade installation. We always recommend that you contact your local planning officer.
