Clients brief or vision:
The design brief called for glazed balustrades, side mounted to slab edges in a stainless steel channel. The channel would be partially visible above the finished floor level, designed to merge with the bulkhead detail below and tile or carpet finishes adjacent to the balustrades. A stainless steel handrail, attached to the glass structure with stainless steel handrail fittings was also called for.
For escape stairs, an attractive tubular balustrade system was required, that complied with SANS loading requirements, taking into account the Occupancy Category.
Time frame from concept to completion and everything in between:
Our interaction with Paragon Architects started in 2014. Initial design discussions were held with regards to the brief and design intent. One of the challenges was designing to accommodate for very tight curves at bridge and atrium intersections requiring bent glass panels. Numerous trials were done to develop the required radii which varied from 500 to 800mm radius.
Towards the end of 2014, we were appointed to produce a balustrade mock-up in conjunction with the bulkhead manufacturers. A full-scale mock-up of a bridge intersection was built off-site, where a section of both straights and curved glass balustrade was installed.
A series of meetings were held with the Client, Architect and Structural and Fire Engineer, to come up with a solution to meet the requirements of SANS for Escape Routes to enable us to cost engineer a solution accommodating numerous Code requirements. The final solution was a combination of 16.76mm thick toughened laminate glass for high load areas and 12.76mm thick for lower load areas. Unique cast stainless steel handrail brackets were also designed to accommodate the change in glass thickness at the intersections between the two different types, without compromising the centreline of the handrail.
The Professional team that we worked with:
Sasol, Alchemy Group, Capex Projects, Paragon Architects, Pentad Quantity Surveyors, Sotiralis Consulting Engineers, Trevor Williams Consulting Engineers, Aveng Grinaker-LTA Building.
Design and Engineering work done by Steel Studio on the Sasol Head Office in Sandton, Johannesburg, made the architectural design and the client’s dream come to life in a practical manner. We pride ourselves on being able to find effective engineered balustrade solutions to fit:
- the architects design aesthetic;
- the mandatory SANS requirements;
- the client’s budget; and
- installation practicalities
