Building Regs requirement for height of balustrade fixed to parapet

[LnP]

I'm creating a roof terrace on a single storey flat roof which is about 2800 mm agl. There is a parapet wall around the edge of the roof with copings on top and I want to fix the balustrade onto the copings. The finished height of the parapet incl. copings is 260 mm. According to Building Regs Part K2 Diagram 3.1, the height of the balustrade should be 1100 mm, and I would like the balustrade to be 1100 mm above the flat roof surface. That means an 840 mm balustrade on top of the parapet. Building Regs also says, "To prevent children from readily being able to climb the guarding: avoid horizontal rails". Do I have to consider that a child might stand on the parapet, in which case to maintain the 1100 mm, the balustrade would have to be 1360 mm above the roof surface?

 

I'd prefer to keep the height of the balustrade to be 1100 mm over the roof surface. At 1360 mm it will feel like being an animal behind bars at the zoo.

 

Thanks

Edited September 23, 2022 by LnP

[joe90]

I think your balustrade needs to be  inline with the inner edge of the parapet wall, best to talk to your BCO and see what he will accept as there is no continuity in thinking amongst them.

[JohnMo]

There is also minimum load requirements, based on the possible drop distance, so may not be able to meet the load requirements connected to coping stones.  

[Temp]

I'd be wary about fixing to the coping. I'd be concerned about the coping coming unstuck off the top of the wall. Better fix into the wall itself if possible. 

[LnP]

All good advice thanks. The copings are going to be fixed with dowels to give the balustrade a firm fixing. But I will discuss this with my BCO.

[JohnMo]

You will need to show you have complied with the following or similar.

 

[Mr Punter]

Another vote for face fixing to the wall.

 

Glass balustrade may be nicer than railings if you want to avoid the caged feel.

 

Kids are like lemmings.  Be aware that if you have furniture on the balcony they will climb on it and risk falling.

[ETC]

Fix the balustrade to the inside of the wall. Having it fixed onto the top of the coping will create a step and you will need to have the guarding 1100mm above the step.

[LnP]

All good advice thanks. I'm going to fix the balustrade to the inside of the parapet wall to give the full 1100mm without a step and also greater assurance of the strength of the fixing.