Thread: Wire / timber combo balustrading

Can't comment on your design or state regulations only to say that in NSW decks with a floor height of in excess of 900mm off the ground need to have the design pass regulation standards which yours sure doesn't sound like it does...

Maybe put in a sketch of your design because my understanding says it would be viewed as a ladder and fail

cheers utemad

gday missus-c
you can pass the wire through the posts to save on tensioners. just drill a hole clear through & feed your wire as you go - you can even turn corners if need be with some creative drilling. make the holes about 50% larger than the diameter of your steel-wire-rope. on the steel posts be sure to coat the drill-holes so they don't rust onto your stainless.
here's a bit of light reading for ya, from the 2005 b(uilding) c(ode) (of) a(ustralia)!
r's brynk
<hr>
D2.16

Balustrades or other barriers

<table style="margin- 4" border="0" width="95%"> <table border="0" width="95%"> <tbody><tr> <td>TABLE D2.16a WIRE BALUSTRADE CONSTRUCTION - REQUIRED WIRE TENSION (T) AND MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE DEFLECTION (D)<table border="1"> <colgroup><col ><col ><col ><col ><col ><col ><col ><col ><col ><col ><col ><col ><col ><col ><col ><col ><col ><col ></colgroup> <thead> <tr> <th rowspan="6" colspan="2" valign="top">Support (post or rail) Spacing (mm)</th> <th colspan="13" >Stainless Steel Wire</th> <th colspan="3" >Galvanised Steel Wire</th> </tr> <tr> <th colspan="16" >Wire Diameter (mm) and Lay</th> </tr> <tr> <th >2.5</th> <th colspan="3" >2.5</th> <th colspan="3" >3.0</th> <th >3.0</th> <th >4.0</th> <th colspan="3" >4.0</th> <th >4.0</th> <th colspan="3" >3.25 </th> </tr> <tr> <th >7 x 7</th> <th colspan="3" >1 x 19</th> <th colspan="3" >1 x 19</th> <th >7 x 7</th> <th >7 x 7</th> <th colspan="3" >7 x 19</th> <th >1 x 19</th> <th colspan="3" >1 x 6</th> </tr> <tr> <th colspan="16" >Wire Spacing (mm)</th> </tr> <tr> <th >60</th> <th >60</th> <th >80</th> <th >100</th> <th >60</th> <th >80</th> <th >100</th> <th >60</th> <th >60</th> <th >60</th> <th >80</th> <th >100</th> <th >60</th> <th >60</th> <th >80</th> <th >100</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td rowspan="2" >600</td> <td >T</td> <td >6</td> <td >35</td> <td >420</td> <td >1140</td> <td >85</td> <td >325</td> <td >1090</td> <td >81</td> <td >29</td> <td >155</td> <td >394</td> <td >1038</td> <td >6</td> <td >45</td> <td >240</td> <td >1060</td> </tr> <tr> <td >D</td> <td >20</td> <td >20</td> <td >9</td> <td >2</td> <td >19</td> <td >8</td> <td >2</td> <td >19</td> <td >18</td> <td >18</td> <td >8</td> <td >3</td> <td >18</td> <td >30</td> <td >10</td> <td >3</td> </tr> <tr> <td rowspan="2" >800</td> <td >T</td> <td >198</td> <td >218</td> <td >630</td> <td >1565</td> <td >183</td> <td >555</td> <td >1500</td> <td >242</td> <td >213</td> <td >290</td> <td >654</td> <td >1412</td> <td >127</td> <td >140</td> <td >537</td> <td >1540</td> </tr> <tr> <td >D</td> <td >13</td> <td >13</td> <td >7</td> <td >2</td> <td >16</td> <td >6</td> <td >2</td> <td >16</td> <td >14</td> <td >14</td> <td >7</td> <td >3</td> <td >14</td> <td >23</td> <td >7</td> <td >3</td> </tr> <tr> <td rowspan="2" >900</td> <td >T</td> <td >294</td> <td >310</td> <td >735</td> <td >-</td> <td >261</td> <td >670</td> <td >1705</td> <td >323</td> <td >242</td> <td >358</td> <td >785</td> <td >1598</td> <td >242</td> <td >188</td> <td >685</td> <td >1780</td> </tr> <tr> <td >D</td> <td >11</td> <td >11</td> <td >5</td> <td >-</td> <td >13</td> <td >6</td> <td >2</td> <td >13</td> <td >12</td> <td >12</td> <td >6</td> <td >3</td> <td >12</td> <td >20</td> <td >6</td> <td >3</td> </tr> <tr> <td rowspan="2" >1000</td> <td >T</td> <td >390</td> <td >402</td> <td >840</td> <td >-</td> <td >340</td> <td >785</td> <td >1910</td> <td >404</td> <td >329</td> <td >425</td> <td >915</td> <td >1785</td> <td >358</td> <td >235</td> <td >853</td> <td >-</td> </tr> <tr> <td >D</td> <td >10</td> <td >10</td> <td >5</td> <td >-</td> <td >11</td> <td >6</td> <td >2</td> <td >11</td> <td >10</td> <td >10</td> <td >5</td> <td >3</td> <td >10</td> <td >17</td> <td >6</td> <td >-</td> </tr> <tr> <td rowspan="2" >1200</td> <td >T</td> <td >583</td> <td >585</td> <td >1050</td> <td >-</td> <td >520</td> <td >1015</td> <td >-</td> <td >525</td> <td >519</td> <td >599</td> <td >1143</td> <td >2165</td> <td >525</td> <td >435</td> <td >1190</td> <td >-</td> </tr> <tr> <td >D</td> <td >9</td> <td >9</td> <td >5</td> <td >-</td> <td >8</td> <td >6</td> <td >-</td> <td >8</td> <td >8</td> <td >8</td> <td >4</td> <td >2</td> <td >8</td> <td >10</td> <td >-</td> <td >-</td> </tr> <tr> <td rowspan="2" >1500</td> <td >T</td> <td >860</td> <td >810</td> <td >1400</td> <td >-</td> <td >790</td> <td >1330</td> <td >-</td> <td >681</td> <td >785</td> <td >860</td> <td >1485</td> <td >2745</td> <td >785</td> <td >735</td> <td >-</td> <td >-</td> </tr> <tr> <td >D</td> <td >8</td> <td >8</td> <td >5</td> <td >-</td> <td >7</td> <td >5</td> <td >-</td> <td >7</td> <td >8</td> <td >8</td> <td >4</td> <td >2</td> <td >8</td> <td >10</td> <td >-</td> <td >-</td> </tr> <tr> <td rowspan="2" >1800</td> <td >T</td> <td >1100</td> <td >1125</td> <td >1750</td> <td >-</td> <td >1025</td> <td >1725</td> <td >-</td> <td >980</td> <td >1050</td> <td >1080</td> <td >1860</td> <td >-</td> <td >1000</td> <td >1150</td> <td >-</td> <td >-</td> </tr> <tr> <td >D</td> <td >8</td> <td >8</td> <td >-</td> <td >-</td> <td >7</td> <td >5</td> <td >-</td> <td >7</td> <td >7</td> <td >8</td> <td >4</td> <td >-</td> <td >8</td> <td >10</td> <td >-</td> <td >-</td> </tr> <tr> <td rowspan="2" >2000</td> <td >T</td> <td >1229</td> <td >1325</td> <td >-</td> <td >-</td> <td >1180</td> <td >1980</td> <td >-</td> <td >1171</td> <td >1188</td> <td >1285</td> <td >2105</td> <td >-</td> <td >1090</td> <td >-</td> <td >-</td> <td >-</td> </tr> <tr> <td >D</td> <td >8</td> <td >8</td> <td >-</td> <td >-</td> <td >7</td> <td >5</td> <td >-</td> <td >7</td> <td >7</td> <td >7</td> <td >4</td> <td >-</td> <td >7</td> <td >-</td> <td >-</td> <td >-</td> </tr> <tr> <td rowspan="2" >2500</td> <td >T</td> <td >1581</td> <td >-</td> <td >-</td> <td >-</td> <td >-</td> <td >-</td> <td >-</td> <td >1483</td> <td >1719</td> <td >1540</td> <td >2615</td> <td >-</td> <td >1488</td> <td >-</td> <td >-</td> <td >-</td> </tr> <tr> <td >D</td> <td >-</td> <td >-</td> <td >-</td> <td >-</td> <td >-</td> <td >-</td> <td >-</td> <td >-</td> <td >7</td> <td >7</td> <td >4</td> <td >-</td> <td >7</td> <td >-</td> <td >-</td> <td >-</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="18" align="left"> Notes:</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">1.</td> <td colspan="17" align="left">Tension (T) = when measured with a strain indicator the minimum required tension of the wire balustrades in Newtons (N).</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">2.</td> <td colspan="17" align="left">Deflection (D) = maximum permissible deflection in (mm) of the wire balustrades when a 2 kg mass is suspended mid-span between the posts.</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">3.</td> <td colspan="17" align="left">Lay = number of strands by the number of individual wires in each strand. For example 7 x 19 = 7 strands, each with 19 individual wires in each strand.</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">4.</td> <td colspan="17" align="left">Galvanised Steel Wire is only to be used in straight run applications.</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">5.</td> <td colspan="17" align="left">Where a change of direction is made in the run of a wire, the tensioning device is to be placed at the end of the longest span.</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">6.</td> <td colspan="17" align="left">- = wire balustrades not allowed in this situation.</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">7.</td> <td colspan="17" align="left">Care needs to be taken to ensure that the wire tension will be maintained during the life of the balustrade. In some situations, it may be necessary to incorporate "lock-off" devices to prevent loosening of the wire.</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">8.</td> <td colspan="17" align="left">Likewise, if a threaded anchor bears against a soft wood post or rail, the anchor may indent the the post or rail, thus loosening the wire.</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">9.</td> <td colspan="17" align="left">Temperature effects on the tension of the wire may be significant but there is little that can be done to allow for temperature variation in service. The shorter the wire span, the lesser the effect will be.</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">10.</td> <td colspan="17" align="left">Stainless steel wire with a lay of 1 x 19 has the greatest elastic modulus and will take up the same load with less extension than equivalent wires with other lays.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table>

Hey Utemad,

I understand completely what you are saying, but I cannot believe that our design will fail because it could be used as a ladder... As far as we are concerned even if we did decide to go with all cable or even all timber couldn't they all be seen as ladders as well???? I think as long as we stick to the 120mm (or is it 125mm???depending on which site you read)distance between each horizontal I reckon we'll be right.


Thanks for the reply - you have given us more food for thought!!!!

I'll try and get a diagram up here for you all to have a look and see.