Aluminium railings
DURABLE AND AESTHETICALLY APPEALING ALUMINIUM RAILING SYSTEMS
A state-of-the-art solution combining high safety standards, curious look and user comfort. What sets our products apart is their increased resistance to adverse weather conditions and mechanical damage.
RAILING STRUCTURE
The railing structure is based on specially designed aluminium profiles which do not require welding. This speeds up and simplifies the installation process. In accordance with the highest safety standards, the posts of every structure are fixed to the balcony slab or to its front, making it possible for the entire floor strip to be covered. Additionally, Copal offers a wide variety of handrails and provides services in the installation of frame or frameless balcony enclosures.
At present, balcony railings no longer need to be constructed using typical steel profiles, which more often than not, after a few years' use, reduce the aesthetic value of the building facade with dark brown rusty streaks.
aluminum glass railing - 3D view
RAILING INFILLS
Aluminium railings not only guarantee the required stability and strength, but also add to the aesthetic value of the facade, shaping its character. Our company offers various types of infills compatible with our aluminium profile railing system. The most popular infills are:
- laminated safety glass, which enables the designing of glazed balcony balustrades distinguished by various textures and colour schemes. We also offer transparent or structural infill versions (finishing options: coloured foils
as well as tinted, sandblasted or etched glass).
- fibre-cement panels, tinted homogeneously or superficially, strengthen the structure and give an interesting visual effect. Finishing with acrylic or polyurethane paints gives great possibilities
for colour selection. Other options include brushed or raw panels, the latter type being suitable for further treatment by the customer,
- aluminium composite panels of various colours and surface finishes,
- banisters or perforated sheets of any shape or colour,
The wide range of available infills compatible with the aluminium railing structure enables the implementation of the most daring architectural designs.
INSTALLATION OF ALUMINIUM RAILINGS
Aluminium railings are resistant to adverse weather conditions. Aluminium profiles are relatively lightweight and, at the same time, durable, which ensures straightforward and precise fashioning. They can also be powder coated in the few dozen colours available within the RAL pallet: in metallic, matte or structural finishes. The specially designed aluminium profiles used in Copal railing systems do not require welding and guarantee quick, safe and smooth installation. All system elements are connected using rivets and screws, which significantly speeds up installation and enables the entire structure to be dismantled, if the need arises, without causing it damage. Balcony railings should have an appropriately designed structure, which will transfer loads and guarantee the safety of the customer. The height of the barrier, its structure, and infills, should provide sufficient protection and safety for all users. The railing should especially be safe for children. It should prevent them from climbing it and slipping through gaps in the infill or structure, including where the railing connects to the building wall. The minimum railing height in residential housing is 1.1 lm, while in single-family housing it is 0.9 lm. The maximum clearance between the railing elements or in its infill should not exceed 0.12 lm.
Stable railing posts are attached to aluminium fittings on the balcony slab, either at its' bottom or at the front, giving the option of covering the entire floor strip. The aluminium fittings can be installed before the finishing of the balcony slabs, but they can also serve as a decorative detail left visible on the balcony slab. Regardless of the method of attaching the railing posts, it always pays to properly secure the surface and damp proofing of the balcony slab. The greatest risk of damaging the insulation exists during the point mounting of the railing post fittings on top of the balcony slab. In such instances, special attention should be paid to the protection and sealing of spots where the integrity of the hydro insulation has been compromised. Openings for anchors are cleansed and filled in with a resin-based suspension. Next, wait until the mass binds. The time necessary for the mass to bind may vary depending on the substrate temperature and type of mortar used. It may take from several minutes to several hours. Afterwards, the post fitting can be embedded and the place of contact with the substrate covered with sealing compound, as a result securing the compromised layer of insulation against water penetration.
Attachment of the railing to the bottom or the front of the balcony slab has many advantages. Firstly, it does not affect the waterproofing or occupy space on the balcony slab. These methods are the least invasive, because they successfully eliminate the risk of not only leakages but also thermal bridges. The fittings can even be attached directly to a raw balcony slab (if it is insulated from the building structure with Isokorb elements or if the balcony is separate from the building structure) or through the thermal insulation of a balcony slab that is integrated with the building structure. Maintain sufficient distances of the fittings embedded in the existing thermal insulation or extend the post handle, so as to leave some space for thermal insulation. For the point mounting of railing handles, use mounting systems intended for heavy loads: either mechanical or chemical. The selection of the anchors and the system itself depends on the railing attachment method (on top, to the bottom, to the front), the thickness and type of balcony slab material used, as well as on observed loads. The most advantageous is the chemical anchor, as it enables mounting at smaller distances from the edges and corners and closer to neighbouring anchors. At each occasion, the attachment system should be selected with consideration of static estimations.
Balcony railings require an appropriate structural design, which will ensure safety and effectively transfer loads.
Balcony railings by Copal are mounted to the bottom or to the front of the balcony slab.
The railing attachment system (on top, to the bottom, to the front) depends on the thickness and type of balcony slab material used, as well as on observed loads.
MOST FREQUENT MISTAKES MADE DURING INSTALLATION OF BALCONY RAILINGS
The most frequent assembly mistakes stem from the lack of experience of installer teams. The list includes: failure to observe the guidelines of attachment system' suppliers in terms of sufficient distances between the anchors, piercing through insulating layers of the balcony slab without their re-sealing, no linearity while embedding the vertical posts and balustrade handrails, and finally, the carelessness and short-sightedness of the installers. The most evident mistake is the use of steel structural elements which are ineffectively secured against corrosion. Leached rust stains the facade with dark brown streaks.
To avoid similar mistakes and faults, contact a renowned provider of aluminium railing systems who has the necessary expertise and experience. Copal supports the investor at every step of the way, beginning at the design stage. Copal employs qualified and professional teams of installers.
In accordance with the highest safety standards, the posts of every structure are attached to the balcony slab or to its front, with the option of covering the entire floor strip. We offer a wide range of handrails. We provide services related to the installation of framed or frameless balcony enclosures.