The Role of Material Choice in Handrail and Balustrade Design: A Specifier's Guide

The design and construction of handrails and balustrades is a crucial issue that may expose an architect, designer, specifier, builder or contractor to expensive litigation if poorly thought out, executed, and especially if failure occurs. More significantly, there is a serious emotional and financial cost associated with injury, permanent disability, or death should this design element be overlooked.

Architectural handrails and balustrades are an essential part of the building design, so it is important to choose a material that complements your design goals. The end result must deliver on the design vision and satisfy the building owner’s design requirements. The selected material must be functional rather than merely decorative, perform in accordance with safety requirements, and live up to all expectations in terms of appearance and durability. Even the smallest details, such as delivering a flush connection and a smooth continuous rail, are all essential to avoiding injury.

To achieve these outcomes when selecting materials for a balustrade or handrail, it is important to consider the rail’s primary use, whether it will be used internally or externally, the environment in which it will be used, and the finish you want for your design.

Our latest guide, 'Material Selection for Handrails and Balustrades', discusses all the factors you need to consider when selecting materials for handrails and balustrades.

Moddex has had the opportunity to work within diverse industry sectors, collaborating with clients across different industry spaces such as three-waters, education, multi-level commercial construction, road, and rail, where they have tailored unique solutions for different applications and environments.

Our newly-released specifier’s guide covers the importance of assessing site conditions and identifying materials that can withstand corrosive environments as well as the range of design considerations relevant to selecting materials for handrails and balustrades, including the intended use, fixings and connectors, structural properties, details, finishing and aesthetics, and finally, they include a comparison of the common handrail and balustrade materials with respective pros and cons — an important quality consideration.

Download the full guide to material selection for handrail and balustrade design

Ezibilt Modular Stair, Ramp & Deck Solution

Moddex

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The Ezibilt™ Stair, Ramp & Deck System is the ultimate pre-engineered, offsite manufactured solution for fast-tracked construction of accessibility stairs, ramps and decks.

Ideal for projects that require short time frame delivery
Supplied in interconnecting modules
Can be set down on piles, concrete footings or other standard substructures
Can be configured to suit sites of varying heights, contours, and sloping terrain
Adjustable legs and stairs with adjustable stringers (both in length and angle) usable from 24° through to 38°
Integrates with Moddex handrail and balustrades and allows for timber cladding to be added once installed

Applications:

Portable buildings and container houses
Site offices and Portacoms
Schools and clubs
Parks & gardens — paths, huts & viewing platforms
Construction and roading sites
Fire escape platforms and stairs

As with all Moddex products, Ezibilt is completely compliant to all the required standards and the NZBC D1 Access Routes, and is supplied complete with an engineering producer statement.

NZBC:

D1 Access Routes

Moddex Ezibilt system is designed and manufactured in accordance with the following loading standards:

AS/NZS1170.0
AS/NZS1170.1
AS/NZS1170.2
AS/NZS1170.3
AS/NZS1170.5

Steel Design Standards:

NZS3404.

Aluminium (if applicable):

AS/NZS 1664.1

Conectabal Commercial Baulstrades

Moddex

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Moddex Commercial Balustrades eliminate risk to workers, customers and visitors from falls from height in public areas.

Easily configured to suit a wide range of applications:

Retaining walls
Carparks and loading bays
Access ramps and stairs
Recreation centres
Mezzanines
Footbridges
Culverts
Fire stairs

Crowd loadings up to C5 classification on request

Moddex Conectabal Commercial Balustrades complies with the New Zealand Building Code — Clause F4 - Safety from falling.
Refer to Moddex Conectabal PS1 for further product specification details
Crowd loadings up to C5 classification on request

Tuffrail Industrial Handrails

Moddex

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Moddex Tuffrail industrial handrails deliver NZS 1657.1992 compliant protection for workers across mezzanines, stairs, service platforms, walkways and fall edges.

Easily configured to suit a wide range of applications:

Service platforms and mezzanines
Warehouses and loading bays
Retaining walls
Culverts
Roof service areas and fall edges
Suitable for coastal and high corrosion applications

Moddex Tuffrail Industrial handrails are designed and manufactured in accordance with New Zealand Standard NZS 1657
The handrails are designed for loading class C3, as set out in AS/NZS 1170.1
Refer to Moddex Tuffrail PS1 for further product specification details

Assistrail Public Access Handrails

Moddex

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Moddex Assistrail Public Access Handrail systems ensure safety on accessible routes for people moving in and out of buildings, and to ensure that those who are mobility impaired or vision impaired can traverse the site safely and with ease.

Easily configured to suit a wide range of applications:

DDA access ramps and stairs
Fire stairs
Schools and universities
Aged care
Public access areas
Community centres
Sport and recreation centres
Hospitals and medical facilities
Public transport
Warehouses and loading bays

Moddex Assistrail Public Access handrails are designed and manufactured in accordance with New Zealand Standard 4121:2001 and the New Zealand Building Code
Refer to Moddex Assistrail PS1 for further product specification details

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