To complement Spectrum's range of balustrade systems, a Castaway or 'gutter' bracket has been developed. The bracket was developed out of the increasing need to provide a practical solution for fixing balustrades to balconies and decks with waterproof membranes. The bracket enables the post to stand off the boundary, allowing for the drip edge to direct water flow into the gutter below. The Castaway bracket is compatible with the Spectrum aluminium baluster, framed glass and semi-frameless balustrade systems.

The Castaway bracket can be fixed to narrow substrates with a minimum of 140mm depth for timber substrates. A range of common fixing details and producer statements are available from Spectrum. The gutter can be fixed hard against the outside face of the bracket for a tidy solution.

The Castaway bracket design has been expertly engineered, creating a robust bracket with neat curves and discreet water drainage channels. Spectrum chose to manufacture in cast aluminium, which allowed added design features unachievable with extruded bracket designs. A notable feature is there are no visible fixings from above, creating a clean and aesthetically pleasing view from the balcony. In most instances the bracket is also hidden by the gutter below, providing a very clean appearance.

The Castaway bracket was used on a recent project for a nationwide group housing company where floating decks were used over the waterproof membrane deck. The Spectrum Castaway bracket with the glass balustrade was specified as it met and exceeded all the project design and performance requirements.

"It was an easy solution for the project," said the architect. "The Castaway bracket and Spectrum Clearspan Vista balustrade easily complied with council requirements and achieved the high-end look that the client demanded. Technical queries were quickly answered for a hassle-free design process."

The Castaway bracket system ensured the refined look could be achieved while also maintaining the practical waterproofing solution.