When to introduce or use posts
We introduce posts once we go over the maximum span that we can do without posts or the maximum span that that handrail can span between two points of support as we call them. Therefore when we go over these certain spans we must introduce posts.
When we go on and we speak about the subject of posts with our system, again we introduce a novelty where we combine a very strong base post with a sleek and nice system post which covers it. So our posts are a combination of a steel structural post which can be installed at an early stage in the installation and that is fixed to the structure, base or balcony.
We refer to this post in several terms, all meaning the same. Primary post, spigot post, base post, steel post etc. This primary post has to be solidly fixed, welded, bolted, diamond drilled (or any other known method) to the structure of the building, balcony frame etc. This is usually done at the first stage and, after everything is finished, our system aluminium posts will slide on top of the primary post and hide it. The reason we recommend to install the posts at the initial stage is also because this will allow hiding the base plate under the finished floor level. The aluminium cover post does NOT cover or hide the base plate. The aluminium post is what fixes to the handrail.
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Picture of Balustrade Balcony 1 and Balcony 2
The moment we go over the maximum span which the handrail can take we are then governed by the distance that the posts can actually resist and no longer does the maximum span of the handrail apply to that specific run. So when you have, for instance, a need for a single post that is governed by how much that post can take. So if a Balcony 2 system post can resist say two metres of loading and you have as an example four metres, you can have one central post if it’s fixed between two walls because then you have a fixing, a post and a fixing. If you go over that and you’re at say five metres, you will need two posts because you cannot surpass the ability of a single post to take more than two metres so each post will take less than two metres but it’s up to a maximum of two metres. (two meters is just an example here and not the actual number)
Illustration showing number of posts as explained in text above