This month, we thought we’d adventure into new territory: an
interview with Sentrel’s Director, designer and inventor, Brett
Harrison. We’re discussing one of the (many) unique features of our
newest product, the aluminium balustrade system.
What makes this system so unusual is how it is all held onto your deck – with adhesives!
The latest technology, adhesives are used in many engineering
applications, including the vehicle and aircraft industries. Think about
that the next time you are flying at 35,000 feet in the Boeing 787
Dreamliner. Listen to the interview to learn just how sophisticated this
technology is, and how it works to hold your balustrade onto your deck
well into the next century.
At Sentrel, we are constantly fine-tuning our designs and products
with a view to making them the absolute best that we possibly can.
After releasing our powder-coated, aluminium balustrade and pool fencing just over 2 years ago, we wanted to come up with a solution for stair panels that worked seamlessly with the balustrade. It needed to be easy to manufacture, simple to install, and therefore keep the costs down for our customers.
After more than 2 years of design, creating prototypes and exhaustive
testing, we are now thrilled to introduce a revolutionary product that
we are incredibly proud of!
Our beautiful powder-coated flexible raked panel for stair balustrade has made installation of stair panels incredibly simple and cost-effective. By developing a unique stainless steel ‘knuckle’ located at either end of each panel, the entire unit can be raked easily to the angle of the stairs. The cables remain vertical and completely compliant. The knuckle is made from grade 316 stainless steel, which has outstanding corrosion resistance, particularly to pitting corrosion in chloride environments.
This makes designing a specific panel exactly for each job
unnecessary, saving costs for you, and installation becomes very
straightforward for your builder. Of course, the entire system matches
the durability, strength and compliance that you have come to expect
from Sentrel.
Our powder-coated aluminium stair panels can be ordered in a range of premiumcolours. Our vision is to introduce anodised aluminium products into our range in the near future…we’ll keep you posted!
If you have any other questions, contact Sentrel Australia and we can help. Email us at jen@sentrelaustralia.com.au or complete our online enquiry form.
Whether you are redesigning an area of your home or building from scratch, balustrades are a consideration that must be factored in. Aside from meeting the necessary building regulations, balustrades can also be a standout feature and help add to the character of your home. We have some tips you should consider before purchasing a balustrade for your home, to ensure you will be happy with the end result.
The Space
Perhaps the most important consideration is where you will be adding the balustrades. Is it inside or outside? If it is outside, environmentally resilient materials are crucial. Think high grade stainless steel or aluminium products that are durable to varying weather conditions. If you live by the coast there are additional considerations, so check this article out. If you are opting for privacy outside and you don’t mind forfeiting a breeze, then you may prefer a more solid structure balustrade system.
Is it adjoining a narrow space like a small balcony or staircase? Working with a small space means that every inch is important. Wire and glass balustrades can to be space savers. These areas also tend to be places people put their hands frequently. Aaron Beattie, Director at HHH Architects tells us “We like to use timber in these areas as it feels nicer to touch than say metal”. The combination of vertical wire balustrades and a timber handrail is great for these high traffic areas, as you also avoid dirty hand prints that you can expect to see on glass.
Aesthetics
Think about what you want to achieve by adding a balustrade system to your home. Is it purely to satisfy the building requirements your home? Do you have safety concerns for your children or pets? Once you have addressed the requisite questions, it’s time to consider how the balustrades will flow with the rest of your space.
Glass balustrades are aesthetically pleasing as they let a lot of light into the area and are great for a contemporary design. Although bear in mind that glass can encourage heat into the area and can be difficult to keep clean, especially if you have children.
Stainless Steel Wire Balustrades allow for a lot of customising which is appealing for many households. If you have a colour scheme, often the handrails can be powder coated to meet your design and colour requirements. Wire balustrades also allow rooms to flow together, which means more ventilation and light through the home. And because they don’t obstruct views, they are a great option for balconies or upstairs areas of the home. Vertical wire tends to be the best option as horizontal wire balustrades present many safety and legal issues.
Australian hardwood handrails can be a great addition to any balustrade design. This organic material adds a lovely homely feel by carrying the native landscape through to your home. This is a great addition to a country style homes or can act as a feature to an otherwise modern home. This material is very on trend, and can add a lovely personality to an otherwise plain space.
to meet your design and colour requirements. Wire balustrades also allow rooms to flow together, which means more ventilation and light through the home. And because they don’t obstruct views, they are a great option for balconies or upstairs areas of the home. Vertical wire tends to be the best option as horizontal wire balustrades present many safety and legal issues.
Australian hardwood handrails can be a great addition to any balustrade design. This organic material adds a lovely homely feel by carrying the native landscape through to your home. This is a great addition to a country style homes or can act as a feature to an otherwise modern home. This material is very on trend, and can add a lovely personality to an otherwise plain space.
Long Term Maintenance
Something that often gets forgotten at the time of
ordering is how easy the material will be to maintain long term. Does
the surface need constant cleaning or rust protection? Are the wires
self tensioning? Furthermore, If something goes wrong you want peace of
mind that you are covered for replacement or repair within a decent
amount of time after purchase. Check with the supplier what warranty
they offer and if it covers the entire structure or only certain parts.
Sentrel Australia offer a generous seven year warranty on their products, which
ensures peace of mind for customers in the event of any defects.
If you have any other questions, contact Sentrel Australia and we can help. Email us at jen@sentrelaustralia.com.au or complete our online enquiry form.
When building a new home, renovating, or adding an extension, balustrade compliance must be considered from the outset. These regulations exist to protect occupants and prevent falls — and are far easier to implement during planning than after construction.
Sentrel balustrade systems are engineered to meet current Australian standards and are designed for straightforward installation. However, the strength of any balustrade depends on the structural integrity of the substrate it is fixed to. Timber decks and balconies should always be inspected to confirm structural adequacy before installation. Common site risks that can compromise safety include:
✓ Poorly laid tiles or unstable substrates ✓ Electrical cables or plumbing located too close to fixing points ✓ Drilling into concealed wiring, potentially energising metal components
Understanding these risks highlights why building compliance and correct installation are essential for keeping your family safe.
A balustrade is a fall prevention barrier which must be provided alongside any stairway or ramp, any floor, corridor, hallway, balcony, verandah, mezzanine or path of access to a building if it is more than 1 metre above ground level. Many accidents happen every year due to illegally built decks and balconies, or ones that haven’t been regularly inspected and maintained. Regulated decks, balconies and balustrades help to prevent these accidents from happening.
Building regulations in Australia state that balustrades should be a minimum height of 1 metre and have no spacings greater than 125mm to prevent large objects falling through.
For surfaces higher than four metres above the ground must have all of the above conditions must be met with the addition that they cannot have any climbable elements, such as horizontal rails, located between 150 millimetres and 760 millimetres from the floor.
Balustrades on stairs must be a minimum height of 865mm above the ‘nosing’ of the stair tread (see diagram below). Gaps in the balustrade cannot exceed 125mm.
Balustrades on stairs more than four metres above the ground must have all of the above with the addition that must also not have any climbable elements located between 150mm and 760mm from the floor.
Climate
Climate is an important factor to consider when building or installing balustrades especially with Australia’s varying seasons. In many parts of Australia, the construction of new building and additions to existing buildings will be assessed as to whether or not it is in a bushfire-prone area. Additionally, in areas prone to high rainfall, humidity or moisture only Class 1 timbers should be used to prevent rotting.
There are six different Bushfire Attack Levels (BAL) for proposed construction and as the threat increases, so do the restrictions on the building materials that may be used.
The safest option is to use metal which, of course, will not ignite and can be used in any of the Bush Fire Attack levels. But if timber is your choice, please be aware that you must use only specific types of timber in the various BAL classifications. For BAL Low – BAL 19 areas only timber with a mass of 750kg/m can be used. In BAL 29 areas, timber with a higher density and ‘fire resistant’ qualities can be used. These include; Merbau (Kwila), Spotted Gum, Blackbutt, Turpentine, Red Ironbark, River Redgum, Silvertop Ash.
In areas BAL 40 and BAL FZ the use of any timber for balustrades is not allowed.
Fire isn’t the only environmental aspect to consider, decks and balconies on properties near the coast can have an even higher risk of potential failure. The corrosive effects of salt, sand and wind can affect unprotected timber and steel structures. Sentrel Australia uses Marine Grade Stainless Steel Wire, which is the most corrosion-resistant material in its class and the safest option for balustrades in coastal areas.
At Sentrel, all of the balustrade specifications for our stainless steel vertical wire with extruded aluminium comply with all Australian Standards. This means that you can rest assured knowing your family is safe while enjoying beautiful Australian designed & manufactured balustrades.
Coastal & High-Exposure Environments
Properties near the coast face accelerated corrosion from salt, sand and wind exposure.
Sentrel systems utilise 316 marine-grade stainless steel cable, offering superior corrosion resistance and long-term performance in coastal environments. Engineered for Australian Standards
All Sentrel balustrade systems — including stainless steel cable with extruded aluminium surrounds — are engineered to comply with Australian Standards for safety and structural performance.
This means you can relax knowing your balustrade is protecting your family while enhancing the beauty and value of your home.
The Australian climate can be extreme, from subzero
temperatures in the south to 40+ Degree (Celsius) heat in the north,
clearly a one type fits all approach to balustrades for your home may
seem impossible. Similarly, Australian’s can often experience 2 or even 4
seasons in one day – with winds and storms capable of making you go
from wearing shorts and a singlet to rugging up in your jeans and a
jumper.
Building your
home to work with your environment is therefore extremely important to
ensure you can maintain comfort and enjoy the best of your surrounding
landscape.
Glass Balustrades
Glass balustrades are most common in external home
environments where encouraging a breeze onto your verandah is not high
on the home owners priority list but being able to enjoy the view is.
Beach side high rise apartments tend to take this approach because the
ocean breeze is often easily encouraged to flow through the apartment or
the breeze can turn into more of a unexpected blustering wind.
Of course the salty air does make owning a glass
balustrade less enjoyable due to having to constantly clean it to keep
enjoying that pristine view. Reflecting sun into your home can also be
of concern not to mention birds often collide with the invisible wall
put in front of them.
What if there was a balustrade that ticked all the
boxes? You could enjoy the view, encourage a breeze through your home,
throw away your glass cleaning products, keep the kids and the grandkids
safe, keep your local fauna a little safer and fit in with the
beautiful Australian landscape.
Stainless Steel Wire Balustrades
Stainless steel wire balustrades have become a very
popular choice for all homeowners looking to achieve this balance.
However the one very important fact remains, is that safety must be put
at the top of the list for any verandah or platform which has more than a
1 metre drop from the edge. Horizontal stainless steel wire balustrades
don’t offer this level of safety and can be climbed by children.
Stainless Steel Vertical Wire Balustrades
Safe, auto-tensioning, low maintenance stainless steel vertical wire balustrades are arguably the best product for any Australian home regardless of the style of home you live in.
This is made possible by Sentrel’s proprietary products coming in both timber rail and aluminium railingoptions.
We think it’s safe to say that many of us would love
to install and forget our balustrades and not have to constantly
maintain their look and their safety.
Sentrel Australia offer both an aluminium and a hardwood rail
option which are almost identical in their makeup but they both mean
that matching the right look to your home is simple.
The aluminium rail and post, vertical stainless steel
wire system is maintenance free. Simply choose your powder coated
colour, install and the self-tensioning wire cables will keep you and
your family safe for years.
The timber option balustrade has the rail and posts made from hardwood and vertical wire cables are easily tensioned. Some settling into your local environment will require you to re-tension wires approximately 1 month from installation but then only annually from there on.
So would you choose Glass or Vertical Wire Balustrade?
Of course we’re going to show some bias to the vertical wire balustrade because not only do we love our product but so do our customers. And to be honest, we hate cleaning and love a nice cool breeze.
Sentrel’s aluminium system is zero maintenance and the timber system will require some re-oiling and re-tensioning, albeit infrequent. Both systems meet Australian standards and have been extremely popular for both rural properties and coastal homes.
We have recently had our Pool Fencing tested again to ensure that it complies with the most recent Australian Standards – AS 1926.1 – 2012. This is a very stringent testing procedure – specifically the ‘cone test’. We passed with plenty of room to spare, and we can now confidently say that our Pool Fencing is the only cable fencing system that complies to NATA and Australian Standards. If you want safety, compliance and the best look on the market, the answer is simple!
