Balconies

Steel balconies are a popular choice as they offer a sleek and modern aesthetic while being robust and durable. However, behind their often delicate appearance lies a sophisticated construction in which statics in particular play a central role. Professional planning and execution of the structural analysis is crucial to ensure the structural safety and usability of the balcony. An incorrectly dimensioned steel balcony can lead to instability or damage when subjected to loads from people or weather conditions such as snow and wind.

Another critical aspect in the construction of steel balconies is the correct structural details. The most important factor here is the correct connection of the balcony to the building. The connections must be well thought out in terms of both statics and building physics in order to avoid thermal bridges and at the same time ensure sufficient load-bearing capacity. Corrosion protection is also very important, as steel can rust due to moisture. All components should therefore be appropriately protected against the effects of the weather, whether by galvanizing or suitable coatings.

The floor of the balcony must also have a slope so that rainwater can drain away properly and no puddles form that could cause damage or the risk of slipping. A slope of at least 1 to 2 percent is recommended. At the same time, the floor covering should be non-slip to increase user safety.

An often underestimated element of steel balconies is acoustic decoupling. Steel can easily transmit sound, so that footsteps or other noises on the balcony are transmitted into the building. This problem can be solved with special bearings or decoupling elements to increase living comfort.