Consult the professional on balcony fasteners: connecting balconies securely.
Balcony Connector Q&A with Leviat: Insights from Nicolas De Vrieze and Nobert Omony
Embracing Variety: Iconic Balcony Connectors from Leviat
A vibrant outdoor space, a balcony is more than just an extension of a home - it's an opportunity to relax, entertain, or simply enjoy the view. The strength and durability of balcony connections play a significant role in ensuring your balcony remains safe, secure, and maintains its charm over time. Let's explore the different types of balcony connectors from Leviat that cater to diverse construction needs.
What Constitutes a Balcony Connector?Balcony connectors, also known as balcony anchors, serve as the crucial link between a balcony structure and the supporting building. These connectors facilitate the transfer of loads and allow for potential movements within the structure. The choices mainly come down to the materials and the way they join balconies to the main building structure.
Leveraging the Advantages of Steel-to-Concrete ConnectorsThe versatile steel-to-concrete balcony connectors from Leviat are known for their exceptional loadbearing capabilities, ideal for high-rise construction projects. By securely anchoring steel balcony structures to reinforced concrete slabs, these connections promise a reliable solution for withstanding various forces and movements without compromising the structural integrity of the balcony.
Mastering Concrete-to-Concrete ConnectionsOn the other hand, when both the balcony and the main building structure are constructed using concrete, Halfen HIT connectors from Leviat offer rigidity, structural stability, superior thermal efficiency, and fire resistance. In addition, concrete-to-concrete connections deliver enhanced impact sound insulation, thereby ensuring occupant comfort while minimizing noise transmission between the balcony and interior spaces.
Navigating the Challenges in DesignDesigning balcony connectors comes with its share of complexities. To ensure there are no potential clashes or interference, connectors need to be carefully coordinated with masonry support systems, damp proof coursing, and secondary structure protrusions. Key factors such as large cavities, pier arrangements, and slab zone components must be taken into consideration to arrive at the most appropriate solutions.
Overcoming Thermal BridgingTackling thermal bridging in balcony connectors is essential to prevent heat transfer, higher energy consumption, and structural damage through condensation and mould. By reducing heat transfer through the connector, these systems contribute significantly to maintaining comfortable indoor temperatures and improving the energy efficiency of the building envelope.
Addressing Slab CongestionSometimes the slab edge can be a heavily congested zone, necessitating innovative solutions. Currently, Leviat is working on an international project in Lithuania, where the slab edge has two layers of reinforcement, top and bottom. For such situations, Leviat has redesigned the anchor vertical centres, reducing them from 120mm to 70mm to avoid the congested zones. This hybrid solution combines Ancon STC20A and Ancon STC24A, allowing the same applied loads to be supported while enabling installation in confined spaces.
Overcoming Challenges in Post-Tensioned Concrete SlabsWith balconies on post-tensioned concrete frames, encountering rebar congestion and clashes at the joint between the balcony and main slab is inevitable. The solution proposed by Leviat is the Halfen HIT Insulated Balcony Connector System for post-tensioned applications. This enables balconies to be cast together with the main slab, then simultaneously stressed. Transition pieces placed between the balcony connector elements enable post-tensioning cables to run directly through the structural thermal break at the interface between the balcony and supporting slab, enabling stressing to take place at the edge of the balcony instead of at the thermal break location. This considerably relieves reinforcement congestion and speeds up the installation process.
The Necessity of Robustness and VersatilityWhen it comes to specifying steel-to-concrete thermal break connectors, one must consider both robustness and versatility. Leviat's robust yet adaptable Ancon STC system, with adjustable components such as a variable bracket projection and serrated slots, ensures greater design flexibility. A recent example of this is a wall application at Peterborough College, where a thin structural reinforce concrete wall did not allow a B20 rebar to be bent according to BS EN 1992 design code requirements. The innovative solution incorporated other anchoring products into the Ancon steel-to-concrete system, creating a hybrid of standard Ancon STC and Ancon BTP Headed Anchors to solve the problem.
Prioritizing Quality AssuranceWhen choosing balcony connectors, it is crucial to maintain high-quality standards throughout building projects. To this end, Leviat factories are EN 1090 accredited, ensuring European Standard governance on the fabrication of structural steelwork. All products leaving the factory will have a CE mark or a UKCA/CEUKNI appropriate to the market being supplied. Additionally, Leviat has various other approvals from BSI in terms of quality assurance systems and environmental management, including ISO 14001 and ISO 9001.
For more information about Leviat's extensive range of balcony connectors, please visit the Leviat website.
- The versatile steel-to-concrete balcony connectors from Leviat, such as the Ancon STC system, are designed to cater to high-rise construction projects, offering exceptional loadbearing capabilities and ensuring a reliable solution for withstanding various forces and movements without compromising the structural integrity of the balcony.
- In environments where both the balcony and the main building structure are constructed using concrete, solutions like the Halfen HIT connectors from Leviat provide superior thermal efficiency, structural stability, and fire resistance, contributing to enhanced impact sound insulation, ensuring occupant comfort, and minimizing noise transmission between the balcony and interior spaces.
