Approved Document L1B setting out compliance with this is now available on the Planning Portal website by clicking here: Approved Doc L1B

Happy reading!

Many times together with requests for glass railings and balustrades there are requests by customers for what is known as a “Privacy screen”.

“Privacy screens” are what is often requested by local authorities. This is stipulated by them if your terrace, balcony or part of them only overlooks a neighbour’s property. It is requested so that your use of this balcony area does not invade or compromise their privacy.

Privacy screens are usually requested to be 1.8m high and use a glass that cannot be seen through – i.e. an opaque glass.

The subject of privacy screens and their height requires extra consideration for wind loadings and the subject of wind loading is not a simple calculation as there are many variables that need to be considered.

The loads on privacy screens are a lot larger than on regular glass balcony rails and will require stronger posts with bigger base plates.

Therefore the structural design of 1.8m high screens is governed by wind loading. For sites in the UK wind loading is calculated in accordance with British Standard 6399-2: 1997 Code of practice for wind loads. The basic wind speed for different geographical locations is obtained from Figure 6 of BS 6399-2. The basic wind speed varies from 20m/sec in an area around Oxford to 30m/sec in the North Scottish Islands.

The basic wind speed is adjusted by various factors to allow for differences in site conditions. These include the site altitude and topography, whether the site is in a town or in the country, distance from the sea, and height of the building.

In order to properly design a safe privacy screen there are some things to ascertain:

1) The area the job is in in terms of basic wind speed. On each calculation there is a map of the UK with basic wind speeds.

2) Altitude of site

3) Effective height of the building

4) Site distance from the sea.

The design must take into account the fixing method and structure being fitted to. Some areas in the UK are subject to gale force winds and the design must take these things well into account.

“John Healey has put industry on notice that new Part L regulations with their requirement for a 25% improvement in energy efficiency will come into force in October this year. The housing and planning minister laid the statutory order before parliament this week, along with orders for revisions to Parts F and J largely prompted by the new energy performance standards.

There is still no sign of supporting technical guidance and updated Approved Documents however – the official line from CLG last week was that they will be ‘made available shortly’. If CLG manages to publish before the end of the month, architects and contractors will have just six months to incorporate the requirements into pipeline schemes.
What is available now is the definitive Approved Document for Part G on sanitation and the new water efficiency standard due to come into force on 6 April 2010. These regulations had been due to be introduced last October, but were derailed by technical queries at EU level, requiring a minimum standstill period and a new Approved Document.

Part G changes bring in the first water efficiency standard for new dwellings, set at 125 litres per person per day, along with new safety regulations that include temperature limiting for bath water, the extension of hot water safety measures beyond vented systems and rules on greywater and rainwater harvesting.

The great technical challenge facing the industry this year is Part L, of course, with a major improvement required in the performance of building fabric and services and a new aggregated approach to performance for non-domestic buildings in recognition of their diversity. The new requirements will apply to extensions and conversions and building fabric renovations. Supporting roles are being played by Part F, with new requirements for ventilation systems due to Part L’s improved airtightness standards, and Part J, which will upgrade the safety of combustion appliances and introduce carbon monoxide alarms for all solid fuel appliances.”