Embellishments should be designed/selected and installed as follows:
Fit for purpose, appropriately positioned and accessible.
Durable, robust and safe (suitable for corrosive environments).
Vandal resistant with parts that are easily replaceable.
Easy to maintain (with appropriate warranty and workmanship).
Comply with relevant standards, legislation, corporate documents and approvals
Planning, design and positioning
Where handrail and balustrade is located beside a road, materials must be frangible, and must not create a spearing hazard
To protect path users from risk of falls:
select full barrier or partial barrier fence for cyclists and pedestrians
handrails must comply with access and mobility Standards
Austroads absolute min. offset (to a smooth fence) beside a path is 300 mm.
Austroads absolute min. offset (to an obstacle beside a path which could injure a cyclist) is 500 mm, preferred offset 1.0 m. On high speed paths an offset greater than 1.0 m is desirable. Consider the risk to cyclists
Consider flooding, seasonal/ephemeral water bodies and water table changes and potential debris blockages when installed across a waterway.
Pedestrian and cyclist handrail and balustrade requirements
Handrail is required for balance and support and to prevent the risk of falls.
Coastal areas (east of the Bruce Highway) require 316 SS. Consider SS for saline waterways which extend further inland than the Bruce Highway. Other durable materials may be used west of the Bruce Highway
Cyclist deflection rail height – 1.2 to 1.4 m
cyclists require smooth rail with min. 150 mm pedal offset clearance
select partial or full barrier
Pedestrian handrail height – 865 mm to 1.0 m
pedestrians require a smooth handrail with min. 50 mm hand clearance from support posts to handrail
if a balustrade is required at height greater than handrail, provide both
handrail is required both sides of ramps and stairs with no obstruction to the passage of a hand along rail
balustrade (barrier) must include child safety features
terminate handrail end return so it does not protrude into a path of travel.
Finished surface and fixing method
All footings must be designed and installed to engineer’s specifications
Select bolt down options for posts and balustrade sections for ease of replacement: posts, balustrade sections and cyclist holding rail.
Note: Further guidance and clarification of the content on this page, can be found in the relevant sections of this information sheet.
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Sunshine Coast Open Space Landscape Infrastructure Manual (LIM) DISCLAIMER
Disclaimer
Information contained in this document may change without notice and you should use the current material available from Council’s website and not rely on material previously printed or stored by you.
All figures and diagrams are intended to be used as an aid to design and include Council’s preferred elements but they are not intended to be prescriptive and may need to be varied as dictated by site specific factors. While Council has exercised reasonable care in preparing this document, it does not warrant or represent that it is accurate or complete. The Council will not accept responsibility for any loss, damage, cost or expense that you may incur as a result of the use of or reliance upon any material contained in this document.
This document is produced to convey general information and is not intended to constitute advice whether professional or legal. Any reference to legislation in this document is not an interpretation of the law. It is to be used as a guide only. Consult relevant authority websites for current documents, revisions and amendments.
Where a particular product or supplier is profiled in this document, Council is NOT nominating this product or supplier as the selected choice. Product/supplier information has been provided to allow users to source products which contain the correct elements required for Council embellishments. Each product profiled states ‘or equivalent’ which means that different products may be supplied provided they satisfy the identified performance criteria, recommended standards, equal access guidance and product specifications.
Product design, manufacture and installation requires appropriately qualified people to provide site specific solutions to ensure the embellishment is appropriately adapted to local conditions and data.
This document does not override requirements stipulated in a development approval. Project specific variations may be appropriate as a result of site, environmental or other constraints. Any variations to these standards must be approved in writing by council prior to commencement of variation works. Components of this document may be used within a contract document but users should undertake their own investigations to confirm the information is suitable for this purpose.
Drawings contained in this document are NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION.
Details in this document are deemed to be the minimum standard and the user may wish to apply a higher standard subject to approval by council.
Acknowledgements
Council wishes to thank all contributors and stakeholders involved in the development of this document.
Copyright
Sunshine Coast Regional Council (Council) supports and encourages the distribution of its material however, copyright protects this document. Council has no objection to this material being reproduced but only if council is recognised as the owner of the copyright and this material remains unaltered.
