Balconies and Terraces – Design Principles
Understanding UK Requirements for Safety, Drainage, Fire Performance, and Integration
About This CPD
Join us for a comprehensive technical CPD on balcony and terrace design in the UK. This session provides practical guidance on safety, drainage, fire performance, thermal bridges, wind effects, and acoustic considerations.
Presented by Eugene Korch (IAST), this webinar demystifies the complex interplay between multiple performance requirements, helping design professionals understand how to specify compliant balconies whilst navigating the areas where interpretation and engineering judgement remain necessary.
This session covers:
Key definitions – distinguishing balconies, terraces, enclosed balconies, and non-balcony building projections
Safety requirements – guarding height (1,100mm rule), 100mm sphere test for preventing objects falling through, toe holds, slip resistance (PTV requirements), threshold heights, structural strength and deflection limits, imperforate soffits to prevent water discharge onto balconies below
Drainage design – one of the most critical aspects. Understanding drainage strategies: edge drainage vs piped drainage systems, key dimensional requirements and water management hierarchy
The 2,500mm edge drainage limit – absolute maximum depth for edge-drained balconies
Fire safety – material requirements for residential buildings, balcony-to-building connections and fire barriers
Thermal bridges – quantifying heat loss through balcony connections and mitigation strategies
Wind effects – vulnerable locations and mitigation measures
Integration challenges – understanding how decisions in one area affect other performance requirements
Common design errors – and how to avoid them
Using simplified diagrams, real-world examples, this CPD focuses on practical application. We'll explore not just what standards require, but also the areas where standards leave room for interpretation – helping you understand both the explicit requirements and where professional judgement is required.
What You'll Learn
Distinguish between balconies, terraces, enclosed balconies, and building projections that are not balconies
Understand basic structural requirements for balcony design
Apply core safety principles for fall prevention
Understand guarding height requirements
Apply fire safety requirements for residential buildings
Implement the 100mm sphere rule for preventing objects falling through
Design for slip resistance on balcony surfaces
Recognize wind-vulnerable balcony locations and apply mitigation measures
Design drainage systems using edge or piped drainage methods appropriately
Understand critical water ingress prevention: threshold height, warning pipe position, water collection levels
Apply the 2,500mm maximum depth limitation for edge drainage
Understand optimal balcony arrangement patterns on building facades for acoustic and environmental performance
Identify and mitigate thermal bridges at balcony connections
Understand how balconies affect acoustic performance
Integrate multiple technical requirements in balcony specifications
Identify and avoid common design errors
Who Should Attend
Architects, Architectural Technologists, Envelope Designers, Façade Specialist Contractors, Junior Façade Engineers, Building Envelope Consultants, Structural Engineers, Developers, Project Managers, Building Control Officers, Regulators, Cost Consultants, and Planning Consultants.
This session is designed for design professionals working on residential or mixed-use developments with balconies and terraces, particularly those navigating the complexities of medium and high-rise construction, but who may not have specialist acoustic engineering, structural, fire safety, or other specific technical backgrounds.
Speakers
Eugene Korch
Programme Director, IAST
Eugene is a façade engineer and educator who leads educational initiatives through the Institute for Architectural Science and Technology (IAST) and Facade Intelligence, delivering training to construction professionals.
Event Details
Format: Live online webinar with interactive polls
Duration: 45 minutes + Q&A
CPD Points: 2 hours structured CPD / 2 Learning Units
Certificate: CPD certificate provided upon completion
Recording: Available on demand to members only