Illustration of Gap Detail. Technical Detail attached below.
A common element in buildings today is public terraces, which often have glass guardrails that are unable to withstand the weight of lines. For non-structural elements, one solution for suspended facade access is to design a more expensive davit system that provides clearance over the parapet. However, if we are involved early in the project, our designers can recommend alternative/outside-the-box solutions that are lower in cost, such as the gap detail.
GAP DIMENSIONS
To design a safety and tie-back anchor system for terraces, we often request a gap between the parapet and the guardrail at the terrace. The illustration below shows the common size we ask for to ensure the lines can run under the glass without hitting it and creating an upturn. The workers' line is 15mm (5/8”) in diameter, and as long as the gap allows for the line to run under for use, various gap dimensions are acceptable.
As shown above, in order for the lines to run under the glass, we ask for a 45mm (1-3/4") horizontal gap from the finished parapet to the face of the glass. We also ask for a 20mm (3/4") vertical gap from the top of the finished parapet to the bottom of the glass. As mentioned above, this are our recommended measurements, however anything that will allow the lines to safely run under the glass will be accepted.
It's important for architects to get in touch with us early on during the project to ensure there is enough time to add the gap detail, and other recommendations that our designers may make. Contact us here to get started! We've also made our gap detail available below for download:
Download Gap Detail Here
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