Building Regulations: Technical Standards

S4 Protective barriers

PEDESTRIAN PROTECTIVE BARRIERS

S4.1 A protective barrier for pedestrians must be provided at the edge of -

a. every floor, stair, ramp, raised floor or other raised accessible area where there is a difference in level of 600mm or more; and

b. a landing where the route of travel from the adjoining level to the next flight changes direction through 90 degrees,

except -

i. where the barrier would be incompatible with normal use, such as a loading bay or stage; or

ii. where a wall, partition or fixed glazing at the edge of a drop in level meets the requirement of S4.3.

S4.2 In a building of purpose group 1 or 5 or purpose sub-group 2A openings in a protective barrier must be small enough to prevent the passage of a 100mm diameter sphere,

except -

the space between a rise and the lowest edge of the protective barrier may be larger if the lowest edge is not more than 50 mm above, and parallel to, the pitch line of a stair or ramp.

S4.3* A protective barrier must be -

a. secure; and

b. capable of resisting appropriate loads; and

c. of a height at least that given in the table to this standard -

Table to S4.3: Height of pedestrian protective barriers

Notes:

1. The protective barrier may be reduced to 750 mm where it has an overall width at the top of at least 250 mm.

2. Where a handrail forming the top of a protective barrier to a flight meets a protective barrier to a landing, the height of the latter may be reduced for a distance not more than 300 mm to permit a smooth junction.

VEHICLE PROTECTIVE BARRIERS

S4.4 A barrier to provide protection from vehicles must be provided at the edge of a drop in level in every floor, roof or ramp which is accessible to vehicles, and forms part of a building.

S4.5* A vehicle protective barrier provided in accordance with S4.4 must be capable of resisting appropriate loads and be of a height at least that given in the table to this standard -

Table to S4.5: Height of vehicle protective barriers