{"id":1502,"date":"2021-11-27T02:36:23","date_gmt":"2021-11-27T02:36:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/whatblueprint.com\/?p=1502"},"modified":"2023-04-14T10:15:59","modified_gmt":"2023-04-14T10:15:59","slug":"are-horizontal-railings-safe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/whatblueprint.com\/are-horizontal-railings-safe\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Horizontal Railings Safe?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
With a plethora of options available when it comes to railings for your home, it can be difficult to choose one that works for you in terms of cost, aesthetics, and safety. Traditional railings in centuries past have usually consisted of vertical guardrails, but contemporary options have expanded to include multiple horizontal options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The safety of horizontal railings is a contentious issue that is constantly debated. There are studies that report horizontal railings are safer for children than other household items, but real-life experiences have shown these railings to be extremely hazardous. Proper installation is paramount.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n There are numerous factors that determine how safe a horizontal railing is. The railing\u2019s safety depends on the materials, construction, and quality of the railings on the whole. The potential for children to climb horizontal railings is a major concern, referred to as the ladder effect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The safety of horizontal railings is a hotly-debated topic that tends to attract a lot of attention from parents concerned over children trying to climb over the railings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The other concerns usually stem from the flexibility of the steel cabling in horizontal cable railings, which could potentially result in a child pushing the cables apart and either falling through, becoming stuck between the cables, or otherwise injuring themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is one of the biggest issues with horizontal cable railings, other than the ladder effect \u2013 discussed later in this article \u2013 and it is referred to as deflection. If the cables are able to deflect too much and too easily, objects, children and pets can potentially move between the cables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is less likely to occur if a few guidelines are strictly followed, thus ensuring safety for all who use the space. Proper installation of cable railings is absolutely essential to ensure that they are completely safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By using stiff, high-quality cabling, deflection is far less likely to occur. This cabling must be tightened correctly and sufficiently. Proper spacing between cables is another essential element to be considered that will ensure no children or pets are able to fit between the cables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By following the manufacturer\u2019s instructions and making use of professional installation, horizontal railings can indeed be extremely safe to have installed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If cable railings are not properly installed, and the materials and construction methods are not up to standard, the cables have the potential to become loose and detached from their posts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This can also occur as a result of poor maintenance, as the cables do require periodic tightening to ensure they do not become loose over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At one stage, building codes mentioned the ladder effect, which means that any balustrade with horizontal elements or ornamental patterns that could be used as a ladder by a young kid, for example, should be avoided. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This threat appears to be less of a concern than it was once perceived to be, and it appears that considerably fewer youngsters than previously thought are in danger from so-called “climbable” balustrades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In reality, however, parents tend to report that their children do indeed have a propensity for climbing any balustrade that has horizontal members, and as such, presents a major health hazard for their children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When installing horizontal railings, whether using cables or solid bars, there are a few considerations to be made to ensure an installation with which you are satisfied, and each type of railing has its advantages and disadvantages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cable railings tend to require more maintenance than solid horizontal bars because the cables require periodic tightening to ensure that there is never too much deflection. This type of maintenance is not required for horizontal bars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having said that, the flexibility of the cables must be considered to ensure that there is not too much deflection allowing objects to fit through. A lack of flexibility, on the other hand, can result in the cables pulling out of the vertical posts too easily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With horizontal railings, there are other unique design considerations that must be carefully worked out before any construction takes place. This includes the need for more vertical posts between horizontal spans, as well as extra vertical posts where two segments of railing meet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are planning a curved railing, horizontal cables cannot be used, and so this type of project will require the use of curved horizontal bars.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAre Horizontal Railings Safe?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Ladder Effect<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Design Considerations For Horizontal Railings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n