---
title: Technical Guides: Balustrades, Glass, Steel, Gateway 2 | Koyda
url: https://www.koyda.com/guides/
description: Sourced guides for specifiers and contractors: balustrade heights and loads, glass balustrades, BS EN 1090, Gateway 2 and plant screens.
last_modified: 2026-10-10
publisher: Koyda Ltd, Units 27–29 Jesmor Farm, St Piers Lane, Lingfield, Surrey RH7 6PN. 07753 213617, joe@koyda.com
---

Technical guides

# Technical Guides for Specifiers

Short, sourced guides to the standards and regulations behind balustrades, balconies, stairs and steelwork. Each one links to the official source.

## Guides

[01

### Balustrade heights and loads

Minimum guarding heights from Approved Document K and barrier design loads from BS EN 1991-1-1 and BS 6180, in two tables, with sources.

Read more](https://www.koyda.com/guides/balustrade-heights-and-loads/)[02

### Glass balustrade specification

How to specify glass for balustrades: toughened (BS EN 12150), laminated (BS EN 14449), heat soak, impact class (BS EN 12600), low-iron glass, post-breakage.

Read more](https://www.koyda.com/guides/glass-balustrade-specification/)[03

### BS EN 1090 and execution classes

What BS EN 1090-1, -2 and -3 cover, how execution classes EXC1 to EXC4 are chosen, why EXC2 is the UK default, and CE versus UKCA marking for steelwork.

Read more](https://www.koyda.com/guides/bs-en-1090-execution-classes/)[04

### Gateway 2 for metalwork packages

What Gateway 2 means for balcony, balustrade and stair packages on higher-risk buildings: timescales, fees, Regulation 7(2), change control and the golden thread.

Read more](https://www.koyda.com/guides/gateway-2-metalwork-packages/)[05

### Specifying rooftop plant screens

Specifying visual plant screens: planning conditions, wind load to BS EN 1991-1-4, free area, fixing without damaging the roof, finishes and access doors.

Read more](https://www.koyda.com/guides/plant-screens-specification/)[06

### Steel section tables

Sizes, dimensions and properties of UK beams, columns, channels, angles and hollow sections, with CSV and PDF downloads.

Read more](https://www.koyda.com/steel-section-tables/)

General guidance only. Always check the current edition of each document, and get project-specific design from a competent engineer.