Research & Development

Our Cassette® system  has been rigorously tested by a UKAS accredited organisation. Their report concluded that the results for the samples tested showed:

• Connections to concrete slabs. Across multiple tests, the lowest failure rate was 64kNm. This is more than twice the maximum load of 30kNm per anchor which we typically design to
• Deflection of balcony Cassette®. The maximum deflection from testing was Length/403, which is more than twice as rigid as the L/180 limit for cantilevers suggested in BS EN 1993.
• Balustrade glass deflection. The highest deflection was only 16.4mm at a load of 0.74kN/m across multiple glass panel tests with no capping/handrail in place, and end panels with capping in place reduced the deflection to 8mm at a load of 0.74kN/m.
• Balustrade glass impact resistance. The glass balustrade successfully withstood a 95J impact from a 50kg double tyre impactor.
• Wind pressure. Tests were carried out using pressures of 2.2kPa with no failure and no visible damage to the soffits or fascias.
• Glass post-breakage. Even with one of the two layers broken, and with no capping to support, every one of the panels withstood substantially more than the required load of 0.74kN/m.
• Weather testing. Testing in a Hygrothermal chamber with repeated exposure to temperatures from -20°C to 70°C in both dry, and wet conditions with salt spray to simulate weathering in exposed areas such as seafronts, the test simulated how a balcony could withstand these conditions with no damage or degradation, and fixings remaining in full working order.
• Fatigue loading. Cyclical fatigue testing of 7686 cycles to simulate 60 years of fatigue loading, showed no component failure. This showed how a balcony could potential remain safe, especially when building operators instigate a recommended maintenance procedures at least every 5 years to ensure tightness of key components like clamping bolts.