Sapphire Balustrades End-to-End Service Ensures Safety and Style in New Apartments

Sapphire Balustrades has provide a full service of manufacture and install of a complete package of high quality balustrades for a new eight-storey apartment block in Watford. Design elements from Sapphire’s versatile Crystal, Onyx and Opal balustrade systems were cleverly combined to create bespoke solutions throughout Rainbow House, from the central atrium and communal stairways to apartment balconies and penthouse terraces. Sapphire’s design and fabrication expertise ensured specific requirements were met, including high wind loadings on complex corner balconies and customised fixings to complement external cladding.

With a striking slender profile, large windows and walk-on balconies, Rainbow House provides attractive, modern homes close to Watford’s town centre and transport links. As part of its end-to-end service Sapphire worked with the project architect and main contractor Willmott Dixon to develop an outstanding project pathway for internal and external balustrades. This identified the key steps to successful completion, from design and manufacture through to installation on site and after-sales care.

For the imposing main entrance of Rainbow House Sapphire provided a structural glass canopy with tubular stainless steel supports, manufactured from its Onyx range. Balustrades in the atrium and stairways combine Onyx satin polished stainless steel handrails and Opal powder coated steel balusters (uprights) and infills. This custom solution from two of Sapphire’s core systems provides the perfect balance of durability and visual appeal for communal areas in a high-end residential application like Rainbow House.

Frameless structural glass balustrades for external balconies, including triangular corner balconies, were specially designed and fabricated by Sapphire to complement the building’s unique architecture and accommodate the location’s high wind loadings. Sapphire’s Crystal frameless structural glass system, uninterrupted by balusters, was used for balcony balustrades to optimise views for residents. The balustrades incorporate 17.5mm thick clear toughened laminated glass with minimalist slim-line cappings and custom base fixings to ensure precise alignment with a horizontal band of exterior cladding. Crystal glass balustrades to penthouse terraces on the eighth floor complete Sapphire’s package for Rainbow House.

Maintaining high standards of safety with our service on the Rainbow House project earned Sapphire’s site supervisor Willmott Dixon’s Site Safety Award. Sapphire’s Marketing Manager, Nick Haughton, says the award reflects his company’s commitment to service, quality and safety on every project. He comments: “To this end, Sapphire has developed its own On Site Safety & Quality Assurance (OSQA) system so we can continually assess the performance of our installation teams, from working methods to risk assessment and service levels they deliver to clients. Such awards are testimony to the fact that Sapphire can walk the walk with our service as well as talk the talk.”