Wire Balustrade Installation Information - System J

How to install System J stainless wire balustrade

System J wire balustrade kits are easy to install. All you need is a ruler, drill, drill bit Lag Screw Driver and Rigging Screw Spanner

Follow the steps in our DIY Stainless Wire Balustrading Brochure or our instructional video above.  Please note that the cutting of the wire rope and swaging of the fittings (as shown in the video) is done by us in the factory - you'll simply need to drill your posts, install the lag eye screws and then install the ready-made wires as described below.

First drill a 5mm pilot hole in the anchor posts to a depth of at least 40mm.  Drive the Lag Eye Screws into the pilot holes using a drill and a Lag Screw Driver. You will need to drill a 7.5mm hole in any intermediate posts (or 9mm if using grommets).

To feed the wires through the holes in the intermediate posts, first disassemble the rigging screw by unwinding the swaged wire terminal from the body of the rigging screw and then removing the locking nut from the swaged terminal.  Once the wire & terminal is passed through all the intermediate posts, reassemble the rigging screw, remembering to re-include the locking nut.

The rigging screw at one end and fork terminal at the other end of the wire are attached to the Lag Eye screws, by removing the split ring and pin from each terminal, sliding the jaws over the eye and reinstalling the pins and split rings.  The wire can then be tensioned by rotating the body of the rigging screw, tightening with a rigging screw spanner and then locking off using the lock nuts on the rigging screw.  Be sure not to over-tighten the rigging screws, or too much strain can be imparted on your posts.

System J is suitable for runs up to 6 metres.  For longer straight runs, you can use System K or System K2.

The stainless balustrade wires should be spaced a maximum of 80mm apart, provided the distance between the intermediate posts is no greater than 1200mm.

Do not bend wire around corners. It can damage the balustrade wire, put excessive stress on the anchor posts and make it difficult to tension. It is also not compliant with the building code requirements.

The tension of the stainless wire balustrade can be checked by hanging a full 2L milk container on the wire in the mid-point between the posts and measuring the deflection. If the wire deflects more than is allowed by the BCA Guidelines then it will need to be tensioned further. Be careful not to over tension the wires as this will put excessive strain on your anchor posts.

Drill a 7.5mm hole to allow the swage stud to pass through the intermediate posts. If split grommets are to be inserted into intermediate posts, a 9.0mm hole is required.

Stainless balustrade supplies are shipped from AAA Metal Suppliers' factory in Sydney.