We completed an interesting balcony package on a social housing project in Shannon, Co. Clare which included extensive use of Accoya engineered timber laths set into galvanised frames to form privacy screens and balcony guardrails.

The design and choice of material were interesting. The inclusion of such large format privacy screens is something that may be required more and more in future as planning regulations call for greater density in housing developments and in pursuit of satisfying requirement, developers are under pressure to either increase verticality or place individual units closer together.

The use of vertical timber laths to complete this element of the design was a good choice because it is softer, more welcoming and more domestic than perforated metal or frosted glass which we have commonly used in the past in accordance with client designs. Privacy screens are often referred to as Gossip Screens and we feel this design makes it easier to be neighbourly. Accoya itself is an engineered timber so it is very stable, has a long life span and, left untreated, requires no maintenance. On this basis it makes a lot of sense to use in scenarios where the developer retains an ongoing responsibility for building maintenance, post-handover.

Client: Torc Housing Partnership, National Treasury Management Agency & Clare County Council
Contractor: Rhatigan OHL JV
Completed: 2021
Scope: Balcony Guard Rails
Accoya Privacy Screens
External Handrails
Internal Stair Balustrades