CI/SfB

(23.79) Et6

November 2019

Fully compliant with The Building

(Amendment) Regulations 2018:
The Government’s ban on combustible materials in external walls,
following a review of fire safety in high-rise residential buildings

SSTS and STS Thermally

Insulated Balcony Connectors
BS EN 1090-1
For Steel-to-Steel Applications
 Stainless steel
fixing stud

Thermal
plate
Mineral wool
insulation

Integral load
transfer
components

Steel-to-Steel Balcony Connectors

Ancon SSTS and STS are compact thermal breaks, typically used for
connecting steel balconies to structural steel frames but which are equally
suitable for other steel-to-steel applications.

The connectors comprise tension and The system is available in three standard stud System Benefits
compression components within a single sizes to accommodate a wide range of loads. 3 Comprises materials of class A1/A2
combined unit, wrapped in class A1 non- Manufactured to order, the vertical centres of combustibility only, ideal for high-rise
combustible mineral wool insulation. The the four A4 stainless steel fixing studs can be construction
fabricated compression component is specified to suit the exact requirements of 3 Proven through thermal modelling
manufactured from either 1.4301 (grade 304) the application. to reduce heat loss and eliminate
stainless steel referenced SSTS or hot-dip condensation risk
A thermal plate, with an independently verified
galvanised S355 plain carbon steel referenced 3 Thermal pad located at each steel interface
European reaction-to fire classification of
STS. Stainless steel offers the greater thermal 3 Bracket fabrication CE marked
A2-s1,d0, is located at each steel interface.
efficiency and is essential for applications to BS EN 1090-1
requiring enhanced corrosion protection such Design resistances are provided on page 4.
3 Variable fixing heights to suit application
as coastal areas.
3 In the case of SSTS, fully stainless steel
The fabricated elements are designed to components offer the ultimate corrosion
EN 1993 (Eurocode 3) and CE marked to protection and thermal efficiency benefits
BS EN 1090 Part 1.

Material Combustibility
Following a review of fire safety, the Government has banned the use of combustible materials in the external walls of high-rise residential
buildings in England. The Ancon SSTS and STS connectors are fully compliant with the material combustibility requirements of The Building
(Amendment) Regulations 2018. All components are either European classification A1 or A2-s1,d0. Contact Ancon for further information.

Thermal Performance
Thermal modelling of a typical application showed a reduction in heat loss of almost 50% compared to a direct steel connection. It also illustrated a
temperature factor within the limits detailed in BRE document IP1/06 for eliminating condensation risks in buildings of any type, even those with high
humidity e.g. swimming pools (0.90).

2
Dimensions
W
A B A 86mm
Tension fixings
installed at the top
C

O VE O E
O VE O E

O EM R V
O EM R V

R VE O EM
R VE O EM

O EM R VE
O EM R VE

R VE R VE
R VE R VE

EM E R VE MO
EM E R VE MO

EM MO EM E R
EM MO EM E R

E M
E M

R E O
R E O
F

V O E
V O E

EM R E
EM R E

R V
R V
E

E
E
Heat-shrunk Isolation
As (underneath spacer)
specified
Temporary transportation spacer

O VE O E
O EM R V

O VE O E
O EM R V
R VE O EM

R VE O EM
O EM R VE

R VE R VE

O EM R VE

R VE R VE
EM E R VE MO

EM MO EM E R

EM E R VE MO

EM MO EM E R
E M

E M
R E O

R E O
V O E

EM R E

V O E
R V

EM R E
R V
E

E
D

O M R EO M R E
VE O EM RVE O EM R

M RE VE O
M RE VE OVM RE VE OV
R VE O EMR VE O EM
Compression unit

O EM R VE O EM R VE

VE
O M R

VE O EM R VE O M R E O
O EM R VE O EM RE VE OV EM
installed at the bottom

VE
R VE O EM R VE O EM R

EM R VE O M R E O
R VE O EM RE VE OV EM
O EM R VE O EM R VE

VE
R VE O EM R VE O

VE O EM R VE O
EMR R VE OE

O EM R VE O EM

O EM R VE O EM

V
O OEMEM R

EM R VE O
Product Dimension (mm)

R E O M
O EM R VE
Product Referencing System

E
M
R VE O
E
Reference W A B C D E F

E
O
SSTS/STS 16A-140

V
R E
SSTS/STS 16A 180 40 100 30 40 24 A/F M16

V
SSTS/STS 20A 180 40 100 30 40 30 A/F M20
SSTS/STS 24A 190 37.5 115 40 45 36 A/F M24 Standard Product Vertical Bolt Centres
Reference Required

Installation Guidance

The SSTS/STS Balcony Connector is supplied in a single unit with thermal plates attached to both inner and outer faces. These plates should not be
removed. The assembly features all necessary steel fixings. Care should be taken to avoid damaging any balcony connector components prior to and
during installation. It is essential that the connector is orientated and installed correctly.
Prior to installation of the connector, it is important to check the product dimensions against the engineer’s drawings, specifically ensuring the mating
parts match the connector stud centres.

1 2

The SSTS/STS Balcony Connector should be orientated so that the Once all connectors are correctly positioned and fitted to the building
label indicating the uppermost face is correctly positioned and is facing structure, the balcony beams can be installed.
out of the building. Remove the nuts and washers from the outer face of the connector
Position the connector close to where it is to be installed. Ensure the and keep close to hand. Discard all non-metallic packing around
connector is stable and not likely to fall. Carefully remove the nuts and the fixings to expose the heat-shrunk isolation on the stud.
washers from the studs on the inner face. Keep the steel nuts and steel Carefully lift the balcony fabrication, ensuring the balcony is horizontal.
washers close to hand. All non-metallic packing around the fixings Align the balcony and carefully push over the exposed studs. Do not
should be discarded at this point, leaving the heat-shrunk isolation force it into position.
material on the stainless steel stud. Carefully lift and fit the exposed
When positioned, re-fit the steel washers and steel nuts.
studs through the appropriate holes in the building structure. Do not
force the connector into position. Re-fit the steel washers and steel Once the balcony is fully aligned with the connector and structure,
nuts. Once the connector is fully aligned with the structure, torque up tighten the nuts to the correct torque. Remove all lifting straps.
the nuts with a calibrated hydraulic torque wrench and suitable socket,
referencing the table below.
Connector SSTS/STS 16A SSTS/STS 20A SSTS/STS 24A
Wrench Size (A/F) 24 30 36
Torque (Nm) 148 288 498

3
 Design Resistances
STS 16A (Galvanised Steel) SSTS 16A (Stainless Steel)
Vertical Design Shear Design Resistance Design Resistance Design Shear Design Resistance Design Resistance
Bolt Resistance for Bending for Tension Resistance for Bending for Tension
Centres VRd (kN) MRd (kNm) NRd (kN) VRd (kN) MRd (kNm) NRd (kN)
70mm 12.66 12.66
75mm 13.57 13.57
100mm 18.09 18.09
125mm 22.61 22.61
150mm 27.14 27.14
175mm 31.66 31.66
200mm 60.75 36.18 180.9 39.36 36.18 180.9
225mm 40.70 40.70
250mm 45.23 45.23
275mm 49.75 49.75
300mm 54.27 54.27
325mm 58.79 58.79
350mm 63.32 63.32

STS 20A (Galvanised Steel) SSTS 20A (Stainless Steel)

Vertical Design Shear Design Resistance Design Resistance Design Shear Design Resistance Design Resistance
Bolt Resistance for Bending for Tension Resistance for Bending for Tension
Centres VRd (kN) MRd (kNm) NRd (kN) VRd (kN) MRd (kNm) NRd (kN)
70mm 19.75 13.87
75mm 21.17 14.87
100mm 28.22 19.82
125mm 35.28 24.78
150mm 42.33 29.73
175mm 49.39 34.69
200mm 60.75 56.44 282.2 39.36 39.64 198.2
225mm 63.50 44.60
250mm 70.55 49.55
275mm 77.61 54.51
300mm 84.66 59.46
325mm 91.72 64.42
350mm 98.77 69.37

STS 24A (Galvanised Steel) SSTS 24A (Stainless Steel)

Vertical Design Shear Design Resistance Design Resistance Design Shear Design Resistance Design Resistance
Bolt Resistance for Bending for Tension Resistance for Bending for Tension
Centres VRd (kN) MRd (kNm) NRd (kN) VRd (kN) MRd (kNm) NRd (kN)
85mm 25.80 21.11
100mm 30.35 24.83
125mm 37.94 31.04
150mm 45.53 37.25
175mm 53.11 43.45
200mm 60.70 49.66
78.1 304 61.1 248.3
225mm 68.29 55.87
250mm 75.88 62.08
275mm 83.46 68.28
300mm 91.05 74.49
325mm 98.64 80.70
350mm 106.23 86.91

Design Example
Known requirements: Known requirements:
The Factored Ultimate Shear Force per connector, VEd, is 75kN. The Factored Ultimate Shear Force per connector, VEd, is 58kN
The Factored Ultimate Moment per connector, MEd, is 45kNm. The Factored Ultimate Moment per connector, MEd, is 35kNm
Vertical bolt centres are limited to a maximum of 150mm Vertical bolt centres are limited to a maximum of 150mm

From the tables: From the tables:

7 STS16A at 150mm centres gives VRd = 60.75kN and MRd = 27.14kNm 7 SSTS16A at 150mm centres gives VRd = 39.36kN and MRd = 27.14kNm
These connectors do not give the required capacity 7 SSTS20A at 150mm centres gives VRd = 39.36kN and MRd = 29.73kNm
7 STS20A at 150mm centres gives VRd = 60.75kN and MRd = 42.33kNm The above connectors do not give the required capacity
3 STS24A at 150mm centres gives VRd = 78.1kN and MRd = 45.53kNm. 3 SSTS24A at 150mm centres gives V Rd
= 61.1kN and MRd = 37.25kNm
This connector meets the project requirements This connector meets the project requirements

Ancon occasionally supply:

• Special units with compression components top and bottom to accommodate uplift forces
• Special heavy duty units with multiple tension components and / or compression components Ancon Ltd
Ancon standard balcony connectors are designed to offer innovative solutions for a variety of load President Way, President Park,
cases and construction geometries. For arrangements not covered by the standard connectors, Sheffield S4 7UR, United Kingdom
bespoke engineered solutions are available upon request. Please contact our technical team to Tel: +44 (0) 114 275 5224
discuss your requirements. www.ancon.co.uk