Manson Engineering designs, manufactures and installs structural and safety metalwork for education facilities across New Zealand.
From C5 compliant balustrades and stair systems to gates, enclosures and architectural elements, our solutions are designed for safe, durable performance in high-use school environments. We provide both proven standard designs and fully custom solutions tailored to the specific requirements of each site and project.
Custom aluminium and steel solutions for education facilities
Working closely with our clients, our systems are engineered to meet the safety, durability and compliance demands of education environments.
We consider factors such as high-frequency use, impact resistance, anti-climb requirements and long-term maintenance when developing balustrade, stair and access solutions. Design efficiency is prioritised to deliver robust, practical systems with reduced complexity and consistent performance over time.
With in-house capability across design, engineering, fabrication and installation, Manson Engineering ensures each solution is coordinated and refined to suit the specific requirements of the site and project.
Standard and custom balustrade and metalwork solutions
Our standard C5 balustrade designs provide a proven and repeatable solution for many school applications. Where a project has specific functional, structural or visual requirements, our team can develop a custom solution.
Balusrade can be designed around:
- Required length and height
- Non climbable solutions
- C5 crowd loading requirements
- B1 & F4 compliance for handrails and barriers
- Architectural and visual requirements
- Coastal exposure and durability
- Fixing design (top mounted or face fixed)
- Installation requirements
Common applications in education facilities
Manson Engineering delivers metalwork for all types of education facilities from early childhood through to primary, intermediate and and tertiary levels. We can deliver:
- Balustrade
- Handrails
- Stairs
- Screens and shading
- Architectural elements
- Rubbish enclosures
- Service access platforms
- Bike sheds and cages
Why choose Manson Engineering?
- Design, engineering, fabrication and installation managed in house
- Standard and custom solutions for education facilities
- Aluminium and steel fabrication capability
- Practical support for consultants, contractors and project managers
- Proven, repeatable crowd loading balustrade designs
- Low-maintenance high durability material and finish options
- Documentation to support project and consenting requirements
- Standard 10-year warranty
Education Facility Metalwork FAQs
Balustrades in education environments are typically designed in accordance with AS/NZS 1170.1 for loading, along with NZ Building Code requirements including Clause B1 (Structure) and Clause F4 (Safety from Falling). These standards govern structural performance, safety, and dimensional requirements.
A C5 balustrade is designed for areas subject to crowd loading, such as school circulation spaces, stairs, and elevated walkways. These areas require higher load capacity to safely accommodate multiple users applying force at the same time, in accordance with AS/NZS 1170.1:2002 C5 occupancy loading requirements, including a 3kN/m horizontal line load for crowd‑loaded areas. This is roughly 300 kg of sideways force applied to each metre of the barrier.
Yes. Manson Engineering manufactures standard and custom balustrades that meet the relevant standards.
Custom balustrade can be designed to suit the required dimensions, loads, fixing details, existing site connections and architectural requirements of the project.
Education environments require metalwork that can withstand high-frequency use, impact, and varied behaviour. Designs must also address anti-climb considerations, minimise maintenance, and ensure long-term durability in both indoor and outdoor conditions.
Anti-climb design typically involves eliminating horizontal elements that can be used as footholds, controlling gaps, and using vertical members or mesh infill. The approach depends on the location and fall height, with safety and compliance as the primary drivers.
Projects often include balustrades, stair systems, handrails, gates, bike cages, service enclosures, and other structural or architectural elements. These are typically delivered as coordinated packages to ensure consistency, safety, and efficient delivery.
Common materials include aluminium, stainless steel and galvanised steel, selected based on the environment, visual and durability requirements. Protective coatings such as powder coating or galvanising are used to improve corrosion resistance and reduce maintenance.
Yes, Manson Engineering provides in-house design support, engineering, fabrication, and installation. This allows systems and manufacture to be fully coordinated and tailored to meet site conditions, compliance requirements, and project-specific needs.
Manson Engineering can provide design and engineering support, fabrication documentation, quality records and other project information required for the agreed scope.
This may include coordination and provision of producer statements (PS1–PS4), shop drawings, and supporting documentation required for Building Consent, where applicable and as agreed at project outset. The extent of documentation and deliverables is typically confirmed at the start of the project.
Manson designed and supplied metalwork comes with a standard 10-year warranty for education facilities. The applicable warranty terms and project-specific requirements should be confirmed as part of the quotation and contract documentation.
RECENT PROJECTS
Planning a school upgrade or expansion?
Talk to Manson Engineering about standard or custom solutions for all education facilities.
