Project: Four factory units in Botany converted into a pickleball centre open to the public. 24 linear metres of Uni-Fit Elite 316 stainless steel handrail, supplied and installed in two weeks to meet the project’s AS 1428 access requirement.
| Project | Botany Pickleball Centre: four factory units converted into a public pickleball venue |
| Location | Botany, NSW |
| Builder | Akura, design and construct |
| Scope | 24 linear metres of Uni-Fit Elite stainless steel handrail. 20 LM to the front entrance stairs and pathway, 4 LM to the fire exit. |
| Finish | 316 marine-grade stainless steel |
| Timeframe | Supplied and installed within two weeks |
The Challenge
Akura were building four factory units in Botany which were being converted into a large pickleball centre. The building had been industrial but was about to become a publicly accessible sporting venue which changed the access and certification requirements.
The front entrance stairs and the pathway leading up to them needed handrails built to AS 1428, the standard that covers access and mobility in buildings the public uses. The fire exit needed handrailing as well. None of it existed yet.
The finish was specified as 316 marine-grade stainless. Botany sits a couple of kilometres from the bay, so the salt load is real, and the handrails sit outside on the street-facing elevation.
Then there was the deadline. Handrails tend to be one of the last items on a fitout, which means they get squeezed when everything upstream runs late. Akura had a completion date for their client and needed supply and installation done inside two weeks.
The Solution
Uni-Fit Elite, our stainless steel range, in 316 marine-grade to match the specification.
We supplied and installed 24 linear metres in total. Twenty metres run across the front entrance stairs and the pathway, taking in the stair flights, the landings and the turns along the elevation. The remaining four metres are at the fire exit.
Elite is a modular system. The components are stocked, not fabricated to order, so the lead time comes down to delivery rather than a production slot. Each kit ships with the fixings and adhesive needed to install it, which keeps the site from waiting on a separate hardware order.
Project breakdown:
• 24 LM Uni-Fit Elite stainless steel handrail
• 20 LM to the front entrance stairs and pathway
• 4 LM to the fire exit
• 316 marine-grade stainless steel finish
• Installed to the project’s AS 1428 access requirement
• Supplied and installed within two weeks
The Outcome
Both access points now have continuous handrail support. The entrance stairs and pathway are railed end to end, and the fire exit has handrailing at the steps, which matters most when people are moving through it in an emergency.
Supply and installation were completed inside the two week window, so the handrails did not become the item holding up practical completion.
This was the first project Uni-Fit and Akura have worked on together.
What the Builder Said
“We engaged Uni-Fit to install handrails at the front of our Botany project, where we needed to meet specific Australian Standards and building code requirements.
Uni-Fit were great to deal with throughout pricing and installation. We needed the work completed quickly, and their team streamlined the process to meet our client’s completion date.
Based on our experience with this first project, we would confidently recommend Uni-Fit to other companies and use them again on future Akura projects.”
Lloyd Shepherd, Construction Manager, Akura
Working to a Deadline on Your Site?
If you have stairs, a ramp or a fire exit that needs compliant handrail and a date you cannot move, talk to us about the Elite range.
Call 1800 868 544 or email sales@uni-fit.com.au
