As Canadian construction evolves, the demand for smarter, more efficient building solutions continues to grow. Off-site construction has moved from being a trend to becoming a strategic choice, and prefabricated modular balconies are playing a key role in that transformation.
At Sapphire Balconies, we design balcony systems that increase the perceived value of developments, whilst streamlining balcony installation and maintenance processes. Our balconies are built for long-term performance and engineered to deliver consistent value throughout the project life cycle.
Here is why prefabricated modular balconies are suitable for Canadian projects and why developers, architects, and contractors should consider them:
Designed to Integrate with Different Types of Building Frames
From mass timber projects in British Columbia to reinforced concrete high-rises in Ontario, prefabricated balconies can connect to various kinds of building frames.
Sapphire’s prefab balconies are compatible with:
reinforced concrete (RC) frames
cross-laminated timber (CLT) frames
light gauge steel frames (LGSF)
tunnel form systems (TFS)
Peikko’s DELTABEAM systems.
This structural versatility allows project teams to select the best framework for their needs without compromising on balcony design or adding unnecessary complexity to the build.
Value-Driven without Compromising on Quality
Prefabrication reduces installation time and labor costs, but its biggest advantage is long-term value. Factory-built balconies reduce site errors, improve build quality, and minimize ongoing maintenance. Faster install times also lead to tighter project timelines and improved predictability.
For developers, this means better cost control, less waste, and a desirable, high-performance feature that enhances marketability and long-term returns.
Lightweight and Built for Modern Construction
With Canada’s growing focus on sustainability and mass timber construction, weight and thermal efficiency are more important than ever. Our balconies are significantly lighter than traditional concrete options. This reduces the load on the structure, enables easier logistics, and allows for greater design flexibility.
Each balcony unit is tested to meet Canadian building standards, with resistance to wind uplift, structural deflection, and thermal bridging designed into every system.
Delivered Faster with Off-Site Precision
Canadian projects often face unpredictable delays due to weather. Prefabricated balconies help avoid these setbacks by moving construction into controlled indoor environments.
This dramatically reduces on-site trades, accelerates the schedule, and improves safety conditions.
Designed for Canadian Conditions and Compliance
From harsh winters to complex building regulations, Canadian construction requires resilient and adaptable solutions. Our balconies are built with Canadian codes and climates in mind.
They are:
thermally efficient, with built-in thermal breaks
capable of handling snow loads and wind exposure
durable, low maintenance, and corrosion-resistant.
Features like thermal breaks in prefab balconies improve energy efficiency by lowering heat transfer, supporting compliance with standards like the Toronto Green Standard. Sustainable balcony design can also contribute to lower TEDI ratings.
Building Smarter for a Better Future
Prefabricated modular balconies are not just a modern upgrade; they are a strategic investment in smarter construction. With improved speed, safety, cost control, and environmental performance, they align perfectly with the future of Canadian development.
If you are planning a Canadian project, we would love to help you build it better.
Traditionally, balcony construction has often been an afterthought in the building design, and concrete balconies don’t make the process any easier.
With the more efficient and sustainable modern methods of construction, off-site manufacturing and prefabricated balconies are transforming projects.
Here are 7 reasons why prefabricated balconies are the new choice for high-rise residential buildings:
Increased Perceived Value: Prefab balconies are manufactured off-site, focusing on functionality, sustainability, and aesthetics. Improved visual appeal contributes to a building’s market value as high-quality finishes, sustainable materials, and functional designs appeal to buyers. Additionally, because prefab balconies are produced efficiently, developers benefit from cost savings through reduced waste and faster installation.
Enhanced Thermal Efficiency: Step codes are driving the push for increased thermal performance in new Canadian constructions. Heat can easily escape through balcony structures without proper thermal breaks, undermining the building’s energy efficiency. Prefab balconies allow manufacturers to place thermal breaks in tactical locations within the balcony system to reduce heat loss in the building, leading to improved thermal performance.
Higher Project Efficiency: Prefinishing balconies off site reduces the need for on-site trades as there is no manufacturing of balconies in situ. Delivering fully assembled units also means faster balcony installation.
Unmatched Quality Assurance: Balconies that are produced in controlled factory conditions undergo several quality checks, ensuring that each balcony has a trackable history. For example, at Sapphire we use the Passport App to record and track each balcony’s progress through the different production and quality check stages.
Ideal for Passive House Developments: Thermally broken balconies increase energy efficiency and reduce heat loss, aligning with passive house principles. Prefabricated aluminium balconies also lower structural load as they are lightweight and complement sustainable building frames like cross-laminated timber frames.
Learn in our case study how we streamlined the balcony project at Vienna House, a passive house residential development in Vancouver, Canada.
Higher Design Flexibility: Off-site manufacturing allows for more opportunities to create a functional balcony design that offers comfort to residents and simplifies installation and on-site handling of balconies by installers. Prefinished balconies can be thoughtfully assembled in the factory while keeping the risk of error as low as possible.
Compliance with Standards: Features like thermal breaks in prefab balconies improve energy efficiency by lowering heat transfer, supporting compliance with standards like the Toronto Green Standard. Sustainable balcony design can also contribute to lower TEDI ratings.
Discover in our case studies how our prefabricated balconies have benefited projects across the UK and Canada.
[vc_row width=”70″ background_image=””][vc_column][sapphire_textBlock]Considering the ever-fluctuating temperature across North America from season to season, the thermal performance of your building should be considered from concept to completion.
The difference between a balcony by Sapphire and a traditional concrete slab is that we’ve included a thermal performance solution as standard from the design stage. Here’s how it works.
Understanding Thermal Bridging
Heat will always travel by the path of least resistance – this is how thermal bridging can occur. If the materials surrounding an object are more conductive than the object itself, the heat can jump through, creating the risk of a thermal bridge.
Homes in North America have traditionally been built with speed and cost in mind, which has historically led to cheaper, more conductive materials being used. When heat transfers through material, it will always look for the path of least resistance. Conductive materials act as a thermal bridge over the insulation.
One of the many risks of thermal bridging is a reduction in building energy performance. Without a good thermal break solution in place, the TEDI rating of your development could be drastically lowered as energy escapes from the building, even potentially losing Passive House certification if not considered correctly.
Mitigating against thermal bridging doesn’t need to be a headache. In fact, by using prefabricated balconies, it’s not just simple – it’s built-in.
Low-conductivity materials are a smart choice – by limiting how conductive the material on the external envelope is, there is a smaller chance of thermal bridging occurring.
Sapphire’s solution comes in the form of integrated thermal breaks. When connecting a prefabricated Next Generation balcony to the building façade, thermal breaks are built into the balcony anchor points, providing not only a structurally rigid point to connect to the building, but also one that protects against heat energy loss. [/sapphire_textBlock][sapphire_contentLink order=”Image left / content right” image=”13193″ heading=”Discover Sapphire’s Next Generation Balcony” button_text=”Discover” button_link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Flocalhost%2Fbalconies%2Four-product%2Fthe-next-generation-balcony%2F|title:The%20Next%20Generation%20Balcony”]The Next Generation Balcony is a huge step forward for the construction market[/sapphire_contentLink][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row width=”70″ background_image=””][vc_column][sapphire_textBlock]We commissioned a report from RDH Building Science to prove the increased thermal performance of our balcony anchors, available in full below.
RDH Thermal Performance Report
RDH Building Science conducted an assessment commissioned by Sapphire Balconies to evaluate the thermal performance of Sapphire’s balcony connection anchor systems. The analysis aimed to provide insights into the thermal properties, specifically the linear thermal transmittance (Psi-value) and point thermal transmittance (Chi-value), of the Sapphire Balcony system across various common North American construction details.
Sapphire’s G60 and G25 anchors are designed to support prefabricated balconies on buildings, with features intended to minimize heat loss compared to traditional concrete balconies. The anchor system comprises steel anchors, compressible mineral wool, phenolic resin thermal breaks, and exterior cantilevered steel beams. The analysis focused on two typical North American construction details, each with varying exterior insulation depths.
RDH’s simulations determined Psi-values and Chi-values for Sapphire’s G60 and G25 balcony systems across various North American construction details. Chi-values ranged from approximately 0.2 W/K to 0.4 W/K, influenced by anchor type, exterior insulation depth, and building enclosure detail.
Download the full RDH report using the link below:[/sapphire_textBlock][sapphire_downloadBlock download_id=”13992″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row width=”70″ background_image=””][vc_column][sapphire_textBlock]
Best Practices for Balcony Thermal Performance
Considering the climate conditions across Canada, building codes that need to be met and region-specific standards such as the Toronto Green Standard – what exactly is best practice for achieving balcony thermal performance?
Sapphire aims to maximise thermal efficiency whilst maintaining a rigid structure within our balconies. We incorporate thermal breaks in tactical locations throughout our builds in order to reduce total heat loss – these can be located between the floors and ceilings of the apartments in question, acting as an extra layer of insulation around the arms our balconies are fitted to. The insulation materials we use to form the thermal break often will help to insulate the small area in question, though architects should also consider good ceiling and flooring insulation around these junctions.
In Summary
Understanding thermal bridging is key to maximizing the thermal performance of modern developments.
Between knowing that heat will always travel the path of least resistance and that by mitigating against thermal bridging, we can reduce our TEDI ratings and hit crucial targets like Canada’s NETZERO 2032 policy, we can understand that using innovative solutions for balconies isn’t just a fad – it’s the future of sustainable building.
We’ve spoken before on thermal efficiency – visit the links below to understand more.[/sapphire_textBlock][sapphire_textOverlayBlock image=”14003″ heading=”Thermal Breaks” button_text=”Learn more” button_link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Flocalhost%2Fbalconies%2Four-product%2Fanchors-stubs%2Fthermal-breaks-on-balconies%2F|title:Thermal%20Breaks” double_height=””]Learn more about Thermal Breaks in our bespoke article.[/sapphire_textOverlayBlock][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row width=”70″ background_image=”” el_id=”” el_class=”” css=””][vc_column][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row]
[vc_row width=”70″ background_image=””][vc_column][sapphire_textBlock]With how bitterly cold the winter months can be, it’s important to keep your home energy efficient, retaining as much heat as possible whilst still providing an essential escape to the outside environment where needed. Solutions to thermal efficiency in Canada come in the form of intelligent thermal break design, using anchors cast into the building incorporating a thermal break can keep high-rise buildings capable, economical and warm throughout the stoniest weather.
Understanding thermal efficiency
Thermal efficiency is the measure by which we understand the rate of heat loss. There is a common misconception that a balcony will do very little to impact the energy efficiency of a building, but this is far from the case. A glazed balcony, for example, can be beneficial for colder climates by creating a retention of heat, which can be particularly useful for buildings in the centre of built-up areas with less clean air. By sustaining thermal efficiency, the apartment’s resident can keep their home as warm as needed and spend less on their energy bills.
The risk of thermal bridging
Heat will always travel by the path of least resistance – if there’s a way to find new fuel and spread as far and wide as possible, you can be sure that fire will find a way to do so. This is how thermal bridging can occur. If the materials surrounding an object are more conductive than the object itself, the heat can jump through, creating the risk of a thermal bridge.
Homes in North America have traditionally been built with 2×4 wooden studs surrounding fiberglass batt insulation in the cavity. Whilst the fiberglass may have an R-value of R-15 or higher and reduces energy loss, it can only be placed between the wooden studs. Wood is an incredibly conductive material and so can act as a path of least resistance – a thermal bridge over the insulation. Whilst the insulation might reduce energy loss, the thermal bridge means there may not be a break in energy conductivity.
The thermal break solution
Sapphire aims to maximise thermal efficiency whilst maintaining a rigid structure within our balconies. We incorporate thermal breaks in tactical locations throughout our builds in order to reduce total heat loss – these can be located between the floors and ceilings of the apartments in question, acting as an extra layer of insulation around the arms our balconies are fitted to. The insulation materials we use to form the thermal break often will help to insulate the small area in question, though architects should also consider good ceiling and flooring insulation around these junctions.
By maintaining a focus on energy and thermal efficiency in Canada for our builds, we hope to contribute positively to Canada’s Carbon NETZERO 2032 policy by keeping apartments warm in the cold months and cool in the hotter months – keeping a comfortable temperature in a resident’s apartment can be the difference between an extra tonne of carbon emissions and an extra few dollars per month in your pocket.
With globally rising energy bills, the consumer needs to take every action they can to reduce costs and keep their homes warm. By increasing thermal efficiency in every aspect of a person’s home – even their balcony can contribute to their wellbeing both financially and physically.[/sapphire_textBlock][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row width=”70″ background_image=”” el_id=”” el_class=”” css=””][vc_column][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Wanting to know how regulations Part M effects balcony design? This page explorers the new FAQ guidance (in the context of balconies and balustrades) which relates to the approved document. Download the FAQ Part M document here in PDF.
From a balcony aspect, Part M FAQ guidance is in relation to steps on to a balcony (Category 2 – paragraph 2.21). Guidance is as follows:
Question: Is a step up into an inset balcony or roof terrace permissible when this is located above accommodation that needs to include insulation? Answer: Yes, Category 2 where there is a need to insulate inhabited areas below a balcony or terrace a step up of up to 225mm would be reasonable. This does not apply to Category 3.
When considering the design for inset balconies which are not above accommodation, rather than insulating and water proofing on top of a concrete slab, we would recommend that metal balconies are considered as part of the design in these scenario. Using thermally broken Glide-On anchors rather than having a continuous slab fully insulated can remove the need for a step and create a level threshold as common Part M requirements. This also makes drainage substantially easier than having to waterproof concrete balconies which brings a minefield of considerations etc.
Click here to download the governments new Part M FAQ guidance in PDF
We’re a responsible provider of balcony systems as we are committed to safeguarding the environment. As a result, we take active steps to ensure we minimise our impact on the planet whilst creating a safe and secure setting for our clients, as well as delivering sustainable balcony solutions considering both the build foot print and the long-term performance.
Recycle Waste
Our aim is to create a brand that’s respected for high quality products and systems, and we believe preserving the environment works hand-in-hand with this goal. Therefore, we continually recycle our waste materials when appropriate, such as glass and metal. The entire Cassette balcony system can be recycled – the full 100%, making it the most sustainable it could possibly be at the end of it life span.
Designing in environmental considerations from the start.
We have done a lot of research and have invested considerably in our R&D test facilities which gives us a lot of thermal testing capacities. The reason this is important for a sustainable balcony solution is that after a building is built the thermal performance of the balcony anchors is essential in low emissions and good environmental performance.
We recommend the best approach is to reduce the numbers of anchors penetrating a façade by using more rigid anchors and a lightweight aluminium system externally. By doing this you can often design out half the anchors which means half the heat loss during the many years of the buildings occupation.
Other research we have done with the BRE green gauge ratings and how using aluminium balconies is a better around approach can be discussed at our CPD’s and early stage meetings, so get in touch.
If you are interested in knowing how to create a balcony able to work well with sustainable planting we recommend you get in touch with balcon.me
Source Recyclable Materials
Our well-established family firm is built on complete honesty, which is why you can trust that we only select quality grade materials which have a high recycle content. Aluminium is also the lead material in our Aluma range as it’s light and highly recyclable, and its lightweight material ultimately reduces our use of transport packaging.
FSC Sourced Timber
The Forest Stewards Council (FSC) ensures that consumers only source timber from well managed forests to preserve the environment, benefit society and ensure that the forest is economically viable. For this reason, we source all our timber from FSC sources when possible, and our environmental commitment is certified under ISO14001 even though there is very little timber we use.
Transport
We have our own suite of trailers specially designed to allow maximum numbers of balconies to be loaded which considerably reduces the CO2 emissions of the movements and also saves a lot of time.
High Quality Balconies
You can trust that our recyclable glass and metal balcony systems won’t compromise on quality, as we only provide our customers with the highest quality materials and designs. Also, we provide our staff with effective training to ensure they can create balustrades that are fit for purpose and attractive. Our systems don’t feature any visible welds so will offer a smooth and sleek appearance. Also, to ensure you’re happy with a design, we can provide 2D and 3D drawings for approval created by our talented in-house CAD professionals.
Therefore, if you are looking for high quality, environmentally friendly balustrade systems, you should make Sapphire Balconies your port of call. We provide support from conception through to completion, and can offer technical guidance, structural calculations and project management expertise. Contact us today for more information on our products, services and environmental commitments.
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