What is the statutory height of a railing or grab bar?

Verified 21 November 2023 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

To avoid a fall, you must settle a protection in front of a window, a terrace, a loggia, a gallery or a balcony located upstairs of a residential building.

This safety device may be a railing or a grab bar in front of a window. It must have a minimum statutory height.

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Window upstairs

On the floors of a building, a fall protection device is mandatory if the lower part of a window is less than 90 cm high from the ground.

Height less than 90 cm

You must settle a grab bar at a minimum height of 1 meter measured from the ground, unless the window opens onto a balcony, terrace or gallery.

The addition of a protective element (bar, panel, etc.) may be necessary to fill the empty space between the support bar and the bottom of the window.

Height of 90 cm and more

You don't have a protective device to settle.

Balcony, terrace, gallery or loggia upstairs

On the first floor of a building, a railing should be settled around a balcony, terrace, gallery or loggia.

The minimum height of the railing depends on its thickness.

Thickness less than or equal to 50 cm

You must settle a railing with a height of at least 1 m from the ground.

Example :

Your balcony is surrounded by a 10 cm thick barrier. This barrier shall be at least 1 m high in relation to the floor of the balcony.

Thickness of more than 50 cm

You must settle a railing with a height of at least 80 cm from the ground.

Example :

Your balcony is surrounded by a wall over 50 cm thick. This wall shall be at least 80 cm high in relation to the floor of the balcony.

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