What is the prescribed height of a railing or grab bar in a dwelling?

Verified 26 June 2025 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Buildings (including temporary structures) shall be constructed in such a way as to avoid accidental falls from a person's height. In residential buildings, it is mandatory to settle a protection in front of a window, a terrace, a loggia, a gallery or a balcony located upstairs (off ground floor). This safety device may be a railing for a balcony or a terrace and a grab bar in front of a window.

The safety device is different for windows and for balconies, terraces, galleries or loggias located upstairs:

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Window upstairs

The rules vary depending on whether the bottom part of the window is less than or more than 90 cm high from the floor. This device is not mandatory when the window is on the ground floor.

Height less than 90 cm

A support bar shall be settled at a minimum height of 1 meter measured from the floor. When the window opens onto a balcony, terrace or gallery, this bar is not required.

The addition of a protective element (bar, panel ...) is mandatory to fill the empty space between the support bar and the bottom of the window.

Height of 90 cm and more

It is not mandatory to settle a protective device.

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: not more than 50 cm or more than 50 cm.

This device is not mandatory on the ground floor.

Thickness less than or equal to 50 cm

It is mandatory to 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

It is mandatory to 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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