Baden-Württemberg - What parapet wall height is permissible?

Hello everyone,

we have a parapet wall at the staircase that is 1.10 meters high from the top of the finished floor. It is a straight staircase. We are considering shortening the parapet to 90 cm - assuming that this is the required height. Our site manager told us that the required height nowadays would be 1.05 meters. We are building in Baden-Württemberg. Can anyone say something about the required height? We have two small children - their safety is our highest priority. However, we find it hard to imagine that safety is more at risk at a height of 90 cm. What is your opinion?

Best regards

In such cases, the simple counter-question of which specific regulation this can be found in is easy to ask and regularly leads the claimant to relent.

I only find state building codes that do not specify concrete heights, as well as the associated implementing ordinance (LBOAVO) which prescribes 0.9m or 0.8m (with a 20cm parapet depth). It cannot be ruled out that there is some additional standard that prescribes 1.05m. But he should be able to name that for you as well as the applicability to your construction (commercial buildings sometimes have stricter standards).

In residential buildings, the minimum height is actually 90 cm. You can also find that on the internet. Just ask the site manager where it says the 105 cm. We also have 90 cm here, that was plenty. It is important that there are no crossbars in the railing that the little ones can use as a ladder. In general, higher is of course better with small children. The little rascals like to pull themselves up on such a railing and can sometimes overcome astonishing heights. With my own children, I was really amazed several times at where they managed to get over. Best regards, Andreas

The standard he refers to I will definitely have sent to me. We are now just wondering whether with the reduction we are taking an unnecessary risk for safety or whether the 20 cm lower would even be noticeable visually. It is a continuous parapet wall made of wood and clad with OSB. So there are no struts to climb on. Our eldest - 3 years old - is now just under one meter. Somehow, I can’t imagine that she could push herself up a 90 cm high wall... But sure, at 5 or 6 that could look completely different. Maybe then 20 cm higher does make a difference...

When Mom sits on the kitchen cabinets with the coffee cup, our 3-year-old grandchildren quickly sit beside her, without climbing assistance

The standard he is referring to I will definitely ask to see.

No, you won’t - it doesn’t exist.

whether the 20 cm deeper would even be noticeable visually.

They are.

whether we are taking an unnecessary risk for safety with the reduction

I don’t see that.

We have two small children - their safety has the highest priority.

You already have high safety because you don’t make the stair railing in the classic way. Apart from that, you don’t have to overdo it with safety – yes to safety, no to overprotecting helicopter parents. And if a child wants to climb, they will do it anyway. Whether 70 cm, 90 cm or 130 cm. And conversely, things happen that you never expect (one of my twins climbed down from the couch as a toddler and supported himself strongly with his arm ==> arm fracture resulted at a height of 40-45 cm). I personally find 110 cm clearly too high. You are building a massive, high wall at the stairs. Whether it ends up being 90 or 95 cm doesn’t matter, but that looks completely different. My staircase down to the kids' basement room is also only 90 cm. Much more looks silly.