Railing Guidelines - Head Protection Catch Point and Climbing Prevention

  • Erstellt am 2023-02-15 13:54:40

Fertighaus123

2023-02-15 13:54:40
  • #1
Hello dear all,

Yesterday we had a crisis meeting with the managing director of our house construction company. The whole thing is really getting out of hand and we are on the verge of involving a lawyer because there are points where we can no longer proceed reasonably. One of these points is the following issue.

The latest stunt is that we have railings ordered over a gallery between the ground floor and upper floor and on the outside balcony. We want these railings to have horizontal bars (very rough pictures for illustration are attached). Now the construction company comes along and says they won’t do such a railing, we should remove the service and commission a locksmith.

When asked why, we were told something about head entrapment spots for children, which is why the bars must not be more than 120mm apart. And not horizontal because children could climb on them.

I find both reasons far-fetched. I know about head entrapment spots from public areas, but even there only in a defined range such as 89mm-230mm, everything above or below is okay again. But that has nothing to do with private residential houses. Or does it?

And the climbing argument is nonsense too, dangers are everywhere, why should it be more dramatic on a railing.

One can philosophize about the sense or nonsense of such a railing all you want. I just want to know from you whether you know if it is really prohibited, because that is exactly what he claims.
Removing the railings from the service is also nonsense, we would probably only be credited a fraction of what such a railing actually costs (credits are still pending).

Do you have any tips or is there perhaps even a guideline for railings that a locksmith must follow?

I would be very happy to receive feedback from you.

Best regards
 

KarstenausNRW

2023-02-15 14:13:39
  • #2
The clear answer is YES AND NO. It depends on the federal state and the state building code. This also applies to the 12cm - usually not allowed.
 

Fertighaus123

2023-02-15 14:34:50
  • #3
We build in BW.

Can you say what you mean by the 12cm? What is not allowed there? Deviating, whether smaller or larger?
 

Tolentino

2023-02-15 14:38:46
  • #4
I have also heard and read about the horizontal struts. Namely, that they are not per se prohibited, but everything you can stand on is now considered the starting height for the minimum height of fall protection/the railing. So, if at least 90 cm is required and you have a window sill that is 40 cm high, then the 80 cm do not start from the floor, but from the window sill. A cross strut is sometimes considered climbable by some, and if you have several, you would have to make the railing into a grid up to the ceiling. But I could also imagine that this is evaluated differently for stair railings/galleries than for a floor-to-ceiling window...
 

Schorsch_baut

2023-02-15 14:50:43
  • #5
I would not install a railing like that if I had children under 16 years old. Never.
 

Tassimat

2023-02-15 14:51:34
  • #6
I do not consider that far-fetched. The railings in the pictures can be deadly for babies and toddlers. If you don't want children yourselves, that may be fine, but there could still be children visiting. Children simply crawl right through! Just take a look at the requirements according to § 3 LBOAVO yourself.
 

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