Fall protection is a built-in safety provision that prevents people or objects from falling through an opening or from a height. Building codes set out the requirements that fall protection must meet, for example at balconies, voids, stairs and window openings.
Types of fall protection
Fall protection can take several forms:
- Balustrade or guardrail — at balconies, voids and stairs
- Parapet wall — a low wall beneath a window
- Safety glazing — for large glass surfaces at height
- Restrictor or safety bar — at large windows or openings
- Rooflight guardrail — around a rooflight or skylight in a flat roof
Building code requirements
Building codes typically require:
- Height — at least 1.00 m above the floor where the fall height exceeds 1 m (homes), with higher minimums for greater fall heights
- Openings — openings within the barrier must not exceed 0.10 m, so a small child cannot pass through
- Non-climbable — the barrier must not be usable as a ladder by a child
- Strength — it must resist a horizontal load applied at the top
Application
Fall protection is required at:
- Balconies and roof terraces
- Stairs, landings and walkways
- Voids and floor openings
- Windows at height (with a low parapet)
- Roofs used as accessible surfaces
For renovations, the building code applies; for listed buildings, alternative requirements may be allowed.
Related terms
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