What is a French balcony?

A French balcony is a floor-to-ceiling door or window with only a railing or balustrade placed in front of it, without any projecting balcony floor. The door can be opened fully, but you cannot actually step out onto it. The railing serves purely as fall protection, which is why a French balcony is also called a “Juliet balcony” or false balcony.

Construction

A French balcony has two parts: a tall, floor-height door opening in the facade and a fixed railing fastened to the facade or within the reveal of the opening. Because there is no cantilevered structure, it is lighter and cheaper than a real balcony and places little demand on the load-bearing facade structure.

Application and regulations

French balconies are mainly used to bring light and fresh air into apartments or upper-floor dwellings where there is no room for a full balcony. The balustrade acts as fall protection. Building regulations generally require the parapet or railing at a height drop to be at least roughly 1.0 metre tall, with bar spacings small enough that children cannot pass through.

Related terms

• Balcony
• Balustrade
• Parapet
• Fall protection
• Railing
• Facade

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