ᐅ Window sill height 25 cm or 50 cm – height of fall protection

Hello everyone,

we are currently undecided about the sill height for our windows on the upper floor.

• Initially, we planned floor-to-ceiling windows.
• For structural reasons, this was not possible, and we need a minimum rough sill height of 25cm (10 inches).
• For aesthetic reasons, we then considered a sill height of 50cm (20 inches) (better living atmosphere inside, child can sit on it).
• However, we were told that the windowsill is interpreted as a "stepping surface," so the French balcony must be 90cm (35 inches) above the top edge of the windowsill.

That’s the story/basis in brief. Now we are reconsidering and are torn between a sill height of 25cm and 50cm.

From our point of view, a sill height of 25cm favors a more harmonious fall protection height and more light in the room.
On the other hand, a 50cm sill height might make the room feel cozier inside and the windowsill can be used more, for example, to place toys on or for children to sit on. Also, with a sill height of 50cm, the distance to the ground floor windows is somewhat greater, which might make a potential future pergola or awning feel less cramped.

We are very uncertain how a 90cm (35 inches) fall protection above a 50cm sill would feel in the room. We have never seen anything like that in a show house or similar. In that case, the fall protection would end about 128cm (50 inches) above the finished floor level, which feels quite high. With a 25cm sill, it would only be 103cm (41 inches), which feels more comfortable (similar to sill height on stairs, etc.).

The key question:
Does anyone here have 50cm sill windows with fall protection and can share how that feels in a room? Maybe even a photo?
Would you recommend sill height 25cm or 50cm? Are we overlooking anything?

A few additional details:
- This concerns a total of 4 windows (2 windows in children’s rooms) and 2 windows in the bedroom.
- One bedroom window (facing an extension) cannot be lowered to 25cm sill height and must remain at 50cm sill height (due to the roof parapet).
- Windows are planned with white PVC frames on the inside, dark aluminum on the outside (DB 703).
- Windowsill Nero Assoluto, 3cm (1 inch) thick, not flush with plaster.
- Fall protection made of glass installed inside the window reveal directly at the window (Warema VisioNeo).

Link to planning thread (for info and completeness only): https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/grundriss-planung-und-platzierung-efh-ca-200qm-auf-900qm-Grundstück.39104/

The facade images are just to better visualize the exterior; the fall protection shown there has incorrect (too low) dimensions.

Thanks in advance and best regards,
Sam

Floor plan:

View sill height 25

View sill height 50

What is the reference point for your parapet height? The top edge of the floor slab or the top edge of the finished floor?

Sorry, I forgot to mention that, it is of course important.
The specification refers to the shell construction. The floor structure is 15cm (6 inches). That means:
Parapet height 25 => 10cm (4 inches) above finished floor level
Parapet height 50 => 35cm (14 inches) above finished floor level

Samantheus schrieb:

We are quite uncertain about how a 90cm (35 inches) fall protection would look with a 50cm (20 inches) window sill height, we have never seen something like that in a show home or similar. In that case, the fall protection would end approximately 128cm (50 inches) above the finished floor level, which feels quite high. With a sill height of 25cm (10 inches), it would only be 103cm (40 inches), which feels more comfortable (similar to railing height on stairs, etc.).

How do you come to that conclusion? In my opinion, the fall protection must reach 90cm (35 inches) in height above the finished floor level. Your exterior drawings also show that the fall protection always ends on a single line and is proportionally lower when the sill height is higher on the outside.

In any case, I would choose the 50cm (20 inches) sill height, maybe even with an additional row of bricks, because then the finished sill height would be closer to a real seating height. And 15cm (6 inches) finished sill height looks neither here nor there.

Samantheus schrieb:

However, it was said that the windowsill is considered a "step," so the French balcony must be 90cm (35 inches) above the top edge of the windowsill.

As far as I know, this information is unfortunately correct.
Furthermore, I’m afraid you won’t get approval for the "parapets" as drawn: with the horizontal bars, they basically resemble "ladders" :-(

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kbt09 schrieb:

Where do you get that from? In my opinion, the fall protection must reach a height of 90 cm (35 inches) above the finished floor level. Your exterior drawings also show that the fall protection always ends on a single line and is correspondingly lower on the outside if the parapet height is higher.

That was a comment from the window installer who is also planning the fall protection with us. We then spoke to our general contractor, who said it might alternatively be possible to use a lockable window handle or tilt-and-turn protection, and referred us to the TÜV inspector responsible for the final approval, with whom this should be coordinated in advance. However, the TÜV inspector stated that alternative safety measures like the lockable window handle or tilt-and-turn protection are not sufficient and that no reduction is possible. As drawn, it would therefore not be accepted by TÜV.

11ant schrieb:

Furthermore, I fear you will not get approval for the "parapets" as drawn: with the horizontal bars they are practically "ladders" :-(

That is correct. We have not planned it as drawn but rather a fall protection made of glass.