ᐅ Baden-Württemberg – What is the permitted height for knee walls?

Hello everyone,

We have a stair guard wall measuring 1.10 meters (3 ft 7 in) from the finished floor level. It is a straight staircase.
We are considering shortening the guard to 90 cm (35 inches), assuming this is the required height.
Our site manager told us that the current required height is actually 1.05 meters (3 ft 5 in).
We are building in Baden-Württemberg.
Can anyone provide information about the required height?
We have two small children – their safety is our top priority.
However, we find it hard to believe that safety would be more at risk with a height of 90 cm (35 inches).
What are your thoughts?

Best regards

In situations like this, it is easy to respond by simply asking which specific regulation this can be found in, which usually prompts the claimant to reconsider.

I have only found the state building code, which does not specify exact heights, as well as the corresponding implementing regulation (LBOAVO) that requires 0.9m (35 inches) or 0.8m (31.5 inches) with a 20cm (8 inches) parapet depth. It cannot be ruled out that there is an additional standard specifying 1.05m (41 inches). However, they should be able to provide that reference and clarify its applicability to your construction project (commercial buildings sometimes have stricter regulations).

In residential buildings, the minimum height is usually 90 cm (35 inches). You can find this information online as well. Why not ask the site manager where the 105 cm (41 inches) requirement comes from?

We also have 90 cm (35 inches) here, and it has been sufficient. It is important that the parapet does not have any horizontal bars that children could use as a ladder.

In general, a higher parapet is better when you have small children. They like to pull themselves up on such railings and can reach surprising heights. I was really amazed a few times at where my kids managed to climb over.

Best regards,

Andreas

I will definitely make sure to get the standard he refers to.
We are now wondering whether shortening it poses an unnecessary safety risk or if the 20 cm (8 inches) lower height would even be noticeable visually.
It is a continuous wooden knee wall covered with OSB. So, there are no supports to climb on.
Our older child—3 years old—is just under one meter (3 feet 3 inches) tall now. I somehow can’t imagine her being able to climb a 90 cm (35 inches) high wall... But of course, it could look very different at age 5 or 6. Maybe those extra 20 cm (8 inches) then do make a difference...

When Mom sits on the kitchen cabinets with her coffee cup, our 3-year-old grandchildren quickly sit down next to her without any climbing aid.

SandyBlack schrieb:

I will definitely ask to see the standard he refers to.

No, you won’t – because it doesn’t exist.

SandyBlack schrieb:

whether 20 cm (8 inches) deeper would even be noticeable visually.

It definitely is.

SandyBlack schrieb:

whether we are taking an unnecessary safety risk by shortening it.

I don’t think so.

SandyBlack schrieb:

We have two small children – their safety is our top priority.

You already have a high level of safety by not building a traditional stair railing. Aside from that, you don’t need to go overboard with safety – yes, be safe, but being overprotective like helicopter parents is not necessary.
And if a child wants to climb, they will climb regardless – whether it’s 70 cm (28 inches), 90 cm (35 inches), or 130 cm (51 inches). And conversely, accidents can happen in ways you never expect (one of my twins as a toddler climbed down from the couch and landed on his arm, resulting in a broken arm from a height of only 40–45 cm (16–18 inches)).

Personally, I find 110 cm (43 inches) way too high. You are building a solid, tall wall at the stairs. Whether it ends up being 90 or 95 cm (35 or 37 inches) doesn’t matter much, but it definitely looks very different. The stairs down to the basement playroom for my kids is only 90 cm (35 inches) high; any higher just looks odd.