ᐅ Window sill height 25 cm or 50 cm – height of fall protection
Created on: 1 May 2022 23:01
S
Samantheus
Hello everyone,
we are currently undecided about the sill height for our windows on the upper floor.
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
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
W
WilderSueden2 May 2022 13:58What is your priority? Genuine safety or a legally compliant approval of the most attractive option?
Almost anything can be climbed over by a child, even with the help of a chair if necessary. The only real solution is fixed glazing. Lockable windows offer only an illusion of security, since you still want to be able to open them. In the end, the only effective approach is to teach children where climbing is not allowed.
If you decide to go with glass, I would generally lean towards a lower parapet height.
Almost anything can be climbed over by a child, even with the help of a chair if necessary. The only real solution is fixed glazing. Lockable windows offer only an illusion of security, since you still want to be able to open them. In the end, the only effective approach is to teach children where climbing is not allowed.
If you decide to go with glass, I would generally lean towards a lower parapet height.
Hello,
regarding
for me, the sill height would also be set to 50cm (20 inches) for the other windows. Keep it simple and don’t mix too many different things!
Personally, I’m not a fan of these French balconies. Honestly, I find them quite unattractive. That’s why we divided the floor-to-ceiling windows on the upper floor. The lower part is fixed glazing, and only the top part can be opened. This also has the advantage that you can still open the windows even if there is something in front of the lower part. This is especially valuable in the children’s room... ;-)
Best regards,
Andreas
regarding
Samantheus schrieb:
A bedroom window (facing the extension) cannot be lowered to a sill height of 25cm (10 inches), but must remain at a sill height of 50cm (20 inches) due to the roof parapet.
for me, the sill height would also be set to 50cm (20 inches) for the other windows. Keep it simple and don’t mix too many different things!
Personally, I’m not a fan of these French balconies. Honestly, I find them quite unattractive. That’s why we divided the floor-to-ceiling windows on the upper floor. The lower part is fixed glazing, and only the top part can be opened. This also has the advantage that you can still open the windows even if there is something in front of the lower part. This is especially valuable in the children’s room... ;-)
Best regards,
Andreas
S
Samantheus2 May 2022 15:40Thank you for the tips and opinions!
kbt09 schrieb:I had the same thought last night because of your question... I inquired, but haven’t received a definite answer yet. I think it will probably be around 50 cm (20 inches) above the finished floor.
Then ask at what finished parapet height it is no longer considered a step. And, based on that, whether a fall protection can end at a height of 90 cm (35 inches) above the finished floor?
WilderSueden schrieb:The latter. Our son moves chairs around anyway when he wants to climb, so I’m with you on that.
What is your goal? Genuine safety or a legally compliant approval of the most attractive option?
andimann schrieb:That makes sense. But we currently have windows like that in our apartment and are not too happy with them. The issue is that the horizontal bar is exactly at eye level when seated, so you always end up looking right at that wide bar, which bothers us a lot. With the higher parapet height, the part that can be opened would also be quite small. We also didn’t like that visually from the outside.
That’s true about splitting the floor-to-ceiling windows on the upper floor. The lower part is fixed glass, and only the top opens. It also has the advantage that you can still open the windows if something is in front of the lower section. Especially in a child’s room, that’s really valuable... ;-)
andimann schrieb:
We therefore divided the floor-to-ceiling windows on the upper floor. The lower part is fixed glazing and only the top can be opened. This also has the advantage that you can still open the windows even if something is in front of the lower part. Especially in a child's room, this is really valuable.... ;-)We did exactly the same. Word Word word
K
karl.jonas4 May 2022 23:18andimann schrieb:
The lower part is fixed glazing and only the upper part can be opened.That is also our plan, but with 10 or 60 and then 90 cm (4 or 24 and then 35 inches) above the finished floor level.Samantheus schrieb:
The problem is that the horizontal bar is exactly at eye level when sitting, so you always end up looking right at this wide bar.I understand that. But I’m surprised the French balcony doesn’t bother you then.Similar topics