Approved Document K sets the minimum height for guarding in England. The common figures are:
- Stairs and ramps: 900 mm, measured vertically from the pitch line.
- Landings and internal floor edges in a house: 900 mm.
- External balconies and roof edges on dwellings: 1100 mm.
- Floor edges, landings and balconies in other buildings: 1100 mm.
In homes, and anywhere children may be present, there must be no gap a 100 mm sphere can pass through, and the design must not be easy to climb.
These are the common cases only. Always check the current Approved Document K and the project specification. Our guarding height checker gives a quick answer for typical locations.
