Balconies should be equipped with secure railings, also known as balustrades, to prevent any unnecessary falls around your home. This is a requirement of the Building Code of Australia.

As the weather starts to warm up it is important to be safe when letting in the spring and summer breeze. 

Every year approximately 20 children need care at our children’s hospitals after a fall from a window or balcony, with more than half being under the age of six.  Almost all these accidents happen in the family home. 

Falls from windows and balconies result in serious injuries and can be fatal.  Children aged between one and five years old are most at risk. 

Children can fall out of a window opened more than 12.5cms even if a fly screen is present. 

Balconies 1 metre above ground level require a barrier or balustrade.  The barrier or balustrade must be at least 1 metre high where any openings must not be greater than 12.5cm apart.  This can help prevent children from squeezing through or getting stuck.  

A home window, 2 metres above the floor level should have locks or latches preventing it from being opened more than 12.5cms to prevent accidental falls.  If the openable window is 1.7 metres or higher above the internal floor it does not need a safety lock device.

For more information on laws and standards for balconies and windows see NSW Planning Window safety and the National Construction Code for Safe movement and access. 

To ensure the safety of your child, it is crucial to remove any objects that are near the balcony railing. This will prevent children from climbing up and over. This becomes more and more important the older your child gets as their ability to climb increases.