Article 3: FRENCH RAILING LEGISLATION OF BALUSTRADE

In France, the main standards to comply with are:

NF P01-012 Standard: This standard outlines the basic requirements for the design, installation, and maintenance of guardrails. It specifies minimum guardrail heights, allowable materials, permissible loads, and fastening methods.

NF P01-013 Standard: This standard relates to guardrails in general, establishing specifications for methods and criteria for dynamic and static testing considering their resistance to impacts and loads, as well as fastening methods.

CSTB 3034_v3 Technical Document: This standard applies to glass guardrails embedded at the base. It establishes the modalities for experimental justification and criteria determining their capacity to ensure people’s safety.

NF EN 16612 Standard: Regarding glass guardrails, this document provides a method for determining the calculation of glass resistance subjected to bending. It gives the general calculation method and guidance for resistance to perpendicular loads on linearly supported glass elements.

ERP Regulation: For public buildings (ERP), strict standards apply to ensure visitors safety. Guardrails must comply with fire safety and accessibility rules. Establishments must also ensure guaranteed and facilitated emergency access, especially on facades. ERPs rely on all the mentioned standards for their implementation.

European Standards: Preceding national standards, European standards specify the loads to apply, covering the safety of building structures and guardrails. For example, EN 1991-1-1 determines operating loads for stability calculations of building structures, and EN 16612 defines methods for calculating the resistance of glass subjected to bending, as well as guidelines for resistance to perpendicular loads on linearly assembled glass elements. Adhering to these standards is essential for international compatibility.

In France, the main standards to comply with are:

NF P01-012 Standard: This standard outlines the basic requirements for the design, installation, and maintenance of guardrails. It specifies minimum guardrail heights, allowable materials, permissible loads, and fastening methods.

NF P01-013 Standard: This standard relates to guardrails in general, establishing specifications for methods and criteria for dynamic and static testing considering their resistance to impacts and loads, as well as fastening methods.

CSTB 3034_v3 Technical Document: This standard applies to glass guardrails embedded at the base. It establishes the modalities for experimental justification and criteria determining their capacity to ensure people’s safety.

NF EN 16612 Standard: Regarding glass guardrails, this document provides a method for determining the calculation of glass resistance subjected to bending. It gives the general calculation method and guidance for resistance to perpendicular loads on linearly supported glass elements.

ERP Regulation: For public buildings (ERP), strict standards apply to ensure visitors safety. Guardrails must comply with fire safety and accessibility rules. Establishments must also ensure guaranteed and facilitated emergency access, especially on facades. ERPs rely on all the mentioned standards for their implementation.

European Standards: Preceding national standards, European standards specify the loads to apply, covering the safety of building structures and guardrails. For example, EN 1991-1-1 determines operating loads for stability calculations of building structures, and EN 16612 defines methods for calculating the resistance of glass subjected to bending, as well as guidelines for resistance to perpendicular loads on linearly assembled glass elements. Adhering to these standards is essential for international compatibility.

Additionally, Eurocodes describe the principles of design for Ultimate Limit State (ULS) and Serviceability Limit State (SLS). Determining stresses in materials and comparing their resistances helps prevent any risk of structure overload.

• Serviceability Limit State (SLS): Used to verify that elastic deformations of the structure remain compatible with functionality.
• Ultimate Limit State (ULS): Used to verify that structures do not undergo irreversible deformation or degradation under load and do not compromise user safety in extreme conditions.

Additionally, Eurocodes describe the principles of design for Ultimate Limit State (ULS) and Serviceability Limit State (SLS). Determining stresses in materials and comparing their resistances helps prevent any risk of structure overload.

• Serviceability Limit State (SLS): Used to verify that elastic deformations of the structure remain compatible with functionality.
• Ultimate Limit State (ULS): Used to verify that structures do not undergo irreversible deformation or degradation under load and do not compromise user safety in extreme conditions.

The Normal Standing Zone (NSZ)

The NSZ refers to the area where it is possible to stand naturally. This zone is the point where measurements of guardrail heights must be taken.
The minimum heights to be observed should be at least 1 meter for typical cases and 1.1 meters for specific applications such as train stations or stadium stands.

The Normal Standing Zone (NSZ)

The NSZ refers to the area where it is possible to stand naturally. This zone is the point where measurements of guardrail heights must be taken.
The minimum heights to be observed should be at least 1 meter for typical cases and 1.1 meters for specific applications such as train stations or stadium stands.