Regulations
# NF P01-012 standard: what to know before ordering

Balustrade Fer Forgé 28 September 2026 · 2 min read Height, gap, secured lower zone: four thresholds to know before ordering, whatever your piece ends up being called.

The French NF P01-012 standard, revised in November 2024 and phased in since June 2025, sets the dimensional requirements for guard-rails — whatever the piece is called (rail, handrail, balustrade, see our article on [the difference between these three terms](https://gloriette-fer-forge.fr/en/blog/balustrade-handrail-guard-rail-difference/) ). Here are the four thresholds to know before designing your project. The full detail is on our [guard-rail regulations](https://gloriette-fer-forge.fr/en/guard-rail-regulations/) page.

## Minimum height: 1.00 m

The minimum required height is 1.00 m, measured from the tread nose on a staircase, or from the finished floor level elsewhere. This is a commonly mixed-up point on a staircase: the reference is the tread nose, not the landing floor — a mix-up that can throw the figure off by several centimetres if the survey isn’t done carefully.

## Maximum infill gap: 11 cm

No gap in the infill should allow an 11 cm diameter sphere to pass through — a gauge chosen to stop a young child’s head from fitting through. This threshold applies at **any point** in the pattern, not just between two straight balusters: an infill with very [ornate scrollwork](https://gloriette-fer-forge.fr/en/infill-and-patterns/) can exceed this threshold locally without it being visible before fitting, if the pattern hasn’t been checked beforehand.

## Secured lower zone: 45 cm

The first 45 cm from the ground must be solid or non-climbable, to stop a child from climbing using the structure itself as a foothold. This is a more easily overlooked point than the previous two, particularly on a balustrade with a lighter decorative register.

## Horizontal spacing (“ladder” effect): under 18 cm

Horizontal infill elements must be spaced less than 18 cm apart, to limit what’s known as the “ladder effect” — horizontal bars spaced too far apart that would make climbing easier.

## Does the standard apply differently indoors?

No. The height and gap thresholds are identical indoors and outdoors — see our [indoor balustrade](https://gloriette-fer-forge.fr/en/indoor-balustrade/) , [terrace balustrade](https://gloriette-fer-forge.fr/en/terrace-balustrade/) and [balcony balustrade](https://gloriette-fer-forge.fr/en/balcony-balustrade/) pages. What actually changes by location is the finish (galvanising, powder-coating) and weather exposure — not the regulations.

## Does an old balustrade need to be brought up to standard?

Not systematically: the obligation to comply depends on the context (sale, rental, public-facing building). On an already-equipped private home, an existing piece isn’t automatically due for replacement — but a replacement is an opportunity to meet the current thresholds.

## Who checks compliance?

There’s no systematic inspection for a private home, but compliance remains the owner’s responsibility. The partner workshop designs every balustrade to meet the thresholds in force, with measurements checked before fabrication — without guaranteeing an official certification, which isn’t its role.

Unsure your project complies? [Request a quote](https://gloriette-fer-forge.fr/en/quote/) , the workshop discusses it with you before any pricing.

### A balustrade project?

The partner workshop replies with a first estimate within 48h, free and with no obligation.
 [Get a quote →](https://gloriette-fer-forge.fr/en/quote/)
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