Balcony without railings: 53-year-old falls while smoking in Steyr-Land

Balcony without railings: 53-year-old falls while smoking in Steyr-Land

In the night of June 18, 2025, there was a serious incident in a residential building in the Steyr-Land district. The police were alerted around 1.40 a.m. after a 53-year-old man fell off the balcony. According to the information from Tips , a relative heard noises around 1 o'clock and found the man lying on the floor in a helpless location. The accident had gone to the balcony for smoking, but this was apparently without any railings, which resulted in the drastic fall.

The man was immediately admitted to the hospital with serious injuries. This case not only raises questions about security, but also the need for strict regulations for balcony railings. As can be seen from further information, balcony railings in Austria are regulated according to specific guidelines to ensure the safety of the residents.

statutory safety regulations

balcony railings should not only be aesthetically appealing, but above all safe. According to Heimundwerk , balcony railings must have a minimum height of 90 cm, the requirements can vary depending on the region and the risk of crash. Higher balcony railings are required if there is an increased risk of falling.

Security is also guaranteed by regulations that state that the distances between the struts may be a maximum of 12 cm. This is intended to prevent people, especially children, can fall through these gaps. The use of robust materials such as stainless steel, glass or wood is also prescribed to ensure that the railing withstands the weight of an adult.

Need of fall fuses

In Austria there are clear regulations for fuse: at a fall height of 60 cm or higher, a railing is necessary. Especially at larger heights, strict guidelines must be observed, as described Leeb . For example, a railing must be at least 1 m high with a fall height of more than 1 m.

The regulations are designed to ensure the security of the residents and to prevent accidents such as that of the 53-year-old. The unfortunate incident shows how important such safety precautions are, in which simply smoking on the balcony ended in a tragedy.