The stair and balcony shown at above had some other safety problems however, including non-graspable 2圆 on-edge handrailings along the stairway and balusters spaced too far apart. Posts that run continuously from footings to railings (photo at left) are the strongest, but these are often not practical. See GUARDRAIL POST CODES & SPECS Post Connections for Deck or Porch Railings The majority of residential decks, which rely on notched posts lag-screwed into the band joist, do not meet With standard fastening techniques, but meeting the IRC guardrail requirement is difficult without adding steel Under the IRC, the infill or balusters must resistĪ concentrated horizontal load of 50 pounds applied to a square foot area. The torn remains of the deer netting can be seen on the left side of this photograph.Ĭontinuing from from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction (found at page bottom, Click to Show or Hide): Deer netting was installed across the open edge of the deck - and it worked fine until someone fell thorough it. Railing be able to resist a 200-pound concentrated load applied along the top in any direction, while some localĬodes still in effect specify a smaller load of 20 pounds per linear foot.Īfter an above-ground swimming pool was removed, the owners continued to use the deck in our photo (left). The railing must be strong enough to resist horizontal loads from people leaning on it. Deck Railing (Guardrail) Strength Requirements For child safety, the balusters or other decorative infill must be spaced less than 4 inches apart (a 4-inch-diameter ball should not pass between the balusters). See CABLE RAILINGS & GUARDRAILS for details about cable type guard rails or "cable railings" such as shown above.Īs detailed in Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction (found at page bottom, Click to Show or Hide): The International Residential Code (IRC) requires a minimum 36-inch-high guardrail for all decks, balconies, or screened enclosures more than 30 inches off the ground. We also demonstrate how easily the cables can be separated as well as how attractive this guard railing is to children. Our photos (above and below) show an attractive railing with horizontal cables intended to permit a nice view of the Brooklyn NY skyline. Deck Railing & Guard railing Code Requirements This article includes excerpts or adaptations from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction (found at page bottom, Click to Show or Hide), by Steven Bliss, courtesy of Wiley & Sons. This scary guardrail is rotted, poorly fastened (note the nails have pulled away to left of the sagging gate), and the open balusters are a child hazard. Guide to Building Safe, Legal Deck, Porch Railingsĭiscussed here: Deck, porch & retaining wall railing & guard rail construction, materials, designs How to connect deck guardrail or stair rail posts to the deck structure Deck & porch railing construction details & structural fasteners Deck & porch guard railing construction details for safety Deck & porch railings: code requirements Railing requirements for decks, porches, exterior stairs. We also provide an ARTICLE INDEX for this topic, or you can try the page top or bottom SEARCH BOX as a quick way to find information you need. This article describes recommended construction practices for deck safety, deck railing requirements, guard railing construction and building codes, and critical safe-construction details for deck and porch rails, guardrails, and exterior stair guard railings and handrails. Guardrails Best Practices for Decks & Porches: We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website. Be inspired to dress your deck with these deck railing ideas.InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. Sometimes a few styles are mashed together to create something that you won't see anywhere else. There are traditional, farmhouse, rustic, modern, and everything in between. There are all different styles of deck railings. You'll also want to think about whether you're looking for a railing that stands out or one that blends in with the scenery. An interesting look is to combine different materials to make the railing really stand out. Some materials are easier to clean and maintain than others so keep that in mind before you get one installed. Just make sure you follow the deck code guidelines for railings when you do decide to build it.ĭeck railings can be made out of a wide variety of materials like wood, metal, or aluminum. Whether you're building a deck or simply replacing the railings, this is a great project to tackle. They give you something to hold onto while looking fabulous. Deck railings are more than functional, they're almost like jewelry for your deck. These deck railing ideas will give you some unique ideas on how to redo your existing railing or maybe add on a whole new railing. The Spruce Home Improvement Review Board.
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