Q: How Do I Meet Height and Spacing Code Requirements on My Deck Railing?
- For straight railing, make sure that guardrails are at least 36 inches high. ...
- Deck stair railing should measure at least 34 inches high. ...
- Deck railing balusters should be spaced less than 4 inches apart. ...
- You are allowed a larger opening for the triangle formed between the stair riser, stair tread, and bottom edge of the bottom rail. ...
What is the required Heighth of a deck railing?
Deck Railing Height Codes. The IRC (International Residential Code) notes that deck railing systems must be at least 36 inches in height from the decking surface to the top of the top rail on homes. Outdoor living spaces connected to larger buildings such as multi-family buildings, apartment buildings, businesses, or restaurants are regulated under a different code.
How tall should a deck railing be?
In most cases, deck railing heights vary between 36 to 42 inches from the deck surface to the top of the rail with the bottom of the railing being less than 4 inches from the deck surface; however, you should always double check with an experienced contractor or deck railing professional to ensure that you are meeting local code requirements.
What is the height requirement for a deck rail?
There is no maximum height. A railing is only necessary if the deck is 30” or more off the ground, and 24” in certain jurisdictions. Many states and provinces mandate deck railings to be at least 42” if the deck is 6’ or more off the ground. Deck railing openings can be wider apart – 4 ⅜ – between 36” and 42” to allow for better visibility.
What is the standard height for a deck rail?
Here are the general rules of thumb for standard deck railing height code throughout the United States. What is deck railing code height? Deck railing height should be a minimum of 36 inches; this should measure from the top edge of the top rail down to the the deck surface.
How high should a deck be above grade?
All decks greater than 30" above grade must have a guardrail. If you choose to install a guardrail on a deck lower than 30", you must still meet code requirements. Decks attached to single-family detached homes are regulated under the rules of the International Residential Code (IRC). The IRC requires guardrails to be at least 36" in height ...
How far apart should rail posts be?
Rail posts need to be properly fastened and should not be spaced more than about 6 feet apart to prevent a saggy or bouncy rail. Many builders run a 2x6 top cap continuously over the top of the posts and top rail to provide a clean finished edge and the practical purpose of providing a surface to set glasses, etc.
How high should a deck railing be?
The minimum height of the railing varies based on the height of the deck. Decks 24" to 5-10" (180 cm) need 36" guards and anything above 5-10" requires a 42" high railing.
How high is a guardrail?
USA Rail Height For REsidences. Guardrails are required once the deck is 30" or more above the grade. A 36" rail measured from the top of rail to the deck surface is required. California is the one exception where they require 42" guards.
How high should a deck railing be?
Guardrails must be provided on the open side of a stair where it is more than 30" above the floor or grade. Stair rails must be at least 34" high, measured from the nosing of the stair treads.
How high should a guard rail be on stairs?
Guard rails are required on the sides of stairs with a total rise of more than 30" above the floor or grade below.
How high should stair balusters be?
Snap in the stair balusters. Guardrails on stairs must be at least 34" high, measured from the nosing of the treads.
How to attach top rail to 4x4 post?
Attach the top rail to the 4x4 rail post using rail connector screws.
Do you align top rail posts?
If the top rail post is set at the rear of the tread, you will want to align the bottom post similarly . Landings and stairs that change directions will often require the thoughtful situating of rail posts to allow for a system that looks and performs well.
Can a 4 3/8 sphere pass through a stair tread?
No opening shall allow a 4 3/8" sphere to pass through with the exception that you are allowed a larger opening provided for the triangle formed between the stair riser, stair tread and bottom edge of the bottom rail. This open space may not allow a 6” sphere to pass through it.
How tall is a handrail?
Although there is an international residential code for handrail heights (34 to 38 inches) local codes may require sizes that are different from those of the international code. Sizes for handrails, both balusters, and newels, must also conform to these codes.
What is a baluster post?
Baluster Posts. A baluster, sometimes referred to as a stair stick or banister, is one of a group of mounted vertical shafts, or posts, that support a stair handrail. Some of these balusters are molded. Others are turned on a lathe. But all must conform to local codes.
Do you have to apply local code to stair rails?
Building stairs that comply with safety standards requires not only that you apply local code standards to constructed stair rails heights, but also to constructed stair post heights.
How far should a stair railing be from the wall?
For example, the minimum hand clearance between the railing and the wall that it is mounted on is 1 1/2 inches. Yet, if the railing is pushed out too far, there is the risk of violating another section of code that provides for 27 inches of walking width between the two railings of a double-railing staircase.
How high should a handrail be on stairs?
Handrail height on the stairs should be no less than 34 inches and no greater than 38 inches. The way this is measured is to begin at the leading edge of the stair nosing and run an imaginary vertical line upward until it reaches the top of the railing.
How far away from the wall should a railing be?
When you have just one railing on a staircase, the inside (stair-side) edge of the railing must be at least 31 1/2 inches away from the wall on the other side of the staircase.
What is minimum railing distance?
Minimum railing distance means the walking space between a handrail on one wall and an adjacent wall that has no handrail.
What is the staircase code?
Staircase code is rooted in a set of solid ideas that all revolve around the notion that gravity isn't our best friend on staircases. So, the staircase code dictates that there must be handrails on the incline portion of stairs and guards on the horizontal parts.
How far apart should stair rails be?
When you have two railings (one on each side of the stairwell) those railings must be at least 27 inches apart from each other, measuring between the inside (stair-side) surfaces of both handrails.
What is a guard rail?
Guards are the rails that protect users from falling off of high areas, such as landings. Landings can be intermediate horizontal sections within a staircase or terminal sections at the top or bottom of a staircase.
How high should a top railing be above a stair tread?
Remember that line that’s created by the straightedge along the tips of the stair treads? If you extend a vertical line up from this sloped line, the top railing must be not less than 34 inches and no more than 38 inches above the line connecting the tips of the stair treads.
How far above the tips of stair railing?
Be sure the bottom railing is at least one inch above the tips of the stair nosing and that the railing is parallel with the sloped line created by the tips of the tread nosings.
Why do you need to maintain spacing and position for railings?
It’s vital to maintain this spacing and position for the posts so that the railings connect to the posts at the same height above each tread. This creates a uniform sight line and professional look. It also creates a safe railing. The building code is very specific about the height of the railing and you have some leeway.
How to determine the angle of a stair railing?
The angle of the stair railing is determined by the rise and run of the steps you’re working with. The bottom and top rails of the steps simply run parallel to the line created by the nose of each of the stair treads.
How far back should a deck post be from the edge of the deck?
In other words, if the face of the top post on your deck is set back 3 inches from the tip of the decking board at the edge of the deck, then all the other posts on the steps going down must also have their face 3 inches from the tip of the stair riser they’re sitting on.
