Replies

1. 
   Martagon_ | Jun 07, 2001 03:54am | #1

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   Norm: I think you're gonna have to change your name to get an answer, Names like Norm, Steve, Tom, Dicky, well, there's just an association with some other magazine there. Try posting with a new name. I'd love to help ya' but all I know about carpentry, I learned here.

1. 
   Neil_Brecher | Jun 07, 2001 07:58pm | #2

   *I've built a number of decks and the requirements are different for each township. They will be able to clarify code. They will determine a maximum height before a railing is required anywhere from 16" to 30". But the standard railing is 32-36" high, with no more than 3-4 inches between balusters, and at the bottom if there is a lower rail. Also, no township I know of allows, in any way, horizontal details. These would serve as a ladder for a small child to scale. Likewise, the bench provides a similar danger. I've seen the designs in the book too. Many are very attractive, but I haven't seen a code that would allow most of them.

1. 
   Frank_DuVal | Jun 09, 2001 05:35am | #3

   *So what good is a bench if I can't rest my back on it? You don't want to encourage guests to stay? You build chairs with no backs in your furniture work?I'm sorry, but I need ergonomic back support.Besides, what keeps people from falling backwards off of the bench and injuring themselves? I wouldn't think this would be practical or code passable. Neil has stated what I find in the CABO code and what is required here. And I'll add: " The top rail shall withstand a 200 lb concentrated load. The infill area of the guardrail system must withstand a horizontal concentrated load of 200 lbs on a one square foot area." So, rail is required here if heigth of deck is 30" above grade and top of rail is 36" above deck surface. So the bench better have a back 36" above the deck surface. Frank DuVal

1. 
   Amoroso_Michael | Jun 09, 2001 05:27pm | #4

   *Norm: Here in Utah if a deck is 36" above the ground you need a railing, Now the railing should be at least 36 inches high and able to support an applied weight of atleast 200 lbs be certin that the ballasters are nomore than 4" apart, I am not sure of your particular codes but that is to keep kids from sticking their heads through and I think that its a good idea. I dont see a problem with using benches with backs on them except to say that a kid might be able to climb up and fall off the deck but your going to have to watch for that arent you.

1. 
   Mike_Maines_ | Jun 09, 2001 06:48pm | #5

   *By Mass. state code, which mostly follows the UBC, a deck more than 30" off the ground has to have a 36" railing, bench or no bench. Don't forget to put balusters below the bench, so the kiddies can't crawl underneath. Codes are there for a reason, to protect people.If your deck is not too much over the 30" number, you can build up a terraced garden outside the deck to bring the grade elevation up. Landscape timbers or stone walls work well and are easy to do.Mike

2. 
   Norman_Berke | Jun 09, 2001 06:48pm | #6

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   Hi, I hope one of you guys can shed some on light on the codes for deck railings. I've been looking in the 2000 International Residential Building Codes and haven't been able to find anything. Here is my situation, I'm a fairly competent (but amateur) furniture builder without a heck of a lot of residential construction experience. I'm looking to add a deck onto the back of my house. I am interested in using some of the built in benches I've seen in a deck design book (Creative Home owner DECK DESIGNS by Steve Cory). I'm having trouble determining when (what elevation) railings are required and if these built in benches (16 in. high by 16 in. deep - no backs) somehow reduce the need for railings. Some of the decks in this book appear to be more than 30 in. above ground and have only these benches no railings. My town (New Milford Ct.) goes by BOCA codes. I'd apprieciate any info I can get.

   Thanks in advance
   Norman