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I’m planning to build a deck on my recently completed house and I’ve been looking at deck designs in books and magazines. A deck with curved (laminated) built in bench seats around the perimeter is ideal for my situation. I’m having trouble determining what the building codes are for deck railings and if a built in bench seat (18 in. high I 16 in. deep, no back)would effect the need for a railing. I’ve been looking in the 2000 International Residential Building Code and can’t find much of anything on railings much less decks and seating. My current understanding is that any portion of a deck more than 30″ above the ground would require a railing. Is this true and would the fixed benches eliminate that requirement? Any assistance on where to find this info would be appreciated.
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I'm planning to build a deck on my recently completed house and I've been looking at deck designs in books and magazines. A deck with curved (laminated) built in bench seats around the perimeter is ideal for my situation. I'm having trouble determining what the building codes are for deck railings and if a built in bench seat (18 in. high I 16 in. deep, no back)would effect the need for a railing. I've been looking in the 2000 International Residential Building Code and can't find much of anything on railings much less decks and seating. My current understanding is that any portion of a deck more than 30" above the ground would require a railing. Is this true and would the fixed benches eliminate that requirement? Any assistance on where to find this info would be appreciated.