I hope someone can help me finish up an estimate today — the code office doesn’t open until tomorrow. I have a homeowner who wants an existing elevated porch to be screened in with screened panels floor to ceiling, replacing the existing metal railing. The screen itself seems a poor subsitute for the railing (with minimum 4″ openings) that would be required if this were an open deck. Am I required to make the bottom solid? I live in Pennsylvania and we follow the Uniform Building Code, with no additional addendums that I’m aware of. Thank you! Sue
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Replies
I believe that according to the IRC if it is elevated more that 30" above grade, you'll need handrail and spindles or make it solid. The handrail and spindles look better in my opinion. That's what we've done on the last elevated screened porch that we did.
Good luck,
John
J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.
Indianapolis, In.
Sue,
Welcome to the forum. I'm not on the UBC because I'm in MA and we have our very own set of nonsensical codes to abide by. But on this one, I can't imagine it would be much different. When we do screened in rooms we have to add a railing on the inside as well.
See the attached picture. I think it answers what you're asking.
Not bad -- two replies and a photo within 15 minutes! Thank you both! I guess I'll write it up with a rail and check with the code office when I get a chance. Sue
Hey Suzy:
You said "elevated" so I assume it's high enough that guardrail is required. That being the case, the code is pretty clear (I assume this is single family residence). New guardrail post and handrail needs to resist 200 psf. New guardrail infill needs to resist 50 psf. Ordinary window screen won't cut it.
Any chance you can keep the existing guardrail and screen over/around it and have it look like what the customer wants?
PS: I'm in Phila and we went to IRC 2003 just recently. I though that was statewide?
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You're probably right....very little of my work requires a permit, and usually, if it does, the homeowner takes care of it.
Regarding keeping the existing -- I don't think it (the existing) would meet code anyway, and the bigger part of my job there is building a large deck adjacent to this smaller, soon-to-be-screened area. It will look better, I think, to use the same railing on both areas.
suzy.... check out dog- proof screening... it can PROBABLY pass codeMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore