Whenever I’ve seen a house with a sod (or earth covered) roof, I’ve never seen a railing at the edge, even if the roof is meant as a walking surface. Anyone know how this is interpreted vis-a-vis the code requirements for a railing? I’m contemplating such a beast with a second floor walkout onto the sod and trying to anticipate its unique requirements.
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As you've seen elsewhere, mine haven't been required to have anything. I didn't ask. Deer worried me a little, but no problem. My guess is that it was considered a roof, no railing required. Partly, the plan approver never walked on the roof, unlike the inspector (who was likely thinking about other things).
Our next place, closer to your situation, has two doors going out to the area and was required to have some sort of railing. Don't know about code, but my plan approver was happy with continuous planters with a minimum height/width. Pretty sure, here, if it looks like a deck area it'll be treated as such. A roof as a roof, independent of roofing material. Subjective.
PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
Hey there,
When I worked for Mother Earth News we did a small story on these. From what I remember, all the ones we looked at were bermed into a bank and it was basically a continuation of the landscape. Things may have changed but I think if you're walking out onto the roof (deck) from inside the house then it's considered a deck for railing purposes.
Build a simple railing from wrought iron or get some iron railings from the Screen Door and let wisteria or clematis grow on them. I made mine from rhododendrum vines.
NCtim
It occurs to me that, that could be one of those unique situations where you'd have to have a railing during construction, but not afterward.