I have exterior deck stair with open stringers. I want to do a rail system with a top and bottom rail with 2 x 2 balusters. But doesn’t the open triangle created by the bottom rail, riser. and tread create a code violation. The cut on the stringers is 7.5 x 10.
Replies
technically yes, mostly, no. There is some kinda info on that somewhere, but it is not the same as the space betwix the ballusters.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Restoring, Remodeling, Reclaiming The Quality..
Here in Minnesota, under the IRC, the triangular opening is permitted, as long as a six inch sphere can't pass thru.
Mike
Great question especially because I was just lookin up same info...very strange...gotta love it.
You don't happen to know where in the IRC that is do ya? Or better the code # that coorisponds........many thankyous.
IRC, section R316.2
Mike
Thanks Mike.
~Will~
I think on the exterior, in most places the code is still pretty loose. (Residential) If you were to really get technical, open risers with a rise higher than 4 inches are not legal because a child could slip behind the stair.
I think open risers are probably on there way out, too bad to, because they can look nice. Well I guess the big fat bottomed balusters did too.
-zen
Codes vary,however in all the states I have built stairs thus far the triangle created between rail and stringer must pass the 6 inch sphere test.
6" sphere rule here in NC. I put my bottom rail 1" above the tread nosing and this satisfies the requirement. If the rail is longer than 4 or so feet, I like to put 1 or 2 small 1" thick spacer blocks between the stair nose and the stair bottom rail to prevent sagging.
Here, somebody once posted a link to a PDF document that was a nice handy little booklet that explained all the IRC stair codes pictorially. Anybody got the link?
ask, and ye shall receive
http://www.arcways.com/IRC2000a.pdf
That's it. Thanks!
I wonder how many states have adopted the IRC 2000 or some flavor of it? Let's start a pole.... I'll go first...
NC - yes
VA - yesMatt