Replies

1. 
   UncleDunc | Dec 16, 2004 02:47am | #1

   Think of it as evolution in action.

2. 
   CapnMac | Dec 16, 2004 04:18am | #2

   Sad to say, my first thought was, "In TOH?  Of Course."  That's why I barely read the thing--they "improve" too many photos by not having things (like railings) in the way.  No disclaimer that the photo may not represent a finished product, or that liberties were taken for photographic purposes.  (And never, ever, a mention of liberties were taken because the AHJ does not regulate any.)

   EIA probably ought to have more oppertunities . . .

   Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
1. 
   Ragnar17 | Dec 17, 2004 07:59am | #5

   What are AHJ and EIA?

1. 
   CapnMac | Dec 17, 2004 07:51pm | #6

   AHJ

   Authority Having Jurisdiction; the office that enforces such codes as exist.

   and EIA

   That's a bit of Niven-phile "shorthand" for Evolution In Action, made into an anacrnym for speed/convenience; but also so as to not frighten the sheeple <g>.

   The drawback to unfettered EIA is that there can be collateral damage.  A diseased varmint (good gain) can sicken a healthy predator (bad loss).  Having peeked at the offensive picture at the store, one could imagine being the archy's otherwise innocent client, and having the dude roll over to greet you, and tumble off the loft on you, chair and all.  Worse still, despite an excellent attempt to "Darwin" out an archy who clearly values "appearance" over safety--the dufus is likely to walk away, having used the hapless visitor as a fall arresting device.Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)

3. 
   G80104 | Dec 16, 2004 05:20am | #3

   I would like to see somebody on TOH wear a hardhat. My goal in life, is for that bunch to show up on one of my jobs & be able to give them the boot due to the lack of safety gear!

4. 
   Cagey | Dec 16, 2004 08:37pm | #4

   I noticed the same thing as soon as I looked at that picture.  The ironic thing is, the owner did most of the work himself and, get this, is an architect!  There is no way he can claim he didn't know a handrail is required. 

   For those of you who haven't seen the photos, the staircase from the balcony goes down to a landing, turns 90° and finishes the run.  There is no railing anywhere.  If someone came down the hardwood steps too quickly and didn't make the turn, they would drop a couple feet off the landing into the room.As you mentioned, there is no railing in the balcony where the archie's desk is located with the wheeled chair right next to the edge. 

   I'd say it's only a matter of time till something bad happens here.  Hopefully, it's the idiot homeowner/designer that gets it and not some innocent visitor.

5. 
   Froed | Dec 17, 2004 08:31pm | #7

   There's a note in the caption or text that the railing isn't in yet.

1. 
   JetBoy2 | Dec 19, 2004 10:54am | #8

   Ah yes, there it is. "Painted steel railing is in the works." That should be a comforting thought to the person who falls over the edge or down the steps in the interim. Given the fact that trinkets are on the shelves and the computer monitor on the desk is turned on suggests that this is the finished project. I wonder if the above caption was added by a TOH editor who, like us, looked at the picture and said "WTF?" I'm curious about said railing. Won't it have to transition from one side on the lower level to the other side on the upper level? If it is continuous on the inside of the corner, then it will hardly be the "stunning" image that the picture suggests

1. 
   Ragnar17 | Dec 20, 2004 08:27am | #9

   Given the fact that trinkets are on the shelves and the computer monitor on the desk is turned on suggests that this is the finished project...

   It sure does make that suggestion, doesn't it?  But I think it just shows that they are more interested in a pretty picture than a realistic one.  Years ago, TOH became too much of a "glossy" magazine for my taste.  They're more into images than substance.

    

1. 
   NormKerr | Dec 20, 2004 08:36pm | #10

   "For those of you who haven't seen the photos, the staircase from the balcony goes down to a landing, turns 90° and finishes the run. There is no railing anywhere."Remember "Young Frankensein"? When Frau Bleucher (hear the horses whinny) escorts the guests into the castle, late at night, up the staircase with no railing, she implores them to "stay close to the candles, the stairs (dramatic pause)can be treacherous". Then, as everyone moves off, staying close to her in the dark, you notice that her candles are NOT lit.Normally, when people complain here about things like poor service at Lowes or HD it is annoying to me because of COURSE the service can be poor at those places, that is the POINT of their supposed price advantage. But, I agree, there is no excuse for a magazine like TOH for publishing things that are clearly not to code without some kind of disclaimer about it ("railing removed for clarity", or "railing added after photos taken", or "railing should be installed per code" or something like it) for the homeowners to understand.Norm

1. 
   JetBoy2 | Dec 21, 2004 10:14pm | #11

   Follow-up email from TOH. I guess we weren't alone. ;-)Safety Zone
   As any architect or builder or as any homeowner who's engaged an architect or builder knows, materials are often delivered late, one subcontractor sits idle while another sub hasn't yet finished his job, and deadlines are rarely met. Such was the case with our "Split Personality" story (December 2004), when our photographic and printing deadlines came before Mark Davis's loft and stair railings arrived on site to be installed. Naturally, such a space-both for safety and to meet building codes-requires railings, which is why TOH editors acknowledged the soon-to-arrive barriers in the caption for the photo of the loft. Nonetheless, we were pleased to receive so many letters from sharp-eyed readers questioning the use of the photograph-a snap crucial to telling the story of the building's refurbishment-and the missing railings. To our minds, such a response is a fine testament to the passion, education, and safety-mindedness of TOH readers. -The EditorThanks for writing in and for reading This Old House.Leslie Monthan
   Copy Chief
   This Old House magazine