What is the maximum height of a deck without railing?

Some decks are not required to have guardrails, as long as those decks are 30 inches above grade or lower. If you see a deck that has no guardrails (also called a low-rise deck), this might be the reason: its height remains below 30 inches.

Similarly one may ask, at what height is railing required on a deck?

The IRC requires guardrails to be at least 36" in height measured from the deck surface to the top of the rail. Commercial decks attached to multifamily buildings, such as apartment buildings or businesses, are regulated under the Internation Building Code (IBC). The IBC requires 42" high guardrails.

Additionally, does a deck need railing? Deck Railing Codes & Requirements. All decks higher than 30" above grade must have a guardrail. If you choose to install a guardrail on a deck lower than 30", you must still meet code requirements. The IRC requires guardrails to be at least 36" in height, measured from the deck surface to the top of the rail.

Consequently, how high can a deck be without a railing in Ontario?

The height of the guard must not be less than the minimum of two feet, 11 inches if the elevation is not more than five feet, 11 inches. The top rail should not be less than 36 inches from the deck surface in a residential dwelling. For commercial establishments, the top rail should not be less than 46 inches.

What is the height of a railing?

37 inches

30 Related Question Answers Found

What is code for deck post spacing?

8 feet

How high is a handrail on steps?

Proper Height

A stair rail must be between 34 and 38 inches above the top of the stair tread at all times to meet United States building code requirements.

How do you attach a railing to a deck?

Installing a Deck Railing

Cut the Posts. Installing deck railing is easy if you use an anchored handrail system.
Secure the Posts. Bolt the posts to the inside of the rim joists.
Secure the Top and Bottom Rails.
Attach the Top Cap.
Install the Balusters.
Attach Caps.

How do you build a deck code?

Code Requirements for Decks

Building your deck according to code makes it safe.
Footings must sink below the frost line.
Use properly treated wood for structural members.
You need a ledger board when attaching a deck to a structure.
Rim Joists are an IRC requirement.
Stringers should be attached both at the top and bottom of the staircase.

Do deck stairs need railings on both sides?

Every exteriorand interior flight of stairs having more than four risers shall have a handrail on one side of the stair and every open portion of a stair, landing, balcony, porch, deck, ramp or other walking surface which is more than 30 inches (762 mm) above the floor or grade below shall have guards.

Are horizontal railings safe?

As we noted earlier, modern railing systems made and installed in the United States must follow the IRC or IBC, so they're safe for you and your family. However, horizontal railing styles can be dangerous to children because of the 'ladder effect.

How wide should deck stairs be?

- The stair treads should be at least 36 inches wide. But, we recommend that stairs should be at least 48 inches wide so they don't feel cramped. - The maximum allowable stair rise is 7 ³^/⁴ inches, and the minimum stair rise is 4 inches.

How high should a deck railing be Canada?

42"

What is the building code for railings on a deck?

Guardrail protection

There are specific code guidelines to ensure this requirement is met. Guardrails must be at least 1.07 m (42”) high, from the deck surface to the top of the guardrail. Guardrails serving one home can be 0.9 m (3') high if the deck surface is not more than 1.8 m (6') above the ground.

What is code for deck joists?

In general terms, joists spaced 16 inches on center can span 1.5 times in feet their depth in inches. A 2x8 up to 12 feet; 2x10 to 15 feet and 2x12 to 18 feet. The larger the deck, the larger the joists.

What is the maximum space between railings?

4 inches

Is it illegal not to have a handrail on stairs?

Stairs should have a handrail on at least one side if the stairs are less than 1 metre wide. A handrail on both sides of the stairs will be required if the stair width is greater than this. You do not need a handrail on the first two bottom steps.

Can balusters be horizontal?

There is nothing that prohibits 2x6s from being used as balusters in a horizontal rather than a vertical orientation. You will end up with a railing that resembles a classic farm yard perimeter fence. You may be familiar with that look.

Do I need a permit to build a deck in Ontario?

You need a building permit to: construct a new building or accessory structure greater than 10 square metres in area. build a deck more than 10 metres square in area or more than 2 feet (0.61 metres) above adjacent grade.

Are cable railings legal in Ontario?

Within the next 2 years, the clause in the Ontario building code that makes horizontal railing systems like the cable railing illegal, will be erased from the code book.

Can deck railing posts be notched?

Many older decks have railing posts installed on the outside of the deck framing, and sometimes those posts were notch-cut at the bottom where they fit against the outside joists. Current codes demand stronger posts, so they are generally not notched and are installed on the inside of the framing.

How thick is a handrail?

Handrail Dimensions

A railing attached to a wall must be at least 1¼ inch and no more than 2 inches thick. The support brackets must hold the railing at a distance of at least 1½ inches from the wall and project a maximum of 3½ inches from the wall.