Do I need a handrail on my deck?
If your deck is below 30 inches, a railing is not required. With that said, if you choose to build a deck, even if it is only 24 inches off the ground, that is still high enough that even an adult could injure themselves.
How high can a deck be before it needs handrails?
36 inches
The International Building Code says that your railings must be 36 inches or higher, but that isn’t the only consideration.
How many steps on a deck before you need a railing?
Building Codes So when is a handrail required? The building code does not refer to the number of “steps” but it does require a handrail when there are two or more “risers”. For clarification, a “riser” is the vertical portion of a stair. The “tread” is the top of a step.
Do I need a handrail on my deck stairs?
So whether you’re constructing a residential composite deck, lumber deck or a deck made from other decking material, you’re typically required to install a graspable secondary handrail on one side of the deck’s stair railing when there are four or more stair risers present.
At what height does OSHA require handrails?
OSHA states that guardrail must reach a height of 42 inches, plus or minus 3 inches, above the walking-working surface and withstand a force of 200 pounds at any point in a downward or outward direction. If the railing dips below 39 inches, due to the force, the railing is not OSHA compliant.
Do deck stairs need 2 handrails?
Do I Need Handrails On Both Sides of Deck Stairs? Nope. You don’t need a handrail on both sides, but you may need a railing if your deck is higher than 30″. Many contractors construct a combo handrail and stair rail system, installed on both sides, to cover all safety requirements.
Can I use a 2×2 for a handrail?
According to the IRC (2018), you can use a 2×4 to make a handrail, but you must cut finger recesses along both sides of the board and position the lumber lengthwise on its end. Using a 2×4 as a handrail laid vertically is not allowed.
What is the maximum gap between handrails?
Based on the information that you have provided, a maximum opening of four inches between the two guardrails would ensure compliance with 29 CFR 1910.23.
How high should a handrail be on a deck?
The building code dictates that the handrail height should be between 34 and 38 inches. Stair rails on decks should be between 34 inches and 38 inches high measured vertically from the nose of the tread to the top of the rail. In order to get a clean look we have to align the top of the stair bottom rail with the top edge of the deck bottom rail.
How high does a deck have to be before it requires a rail?
Guardrails are required once the deck is 30″ or more above the grade. A 36″ rail measured from the top of rail to the deck surface is required. The minimum height of the railing varies based on the height of the deck. Decks 24″ to 5-10″ (180 cm) need 36″ guards and anything above 5-10″ requires a 42″ high railing.
How high should railings be on a deck?
International Building Code regulations state that a deck railing must be at least 36 inches high if the deck is 30 inches or more higher than the adjoining ground. Calculating the angle of the cut for the railings is very simple.
When do deck stairs need a gripable handrail?
In most cases, therefore, if a deck does not need a barrier, it will not need a consent. However it is still a ‘building’ and its construction must comply with the Building Code. The Acceptable Solution D1/AS1 says Clause D1 requires handrails on all stairs. Handrails must be ‘positioned between 900 and 1000mm above the pitchline’.