In this video I review various options for creating minimalist deck railings including:
– Glass
– Mesh
– Cable rail
– Seating elements
– Hybrids
– Vegetation
– Terraces
– Steps
– Raise adjacent grade
I didn’t describe the detailed rules for guards in the video – and your local codes may be more stringent – so treat the following as a general guideline. In the US, the national code that regulates guards is the Life Safety Code – NFPA 101 – and it prescribes that for any change in height between adjacent surfaces of 30 inches or greater, you’re required to use a guard. If your deck is more than 30 inches off the ground, chances are that you’ll need a guard at the edge for safety.
Guards are different than handrails in two key respects: First, they’re taller, at 42 inches high; and second, they’re required to have intermediate members that must be spaced such that a 4-inch sphere can’t pass between them. This apparently equates to something smaller than what the average child can fit through, and it guards against dangerous falls. There are also other, more specific, load requirements – it must resist a 200-pound concentrated impact, but these are our primary concerns.
– Grade difference +30″ = guardrail req’d
– Keep spacing of intermediate members less than 4″
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Please watch: “Inside My Sketchbook + An Architect’s Sketching Tools”
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