Deck Stair Handrails Code
The sweep space between the deck surface and the bottom rail must be less than 4.
Deck stair handrails code. A deck with no or inadequate railings is an accident waiting to happen. Summary of code requirements for residential stairs. As the terms are used by the code a railing is a form of guard that protects stairs running on the incline up and down the stairway. Minimum 36 inch clear width for stairway.
We explain the difference between a handrail a stair rail and a guardrail and we provide specifications and building code specifications sketches of proper safe and improper unsafe handrails and other types of railings. Handrail ends must be returned and terminated at rail. To ensure safety individual communities in the united states regulate certain aspects. Building codes for deck railing.
Balusters are small vertical in fill posts running between the guardrail or railing designed to prevent people particularly children from falling off the deck through the space below an. Railings used on stairs balconies decks ramps walks. What you will notice from this checklist is that there is not really a specific deck building code per se. Therefore let us recap on the residential stair code requirements.
So this basically sums up the basic code requirements for residential stairs and their dimensions. Handrails are required for stairs and must meet standards as specified by r311 5 6 3 in the irc code.