deck balusters

[cbrands]

ran into a 1996 home with deck balusters that were 4 3/8" apart instead of 4"
deck was about 1 ft off of the ground.

How many would call this out as needing modification.
Can anyone cite where the 4" or smaller requirements reside?

[dgagneur]

being that it is only 12" off the ground I would not call this out.

[Brian E. Kelly]

Originally Posted by cbrands

ran into a 1996 home with deck balusters that were 4 3/8" apart instead of 4"
deck was about 1 ft off of the ground.

How many would call this out as needing modification.
Can anyone cite where the 4" or smaller requirements reside?

2003 irc 312

I would note that the area may not be child safe but would not call out a need for modification.

[Roy D. Cooke, Sr]

Originally Posted by cbrands

ran into a 1996 home with deck balusters that were 4 3/8" apart instead of 4"
deck was about 1 ft off of the ground.

How many would call this out as needing modification.
Can anyone cite where the 4" or smaller requirements reside?

You bet I do over 4 inches a child can go through and the head gets caught .
I care less if they fix it I do not want to miss it.
I write Hard and talk soft and try to miss nothing.

[cwillick1]

I'm with Roy. Did one last week wasn't even a deck just a railing surrounding a dirt area. Still notified the client, although who ever put the railings up did not measure anything anywhere.

[Darrell B. Hadler]

Would also notify them about the spacing being a safety hazard to small children...but would also let them know that in our area, anything under 2 feet doesn't even require a railing/balusters.

[whandley]

Originally Posted by dhadler

Would also notify them about the spacing being a safety hazard to small children...but would also let them know that in our area, anything under 2 feet doesn't even require a railing/balusters.

Isn't that a 30" requirement?

[Larry D. Kage]

Originally Posted by whandley

Isn't that a 30" requirement?

Darrell is in Canada...

[David P. Valley]

I don't walk around with a tape measure, but if I run into balusters that appear more than 4" wide, I call it out.

"Click to Enlarge"
Attachment 12158

[Richard A. Hetzel]

Would balusters with a spacing of, say, ten inches be a ssafety hazard for children? (if they were in a location where a railing would not be required)

[afrost]

Originally Posted by Richard A. Hetzel

Would balusters with a spacing of, say, ten inches be a ssafety hazard for children? (if they were in a location where a railing would not be required)

everything is a safety hazard for kids !

we are really not in a position to say.

[Joseph Hagarty, CMI]

Originally Posted by rcooke

You bet I do over 4 inches a child can go through and the head gets caught .
I care less if they fix it I do not want to miss it.
I write Hard and talk soft and try to miss nothing.

Noted and pointed a situation similar to this out to a Client on an inspection last week.

An Hour Later, the Client's 2 year old had her head stuck in the Railing.