Deck railings/balusters

[David C. Macy]

Do bench seats and tables meet the specifications for railings & balusters?

Would you also call out the fireplace vent being in contact with the lattice?



Thanks

[Brian E. Kelly]

Where the bench is, is probably ok, where there is open space it is not. Call out the vent, too close.

[wsiegel]

I thought that was a bun warmer.

All kidding aside - the bench, in theory, does not meet the code standards for child safety. There is more than a four inch gap at the bottom of the bench and between the bench and the stairs

[Brian E. Kelly]

Originally Posted by wsiegel

I thought that was a bun warmer.

All kidding aside - the bench, in theory, does not meet the code standards for child safety. There is more than a four inch gap at the bottom of the bench and between the bench and the stairs

Excellent call William, I did not look at the bottom.

[David P. Valley]

As Brian mentioned, don't forget to call out vent. Too close to combustibles.

[jking2]

Since children can easily climb onto the benches, I consider that the 36" rail height requirement starts from the bench seat, as though it was the floor. I would be interested in how others interpret the rule.

Jim King

[Jeffrey R. Jonas]

Originally Posted by jking2

Since children can easily climb onto the benches, I consider that the 36" rail height requirement starts from the bench seat, as though it was the floor. I would be interested in how others interpret the rule.

Jim King

I agree with Jim...

[David P. Valley]

Originally Posted by jking2

Since children can easily climb onto the benches, I consider that the 36" rail height requirement starts from the bench seat, as though it was the floor. I would be interested in how others interpret the rule.

Jim King

The height of a deck railing is usually between 36 and 42 inches, but again this can be subject to various restrictions in your area.

In regards to a bench installation...All guardrails must meet the height and opening requirements above the flat surface of the bench (which is the seat) and any openings below the bench must also meet the maximum opening requirements of 4 inches.

36" is usually the required rail height for a deck that is built less than 2 feet off the ground. Anything over 2 feet high, the rail height should be a minimum of 42 inches.

[homebild]

Do bench seats and tables meet the specifications for railings & balusters?

Not under current Ohio Residential Code. But, then again, "Ohio" Code has only been in existence for a little over a year.

Depending under what building code was in existence at the time (if any) and how high above grade the exising deck surface is, there may have been exactly NO deck railing requirements or requirements for guards that must usually be at least 36" high. Under current Ohio Code, decks 30" or less above grade require NO guards; decks >30" above grade require guards at least 36" high.

Would you also call out the fireplace vent being in contact with the lattice?

This may or may not be a problem and can only be answered by seeing the manufacturer's clearance specifications to combustibles for a vent termination.

[David P. Valley]

Originally Posted by homebild

Depending under what building code was in existence at the time (if any) and how high above grade the exising deck surface is, there may have been exactly NO deck railing requirements or requirements for guards that must usually be at least 36" high. Under current Ohio Code, decks 30" or less above grade require NO guards; decks >30" above grade require guards at least 36" high.

I say "screw the code" when it comes to safety issues. Doesn't matter when a specific code was adopted. If there are safety issues, write em' up as simple recommendations.

[David P. Valley]

Originally Posted by homebild

This may or may not be a problem and can only be answered by seeing the manufacturer's clearance specifications to combustibles for a vent termination.

I'd like to see one manufacturer's specification where it states that an exterior vent can be within 1 inch of combustibles.

[Brian E. Kelly]

Originally Posted by dvalley

The height of a deck railing is usually between 36 and 42 inches, but again this can be subject to various restrictions in your area.

In regards to a bench installation...All guardrails must meet the height and opening requirements above the flat surface of the bench (which is the seat) and any openings below the bench must also meet the maximum opening requirements of 4 inches.

36" is usually the required rail height for a deck that is built less than 2 feet off the ground. Anything over 2 feet high, the rail height should be a minimum of 42 inches.

Good info David.

[homebild]

Originally Posted by dvalley

I say "screw the code" when it comes to safety issues. Doesn't matter when a specific code was adopted. If there are safety issues, write em' up as simple recommendations.

I'm all for 'safety' and I do not necessarily disgaree....

But you can 'write up' your personal opinions about 'safety' until you are blue in the face but all you'd get for it is a waste of ink and paper.

Building Codes that were in force at the time of construction or any Property Maintenance Codes in existence now are the only legally enforceable standards that one has to go by.


No Codes. No claim.

Otherwise whatever you write is a a toothless tiger with all roar and no bite.

A prospective buyer certainly has the option to ask for such things to be 'upgraded' as a condition of sale, but the seller would be under no legal obligation to 'upgrade' a perfectly legal installation nor could the buyer backout of a contract to purchase if they did not like something about what is an otherwise perfectly legal installation...whether you or I like it or not.

All due respect, but it doesn't matter what our personal opinions are regarding what is safe or unsafe.

All that matters is what the Law, the Building Codes, determine what is 'safe' or not.

[David C. Macy]

One thing to add on the vent clearance. The people that are living in the home have never used the fireplace.

So lets play devils advocate that I always do. The new owner uses the fireplace a lot. Next thing the deck lattice starts a fire. The back is all wooded and the whole neighborhood is a flame.

[dbush]

Homebuild, just for curiosity, have you done home inspections on anything besides new construction. Just because something was "legal" by the MINIMUM BUILDING STANDARDS (Which realistically building codes are the minimum building standards) when the home was built does not mean that the issue is not unsafe, nor in need of upgrade. Knob and Tube wiring comes to mind, it was legal when the home was built, so was asbestos, lead paint, and many other safety items. I know of several clients who have backed out of a home because of a SAFETY issue. It happens quite frequently.