Code-Compliant Guardrail Post Connections
Resource guide for guardrail post framing connections using metal hardware
Fine Homebuilding covered deck guardrail post connections in ‘Start Your Railings Right’ in 2010. With only 3 pages, the article stuck to the basic post to frame configurations. For anyone who’s building guardrails on a deck and not feeling great about just bolting or screwing 4×4 posts to a weak rim board, or for those who aren’t convinced posts need more robust attachment, there’s a good resource to refer to with additional information to what we covered in FHB.
The May 2011 issue of Professional Deck Builder magazine takes three swings at the issue of mounting deck guard posts securely to the deck frame.
Andy Engel (former Fine Homebuilding editor ) leads with an editorial that frames the case for using best-practice post mounting methods using metal hardware.
Andy also breaks down the forces on a guardrail post and reviews some simple engineering math in the Q&A column to show how metal hardware can resist a guardrail failure.
And I pick up where we left off in FHB with an article “Code-Compliant Guardrail Posts” that expands the post to frame details. While many of the details aren’t vetted with independent testing, they are based on basic rim-post-joist and hardware arrangements that have been tested.
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