Alternatives to deck railings allowed by code
dayton
| Posted in General Discussion on
Curious what are some non- railing alternatives to fall prevention on decks. If you have a 36 or 42 inch tall planter box, can that take the place of code required railings? I ask because I have a house on a hill, with a sunken deck about 40″ down from a patio/sidewalk that is between the house and the deck. There is one area that is about 4 feet long next to the steps down to the deck that is just a drop from the patio to the deck 40″ below, no railing. I would like to build a planter box there to prevent falls to the deck below, more useful and simpler than attaching a railing there. Can’t find info on what is allowed if it is not a post and rail system.
Replies
I would talk to your building dept. I don't think a 42" planter box would be a problem as
long as there was no way for a child to climb up the planter to get on top.
California Residential code 2019 ed, R312.1.2 exceptions 1, 2 say that a guard or guardrail on the open side of a stair may be 34 inches minimum above the line of the tread nosings. If there is a handrail on the other side, this rail need not have the hand grip profile - that is my reading. At the landing at the top of the stair the requirement would be for the sloped line 34" above nosings to continue up to meet the 42 inch high guard rail line about 11 or 12 inches back of the nosing above the top riser. I have had these configuration approved by plan checkers and I consider them safe. re climbing resistance, I find nothing in the code, but it's a good idea, Code only says a 4 inch ball should not fit through any opening, used to be 6 inch, used to be 9 inch. We learn.
Yes, that would work just fine. The objective of guard rails is to prevent falls, your planter box will do that just as well as a guard rail.
There are creative ways to deal with railing situations. Generally a 30" or less drop does not require a railing. If people are prevented from walking to the edge of a drop a railing may not be required. I assume you intended to put the planter on the upper level in lieu of a railing. You might be able to put it on the lower level if it prevents access to the edge. If you can reduce the drop you might be able to use an alternative. Work with your plan checker.