I am building a 2 car garage with a loft in Maryland. It has a walk-up stairway. Do the same codes apply to a railing that goes to a storage space as a residential stairway? I would prefer to run two rails between the posts that build a railing with balusters for the garage.
Thanks,
Forrest
From building boxes and fitting face frames to installing doors and drawers, these techniques could be used for lots of cabinet projects.
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Replies
Local codes are enforced differantly so while I hate to say this, it depends!
The UBC allows non regulation railings to unoccupied spaces however.. thus you won't have to make the railings hold the 4inch test ball if your local offical accepts that..
Some half informed home inspector might have a problem though and write it up should you ever decide to sell..
I am unclear if the purpose of the 4" spacing is intended to keep Children from falling through, or so they don't get their heads stuck. If it is the head stuck scenario, then running 2 boards length wise should be OK. Seems like other railings featured in FHB use all kinds of variations including cable and I'm sure I have seen some of these space greater than 4". Of coarse I could go look it up, but it is much easier to sit here and type away no matter how inaccurate I my be.
You just hit another snag. The rail cannot form a ladder in most places (kind of defeats the purpose of a guardrail if the little ones can climb it).
I'm fairly certain it's the head stuck issue.
It is both. but more bodystuck than headstuck.
Because there were some cases or it was speculated (not sure which now) where a child managed to get the body through but not the head.
So you can envision a child's body dangling with the head still on the safe side and a strngulation or broken neck...
It's prtetty much an attempt to apply Murphy's Law to stairrails.
I agree, it is the local inspector who applies/interprets the rules. They don't generally apply to storage space in the same way as to living space..
Excellence is its own reward!
Thanks to everyone for there responses. I hate to bother my building officials and get on there radar. Most of the time they spend about 30 seconds looking at my stuff before they sign off. I am going to put up the handrail and a mid rail and be done with it.
Thanks again,
Forrest
I'm with Frenchy. Don't ask us. Ask your local building official.