Below is a rail on a deck that is about 7' off the ground.
There is a rail there, and it is at least 36" high above the surface of the deck. So far so good. However, there is a problem. Some of the spaces, gaps, between the rail are as wide as 7". Now, at one time, do-it-yourself books used to state that a rail should not have any gaps wider than 6". However, today, that standard is no gap wider than 4".
The reason for this is simple: A child might be able to get through a gap that is wider than 4". With safety, far as I can tell, rules almost always become more strict. Very seldom, do they backoff or go backwards.
Steven L. Smith
Bellingham WA Home Inspections
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Horizontal barriers make good ladders too Steve. Nothing like assisting the little delinquents:)
No truer words were ever spoken. This one was pretty appealing. In a similar note, one thing I find funny is the number of "public" buildings or stairways that are so loosy goosy on handrail or guardrail safety. They seem to almost always use the horizontal design and often have gaps wider than what they would make Joe Homeowner put in. It seems like it ought to be the other way around.
Good safety tip, and a great story about how our building codes and standards change and improve over the years.
Steve don't building and occupancy codes and permits in your area mandate certain types of railings on decks, ours do.
Steve, residences have "minimum" standards----public spaces have "minimal" standards:) (as a side note codes for residential, used to be fine with 8" spaces)
Richard,
Sure they do. But there are still many old decks out there that do not comply. There are also quite a few safety gaps in most codes, from my viewpoint. We have to call these things on an individual basis.
Charlie,
A guy has to be really, really old -- like you -- to remember that one.
Vickie,
Thanks for checking in.
Good information Steve. I love hanging out with home inspectors. I always learn a lot.
I work with an ASHI inspector that is very focused on quality. He has "killed" some deals, but it is best in the long run. I would rather protect a buyer than ruin my reputation or get someone in a bad house.
I appreciate the work you all do. Down in a crawlspace or up in a 150 degree attic, you may not feel appreciated. But I respect the profession.
Steve, excellent reminder! Charles also makes a good point about horizontal slats making it great for little ones to climb.
In Massachusettes any deck 24" or more off the ground requires a rail system.
My little rugrats would be over and under that one in seconds. Course they love a good dare. But hey, my kids can fall off a deck that's one step off the ground, so there is that.
Good point about codes!
We have the most over-protected kids now, don't we? Kids used to play on top of the house or barn and occasionally fell off, bounced, and went back up there. They should worry about "seniors" instead of "kids". LOL
You have hit on one of my "scary" buttons. I can take bugs, spiders but if a deck looks the least bit unsafe, I steer clear of it. About 10 years ago, there was a horrible accident in my area where 30 people at a party fell 90 feet from a deck that overlooked the river.
Steve-- Not only could kids slip through these slats, but so could some curious pets! Even if you don't have kids, you might want to think about making the deck safe for Fido. Thanks for posting!
Yes, as people are pointing out here, there are all sorts of risks with high decks. Really, I do not think it is possible to make them completely safe, at least in a manner that still keeps them appealing, but we do what we can.
Steve, as a home inspector, how would you address an older deck with huge gaps (nothing between top and bottom rail) and support columns that have a rock placed between them and the footer. I have a client who is considering a property that has a deck that is obviously unsafe, and he is wondering if he should reduce his asking price upfront because of it, or should he let the home inspector write it up in his report first?
Rich,
If it is not a safety worry, then he could live with it. If there is danger involved, or probable, then I would think fix it. If no kids are ever on it that gap is not an immediate danger for seller I guess. As an inspector, a typical write up for a deck with problems goes like this.
There is wood decay fungi (rot) evident on a post supporting the high deck or balcony. This applies to the post at the south. This is a safety issue due to the height of the deck. Additionally, this high deck does not have lag bolts attaching the ledger board to the home. That was not common when the home was built, but lag screws or bolts help keep a deck in place. The rail around the deck has gaps of up to 6". Today, to keep a child from passing through, it is recommended that a deck over 30" high have gaps no wider than 4" at any location. Many decking boards have fungal growth present and are deteriorating. Recommend that qualified contractor repair/replace deck, as required, and upgrade it to meet all modern safety guidelines and install proper metal flashing to protect against moisture at exterior wall. I would recommend that posts used should be pressure-treated material. When complete, seal and finish with quality stains or preservatives.
Steve, thanks for the response. I think he would be better off having the entire deck replaced.
Yep ..... There be a problem there. How about the railing height of 36", does that fall into compliance for being high enough?
Sean Allen
Sean,
The 36" should be okay for a one or two person dwelling, but that is the minimum height.