How To Look At A House
McGarry and Madsen's home inspection blog for buyers of
site-built, mobile/manufactured and modular homes
Can you have a deck without a railing?
Thursday, March 26, 2020
A deck is not required to have a railing if it is not more than 30-inches above any ground level within 24-inches of the edge of the deck. So any deck that is more than 30-inches high requires a guardrail that is minimum 30-inches high, per International Residential Code (R312.1.1). Also, the openings in the rail pickets should not allow a 4-inch sphere to pass through.
The code is one thing but, if you are concerned about the possiblity of family or friends falling off the deck and breaking an ankle or worse, a deck railing for a slightly lower floor level than 30-inches is sensible. Also, see our blog posts What is the average life expectancy of a wood deck? and What are the warning signs of a dangerous deck?
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Here’s links to a collection of our blog posts about SAFETY:
• Why is it important to use "cabinet screws" to mount the upper cabinets in the kitchen?
• Should I get a lightning rod system to protect my house?
• What are the "Aging In Place" features to look for when buying a retirement home?
• How do I safely remove a dead rodent (rat, mouse or squirrel) from the attic?
• Does pushing the test button on a smoke alarm test the smoke sensor device inside?
• What is the minimum height of a ceiling fan above the floor?
• Should a smoke alarm be installed in the kitchen?
• Why is a double cylinder deadbolt lock on an exterior door a safety hazard?
• Why are rubber washing machine hoses a safety risk?
• What can I do to avoid kitchen accidents and injuries?
• Where are smoke alarms required to be located?
• Are carbon monoxide alarms required to be installed in homes in Florida?
• Are old vinyl tile floors dangerous?
• How can I use safety checks to limit my tenant liability for a rental house?
• Do you inspect for trip hazards around the home?
• When should I replace my smoke alarms?
• Why is an anti-tip device now required behind the range?
• What are the hazards to avoid when going into an attic?
Visit our SAFETY page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.
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