How high off the ground can a deck be before you need a railing?

How high off the ground can a deck be before you need a railing?

All decks greater than 30″ above grade must have a guardrail. If you choose to install a guardrail on a deck lower than 30″, you must still meet code requirements.

What is the maximum height of a deck without railing Alberta?

6′ (1.8 m maximum deck height) NOTE: The guard must be non-climbable with no horizontal rails, fixed benches or other items that would provide a foothold. Space must be less than 4” (100 mm) between bottom rail and deck Guardrail made from material other than wood requires approval.

Do I need a building permit for a deck in Alberta?

You will need a Building Permit if: Your deck will be higher than 0.6m (approximately two feet) above grade at any point. You are building a covered deck such as an enclosed sundeck, a deck with open rafters or a gazebo (this is considered an addition and may require a Development Permit).

Does my deck need a railing Alberta?

A minimum 900mm (36”) high guard/railing is required on the perimeter of a deck, balcony, veranda and stairs where the difference in elevation exceeds 600mm (2′-0”) above adjacent deck or ground level. Guards/ railings must be designed to prevent climbing.

Do I need a balustrade on my deck?

For safety purposes regulations state that anything built over 600 mm will require a handrail with a height of at least 110 mm above the decking board. The height of Handrails is the most common fault found upon decking inspections.

What is code for deck spindle spacing?

4 inches
In order to comply with building regulations and codes, balusters must be spaced no more than 4 inches apart on center. The general rule is that your railing must have three balusters per foot (every 12 inches), although you can place them closer together if you’d like.

What is the code for deck posts?

When it comes to decks, not all dimensions are safe or permitted. The minimum post size is 6 inches by 6 inches, though the required height of the post varies, depending on the deck itself. You will have specific requirements for railings, and these will depend on how far your deck sits from the ground.

How do I know if my deck is up to code?

How to Know if You Have a Code-Compliant Deck

  1. Footing Size and Depth. Footings support the posts that hold the deck in place.
  2. Posts and Beams.
  3. Ledger Boards.
  4. Joists.
  5. Diagonal Bracing and Railings.
  6. Stairs.

How far can you cantilever a deck?

The American Wood Council states that cantilevers are limited to 1/4 the span of the joists. Joist Spacing (o.c.) Maximum allowable overhang cannot exceed 1/4 of the actual main span.

What is deck railing height code?

What Is Code For Deck Railing Height? The IRC requires guardrails to be at least 36 inch in height measured from the deck surface to the top of the rail. Commercial decks attached to multifamily buildings regulated under the International Building Code (IBC) require 42 inch high guardrails.

How do you evenly space a deck spindle?

How to Evenly Space Spindles on Decks

  1. Measure the width of the gap between the inner surfaces of the two support posts.
  2. Measure the width of a single spindle.
  3. Add the two figures together.
  4. Count the number of spindles to be used and add one.
  5. Divide the sum of the width by the sum of the number of spindles.

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