Balcony Railing Height Code California
The top edge of the handrail must be placed between 34 and 38 above the nosing of the stair treads.
Balcony railing height code california. Handrails are required for stairs and must meet standards as specified by r311 5 6 3 in the irc code. Residential properties typically require a railing of 36 inches while commercial properties should have railings between 42 and 48 inches. Guardrail opening limitations baluster spacing r312 1 3. A a standard guardrail shall consist of top rail midrail or equivalent protection and posts and shall have a vertical height within the range of 42 inches to 45 inches from the upper surface of the top rail to the floor platform runway or ramp level.
Railings must withstand at least 200 pounds of pressure in either direction. C the top of stair railings handrails and handrail extensions installed on or after april 3 1997 shall be at a vertical height between 34 and 38 inches above the nosing of treads and landings. The minimum height of the railing varies based on the height of the deck. Requirements for deck stairs the code has some very specific requirements for deck stairs.
For example in california the guardrail height requirement per the california residential code crc is to be no less than 42 inches. Guardrails are required once the deck is 30 or more above the grade. Usa rail height for residences. California is the one exception where they require 42 guards.
Stair rails on decks should be between 34 inches and 38 inches high measured vertically from the nose of the tread to the top of the rail. Decks 24 to 5 10 180 cm need 36 guards and anything above 5 10 requires a 42 high railing. For stairs installed before april 3 1997 this height shall be between 30 and 38 inches. Treads must be at least 10 inches deep measuring from front to back.
The permissible tolerance on height dimensions is one inch. The height of the railing is also specified by city building code. The space between the finished floor and the bottom rail must not exceed 4. A 36 rail measured from the top of rail to the deck surface is required.
Install railings on any deck that is 30 inches or more from the surrounding surface and on at least one side of a stairway leading to the deck. The top of the handrail should be at least 34 inches. A 4 inch diameter ball should not be able to pass between them. The maximum distance between balusters or between a post and baluster in the california building code is 4 inches.