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Page 1 of 2 <br /> . � <br /> Andrew Johnsrud <br /> From: <ftkdenny@aol.com> <br /> To: <andyjohnsrud(a�lecybros.com> <br /> Sent: Friday,August 26, 2005 1:15 PM <br /> Subject: Fwd: Guards (guardrails) <br /> Andy: <br /> Here is the conversation the state code guy had with my wall guy. <br /> Denny Walsh <br /> -----Original Message----- <br /> From: Peter Kulczyk <Peter.Kulczyk@state.mn.us> <br /> To: ftkdenny@aol.com <br /> Cc: Thomas ]oachim <Tom.Joachim@state.mn.us> <br /> Sent: Fri, 26 Aug 2005 12:12:27 -0500 <br /> Subject: Guards (guardrails) <br /> Mark, <br /> This is a follow-up to our telephone conversation a few minutes ago. <br /> Generally speaking, you asked about when guardrails are required. <br /> First, a little history. During the last 30 years or so, using the old <br /> Uniform Building Code, a guardrail was required for "Unenclosed floor <br /> and roof openings, open and glazed sides of stairways, aisles, landings <br /> and ramps, balconies or porches, which are more than 30 inches above <br /> grade or floor below." Then, we needed to read the definition of <br /> "Grade," which state "Grade is the lowest point of elevation of the <br /> finished surface of the ground, paving or sidewalk within the area <br /> between the building and the property line, or when the property line is <br /> more than 5 feet from the building, between the building and a line 5 <br /> feet from the building." In other words, under the old UBC, you would <br /> normally take the lowest grade five feet away from the deck to determine <br /> if you needed a guardrail. <br /> When the 2000 International Residential Code was adopted on March 30, <br /> of 2003, there were some changes to the code regarding guardrails. <br /> First, the term "guardrail" was changed to "guard." Second, there was a <br /> significant change regarding where the height of the deck is measured to <br /> determine if a guard is needed. Now it states "Porches, balconies or <br /> raised floor surfaces located more than 30 inches above the floor or <br /> grade below shall have guasds not less than 36 inches in height." When <br /> this first came out, we understood that it meant that we measured <br /> straight down the side of the deck, and we also contacted the <br /> International Code Council to verify that, which they did. So for <br /> example, if the gzade at the side of your deck was 24 inches below the <br /> deck floor surface, and it sloped down as it went away from the deck, it <br /> would not require a guard no matter how fast it dropped down. (IRC <br /> section R316) . <br /> You asked if a city could be, mare restrictive than the State Building <br /> Code? No. Refer to Minnesota Statute 16B.62, which states "The State <br /> Building Code applies statewide and supersedes the building code of any <br /> municipality." I would suggest that it is possible that the local <br /> inspector may not have known that the code has changed. <br /> I hope that helps. <br /> 8/29/2005 <br />