HomeMy WebLinkAboutRE: guardrails Page 1 of 2
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Andrew Johnsrud
From: <ftkdenny@aol.com>
To: <andyjohnsrud(a�lecybros.com>
Sent: Friday,August 26, 2005 1:15 PM
Subject: Fwd: Guards (guardrails)
Andy:
Here is the conversation the state code guy had with my wall guy.
Denny Walsh
-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Kulczyk <Peter.Kulczyk@state.mn.us>
To: ftkdenny@aol.com
Cc: Thomas ]oachim <Tom.Joachim@state.mn.us>
Sent: Fri, 26 Aug 2005 12:12:27 -0500
Subject: Guards (guardrails)
Mark,
This is a follow-up to our telephone conversation a few minutes ago.
Generally speaking, you asked about when guardrails are required.
First, a little history. During the last 30 years or so, using the old
Uniform Building Code, a guardrail was required for "Unenclosed floor
and roof openings, open and glazed sides of stairways, aisles, landings
and ramps, balconies or porches, which are more than 30 inches above
grade or floor below." Then, we needed to read the definition of
"Grade," which state "Grade is the lowest point of elevation of the
finished surface of the ground, paving or sidewalk within the area
between the building and the property line, or when the property line is
more than 5 feet from the building, between the building and a line 5
feet from the building." In other words, under the old UBC, you would
normally take the lowest grade five feet away from the deck to determine
if you needed a guardrail.
When the 2000 International Residential Code was adopted on March 30,
of 2003, there were some changes to the code regarding guardrails.
First, the term "guardrail" was changed to "guard." Second, there was a
significant change regarding where the height of the deck is measured to
determine if a guard is needed. Now it states "Porches, balconies or
raised floor surfaces located more than 30 inches above the floor or
grade below shall have guasds not less than 36 inches in height." When
this first came out, we understood that it meant that we measured
straight down the side of the deck, and we also contacted the
International Code Council to verify that, which they did. So for
example, if the gzade at the side of your deck was 24 inches below the
deck floor surface, and it sloped down as it went away from the deck, it
would not require a guard no matter how fast it dropped down. (IRC
section R316) .
You asked if a city could be, mare restrictive than the State Building
Code? No. Refer to Minnesota Statute 16B.62, which states "The State
Building Code applies statewide and supersedes the building code of any
municipality." I would suggest that it is possible that the local
inspector may not have known that the code has changed.
I hope that helps.
8/29/2005
Page 2 of 2
- �" .�
Peter Kulczyk
Education Section
Building Codes and Standards Division
Department of Labor and Industry
State of Minnesota
651-205-4707
Peter.kulcz k@state.mn.us
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8/29/2005