Decks, Patios, Porches and Docks - Deck stair standards
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ebishop
08-29-09, 06:49 AM
So I have a new deck almost complete for a friend of mine. I am currently working on a set of stairs that I did not think would need a railing, I would like your opinion. Standards that the inspector are going by say a rise of > 30" or four or more risers need a railing. I am assuming here that the four or more risers requirement trump the total rise. I have four risers if I include the space between the ground and the first step. Basically I used preformed treads with three steps, the fourth is between the top stair and the deck surface. So do I need a railing or not for this?
Thanks,
Eric
Thanks,
Eric
lefty
08-29-09, 09:03 AM
Since you have 4 risers, you need a railing. The code is pretty explicite about that. What's your question?
ebishop
08-29-09, 10:40 AM
I guess my question is, what defines a riser. I have three actual stair treads, plus a step up from the highest stair tread to the deck surface. The lowest step is almost at ground level, or at least will be when I put pavers in front of it. The video on this site shows my stair configuration exactly from their landing to the ground, and they have no railings. You can see what I mean at 4:23 into the video.
Building a Deck Part 5: Stairs & Railings | Videos | DoItYourself.com (http://www.doityourself.com/video/Building-a-Deck-Part-5-Stairs--Railings-30419693)
If the area from the ground to the first step is a riser, then shouldn't the stairs shown in the video have a railing?
Building a Deck Part 5: Stairs & Railings | Videos | DoItYourself.com (http://www.doityourself.com/video/Building-a-Deck-Part-5-Stairs--Railings-30419693)
If the area from the ground to the first step is a riser, then shouldn't the stairs shown in the video have a railing?
lefty
08-29-09, 10:55 AM
A riser is any part of the staircase that is vertical. A tread is the horizontal parts.
"The lowest step is almost ground level ..." be careful thaere. You want ALL of the risers to be the same height -- not 3 of them 7" tall and then some little trip hazard at the bottom that is an inch or so high.
If you forget using the precut risers and get some 2X12 to make your own, you can increase the rise of eash step a little bit and eliminate the little trip hazard at the bottom, as well as leaving yourself 3 risers instead of 4, which will eliminate the requirement for a railing.
"The lowest step is almost ground level ..." be careful thaere. You want ALL of the risers to be the same height -- not 3 of them 7" tall and then some little trip hazard at the bottom that is an inch or so high.
If you forget using the precut risers and get some 2X12 to make your own, you can increase the rise of eash step a little bit and eliminate the little trip hazard at the bottom, as well as leaving yourself 3 risers instead of 4, which will eliminate the requirement for a railing.
GBR in WA
08-29-09, 05:53 PM
Don't believe everything in a video. Here is the IRC deck code, page 17, figure 27:
http://www.awc.org/Publications/DCA/DCA6/DCA6.pdf
Page 18, for graspable handrails. Notice the risers cannot vary by more than 3/8", from shortest to tallest. Maximum riser height = 7-3/4" Minimum tread width = 10"
Be safe, G
http://www.awc.org/Publications/DCA/DCA6/DCA6.pdf
Page 18, for graspable handrails. Notice the risers cannot vary by more than 3/8", from shortest to tallest. Maximum riser height = 7-3/4" Minimum tread width = 10"
Be safe, G