Railing?

[DDA52]

I guess it would depend on application? Maybe one isn't as critical as another? I see that here as well, but nowhere near as often as I used to. The 4" rule is the law of the land so to speak. Go with that and you won't have any troubles.

[nocheepgas]

It seems this is the correct info for my application (from one of your links):

Residential Guards
Where are Guards Required?
IRC Sec R312.1
Porches, balconies, ramps or raised floor surfaces
located more than 30 inches above the floor or grade
below shall have guards not less than 36 inches in
height. Open sides of stairs with a total rise of more
than 30 inches above the floor or grade below shall
have guards not less than 34 inches in height measured
vertically from the nosing of the treads.
Porches and decks which are enclosed with insect
screening shall be provided with guards where the
walking surface is located more than 30 inches
above the floor or grade below.
In R-3 Occupancies, and within individual R-2
dwelling units, a guard whose top rail also serves as
a handrail shall have a height not less than 34 inches
and not more than 38 inches. IBC Sect 1012.2.
Guard Opening Limitations
IRC Sec R312.2
Required guards on open sides of stairways, raised
floor areas, balconies and porches shall have intermediate
rails or ornamental closures which do not allow
passage of a sphere 4 inches or more in
diameter.
Exceptions:
● The triangular openings formed by the riser,
tread and bottom rail of a guard at the open
side of a stairway are permitted to be of such a
size that a sphere of 6 inches cannot pass
through.
● Openings for required guards on the sides of
stair treads shall not allow a sphere 4-3/8
inches to pass through.
PH1-

[nocheepgas]

I guess it would depend on application? Maybe one isn't as critical as another? I see that here as well, but nowhere near as often as I used to. The 4" rule is the law of the land so to speak. Go with that and you won't have any troubles.

Thanks for the help!
One more question...Does the 4" rule apply to open stair treads? What I've researched doesn't clearly state that, with the exception that if a person could walk under the stairs, then the riser shall be closed.

[welder_one]

just wait til you build railing around a public pool.... thats when it gets more fun... self closing/ self latching gates as well.

as a general rule of thumb, if you can push a 4 inch ball through a gap, its gonna fail. alot depends on the inspectors interpretations and his/ her mood for the day, but if you make it where the ball wnt fit ANYWHERE, you'll be fine. ive found in arkansas that residential railings around a pool are the same, and handrails/ stair rails are also the same code as commercial.

the real fun part is security barring on a house... it has to be able to open from the outside easily (for the firefighters) (new code for pulaski county) whats the point in having security bars????? lmao!

[DDA52]

Thanks for the help!
One more question...Does the 4" rule apply to open stair treads? What I've researched doesn't clearly state that, with the exception that if a person could walk under the stairs, then the riser shall be closed.

No worries. Stair gaps I am not sure of. The 4" rule may apply there as well. You'd have to ask on that one.