Maximum deck/porch height off the ground without needing railings?

[Overimprovement]

It seems to be the consensus online that 30" is the maximum height off the ground a deck/porch/patio can be without needing railings at least 36" high.

But...does anyone have an reference to a Fannie page or International Building Code page that validates this assumption? I did a cursory search through the selling guide but came up empty. This is a regular conventional loan.

 

[sputnam]

Safety issues like the height of an unrailed deck are typically associated with HUD appraisals. Check there.

 

[Zoe]

https://www.ehow.com/list_7616672_section-8-handrail-requirements.html

Okay, but remember local code enforcement can have very specific classifications for their requirements. Like it can be no more than so many inches in gaps which basically amounts to the width of a babies head. It's basically tied to fall height and human's head width on local codes. The rail has to be so high also.

 

[Zoe]

Interesting, we are doing some renovations/remodeling and my engineer son says some of the modern houses are going to cable wire instead of wood and are doing metal and/or wood dividers on railing. They run the cable wire to do the railing. I haven't seen the plans. I don't know if they run it through metal posts or wood posts.

 

[The Bob]

Handrail question

Thanks. :) I recall looking at a site which sold them and still could not fathom their use. Americans are way too fat to egress those windows!

appraisersforum.com

 

[Sadie]

It seems to be the consensus online that 30" is the maximum height off the ground a deck/porch/patio can be without needing railings at least 36" high.

But...does anyone have an reference to a Fannie page or International Building Code page that validates this assumption? I did a cursory search through the selling guide but came up empty. This is a regular conventional loan.

https://www.decks.com/how-to/articles/deck-railing-height-requirements
Pretty easy google search

 

[Sadie]

https://homeguides.sfgate.com/us-building-codes-deck-railing-61979.html

 

[Overimprovement]

https://www.decks.com/how-to/articles/deck-railing-height-requirements
Pretty easy google search

Yes, these are examples of the consensus online that I referenced in my post. This is different from page numbers or exact wording in a code book or selling guide, which is what I am looking for.

 

[Hondo]

The attached deck details are from Fairfax County, VA. They are a good guide and may be an adequate reference for you.
It says the file is too large, here is the link to the details:

https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/landdevelopment/sites/landdevelopment/files/assets/documents/pdf/publications/deck-details.pdf

 

[Fernando]

Interesting, we are doing some renovations/remodeling and my engineer son says some of the modern houses are going to cable wire instead of wood and are doing metal and/or wood dividers on railing. They run the cable wire to do the railing. I haven't seen the plans. I don't know if they run it through metal posts or wood posts.

I'd seen them and they look modern. Does it cost about the same?
My railing has its paint coming out. Too lazy to repaint it. Maybe when business slows down, I'll do some painting on the railing, fence, and front of house.