Guards and Window Fall Protection: Preventing Falls

Safety is paramount when it comes to staircases and elevated areas in your home. Guards, such as railings, play a crucial role in preventing falls and ensuring the well-being of everyone in your home. This section outlines the building code requirements for guards and window fall protection.

Where Guards Are Required

Guards are essential safety barriers that help prevent falls from elevated areas. They are typically required in the following situations:

  • Open-Sided Walking Surfaces: This includes balconies, decks, porches, landings, and raised walkways that are more than 30 inches above the floor or ground below.
  • Stairs: Guards are also required on open sides of stairs that are more than 30 inches above the floor or ground below.
  • Within 36 Inches of the Edge: The requirement for guards applies to any point within 36 inches horizontally from the edge of the open side. This ensures that people cannot easily fall over the edge.

Guard Height

The height of a guard is crucial for its effectiveness in preventing falls. Building codes specify minimum heights to ensure adequate protection.

Guard Height Requirements:

  • Minimum Height: Guards should be at least 36 inches high, measured vertically from the walking surface or the line connecting the nosings of stairs.
  • Exceptions:
    • Stair Guards: Guards on the open sides of stairs can be slightly shorter, with a minimum height of 34 inches.
    • Guard/Handrail Combination: If the top of the guard also serves as a handrail, its height should be between 34 and 38 inches.

Opening Limitations

Guards should not have any openings that are large enough for a person, especially a small child, to fall through. Building codes specify maximum opening sizes to prevent this.

Opening Limitations:

  • 4-Inch Sphere Rule: Guards should not have any openings that allow a 4-inch diameter sphere to pass through. This ensures that small children cannot slip through the openings.
  • Exceptions:
    • Triangular Openings on Stairs: The triangular openings formed by the riser, tread, and bottom rail of a guard on stairs can be slightly larger, allowing a 6-inch diameter sphere to pass through.
    • Openings on Stairs: Openings on the open side of stairs can also be slightly larger, allowing a 4 ⅜-inch diameter sphere to pass through.

Glazing in Guards and Railings

When using glass panels in guards or railings, there are additional safety considerations to keep in mind.

  • Hazardous Locations: Glazing in guards and railings is considered a hazardous location and must meet specific safety requirements.
  • Structural Glass Baluster Panels: These panels must be installed with an attached top rail or handrail for support, or be constructed of laminated glass for added strength.
  • Glazing Adjacent to Stairs and Ramps: Glazing near stairs and ramps must be tempered or laminated safety glass to prevent breakage and injury.
  • Glazing Adjacent to Bottom Stair Landing: Similar to glazing near stairs and ramps, glazing near the bottom stair landing must also be safety glass.

Window Fall Protection

Windows that pose a fall hazard, especially those near the floor or at a significant height, require fall protection measures. These measures can include window guards, safety bars, or other devices that prevent accidental falls.

By understanding and adhering to these building codes, you can create a safe and secure environment in your home, minimizing the risk of falls from stairs, balconies, decks, and windows.