42-178 (8) 02014 by Superior Plastic Products,Inc.
1.5 BUILDING CODE REQUIREMENTS
A. Provide railings for walking surfaces greater than 30"off the ground.
B. Rail Height:
1. 36"from the deck surface for residential use
2. 42"from the deck surface for commercial use
C. Spacing: Design railings and balusters so that a 4"sphere cannot pass through
any railing opening except the area above a stair tread through which a 6" sphere
cannot pass.
D. Handrail Requirements: Railings at stairs with more than 3 risers shall be
designed with an ADA-compliant handrail.
1. Handrails shall be 34"to 38"from top of Handrail to"nose" of the step,
between 1-1/2"to 2"diameter, and have at least 1-1/2" minimum of
clearance between wall&inside of handrail. The handrails shall follow the
same fall line(slope) as the stairs and be continuous from landing to
landing so the hand can slide smoothly without interruption.
E. Structural Performance: Railings shall withstand the effects of gravity loads and
the following loads and stresses within limits and under conditions indicated. All
testing shall comply with Chapter 16 IBC, Section 301 IRC, and Chapter 16 UBC.
1. Handrails and Top Rails of Guards:
a. Uniform load of 50 Ibf/ft. (0.73 kN/m)applied in any direction.
b. Concentrated load of 200 Ibf(0.89 kN)applied in any direction.
C. Uniform and concentrated loads need not be assumed to act
concurrently.
2. Infill of Guards:
1. Concentrated load of 50 Ibf (0.22 kN) applied horizontally on an
area of 1 sq. ft. (0.093 sq. m).
2. Infill load and other loads need not be assumed to act
concurrently.
Note: The loads specified above are design loads. A safety factor of 2.5 or
greater shall be applied.
STRUCTURAL POLYMER (PVC) RAILINGS AND BALUSTRADES 065210-3
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