Condo Media - August 2021 - 41

DECK STAIRS, HAND RAILS,
AND GUARD RAILS
Accidents related to stairs are
the second-leading cause of accidental
injuries in the United States,
according to the National Safety
Council, responsible for 12,000
deaths annually and for non-fatal
injuries costing $92 billion a year.
Only automobile accidents take
a higher toll.
Handrails must run continuous
down the flight of stairs with
four or more risers and should be
34 to 38 inches above the treads
with a minimum distance of one
and a half inches from a wall.
Guard rails must be 36 inches
above the deck (42 inches for
multi-family buildings covered
by IBC code) and able to withstand
a 200-pound force from any
direction. Balusters must be able
to handle a 50 pound per square
foot force while being spaced a
minimum of four inches apart.
A common mistake builders
make is to install a handrail not
conforming to building code.
There are only two approved shapes,
which do not include a 2x4 or other
odd shape. However, the building
committee's primary concern should
be safety and not code compliance.
The question to be addressed is,
" Does the stair, hand, or guard rail
provide the safety needs given
where the stairway or deck is located,
and how is it used? " Accidents are
preventable. Regular deck maintenance
inspections will fi nd where
typical problems can be found.
Providing guidance to your unit
owners of what to look for and how
to report observed deck component
issues will go a long way in reducing
accidents and raise the quality of
life in a real sense.
■ JACK CARR, P.E., RS, LEED-AP,
IS SENIOR CONSULTING ENGINEER
FOR CRITERIUM-ENGINEERS IN
FREEPORT, MAINE. HE IS A MEMBER
OF THE CONDO MEDIA BOARD.
Your Banking Needs Are
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www.southshorebank.com
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781-682-3243
dpicha@southshorebank.com
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781-682-3274
cwalker@southshorebank.com
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August 2021 CONDOMEDIA 41
Condo Media - August 2021

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