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Exterior Soffit

Mr. Inspector said:
Is there a definition of a deck yet?
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The 2024 IRC and IBC don’t define the word “deck” anywhere in Chapter 2 or elsewhere. But both codes are clear on what to do when a term isn’t defined. The IRC, in Section R202, says:

“Where terms are not defined through the methods authorized by this code, such terms shall have ordinarily accepted meanings such as the context implies. The Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary shall be considered as providing ordinarily accepted meanings.”

The IBC says almost the same thing in Section 202, just with a little more detail, stating that if a term isn’t defined in the code or any of its referenced codes, then the commonly accepted meaning applies, and Merriam-Webster is what you’re supposed to use.

So if someone is looking for a hard definition of “deck,” the code doesn’t give one. But Merriam-Webster does. It defines a deck as:

Deck: a flat floored roofless area adjoining a house.

That’s what the ICC points you to when the code comes up empty. And since “deck” is used throughout the IRC, especially in Section R507 on exterior deck construction, it’s fair to say that the ordinary meaning, backed by the dictionary, is what the code intends.
 
jar546 said:
The 2024 IRC and IBC don’t define the word “deck” anywhere in Chapter 2 or elsewhere. But both codes are clear on what to do when a term isn’t defined. The IRC, in Section R202, says:

“Where terms are not defined through the methods authorized by this code, such terms shall have ordinarily accepted meanings such as the context implies. The Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary shall be considered as providing ordinarily accepted meanings.”

The IBC says almost the same thing in Section 202, just with a little more detail, stating that if a term isn’t defined in the code or any of its referenced codes, then the commonly accepted meaning applies, and Merriam-Webster is what you’re supposed to use.

So if someone is looking for a hard definition of “deck,” the code doesn’t give one. But Merriam-Webster does. It defines a deck as:

Deck: a flat floored roofless area adjoining a house.

That’s what the ICC points you to when the code comes up empty. And since “deck” is used throughout the IRC, especially in Section R507 on exterior deck construction, it’s fair to say that the ordinary meaning, backed by the dictionary, is what the code intends.
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I agree. What's is a structure that looks like and is constructed like a deck that is not "adjoining" a house? I'm into some other sections of the IBC and LSC that use the words appurtenant and contiguous and it gets pretty subtle. So words like adjoining become important.
 
jar546 said:
Deck: a flat floored roofless area adjoining a house.
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Does that mean a deck with a roof does not need to comply to the section on decks?

The same dictionary says a porch is a covered area adjoining an entrance to a building and usually having a separate roof.

So, a deck and a deck have different meanings.

The only thing the IRC has on porches is 2018 Table R602(3) Girder and Header Spans for open porches. So, do we only use this table for porches and nothing out of the deck section?
 
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Is a patio, perhaps raised with retaining walls, a deck?

I'm adding an extension on my porch - wood framed with roof - and I called it a deck with roof on building permit application. Somewhere I thought that pitches implied concrete - like do many older urban residential buildings - and I basically used deck requirements for designing it.
 
Inspector Gadget said:
Canadian Code uses the term "deck," as well as "platform" - does IRC/IBC use "platform" in any meaningful manner?
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Don't get me started. Section 410 and other places. The definition is for 410 but it's use otherwise doesn't fit. A 40+ year struggle and why I'm working to rewrite section 410. Nothing to do with decks, porches, patios, etc.
 
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