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IBC 2015 Window Sill Height and Fall Protection Section

There are no specific sill height and fall protection requirements for windows outside of R-2,3. However, I consider those additional requirements to 1015.2. Is there a walking surface next to the windows? Is the sill height less than 42"? IS the grade more than 30" below the window sill? If the answer is yes to all three then you need a guardrail.
 
fatboy said:
I think you reaching there myself. If R-2 or R-3 you can get to 1015.8 through 1015.1, but commercial? I think not. JMHO
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You can still fall out a window in commercial buildings. I would definitely consider an open window next to an area people walk an "open sided walking surface" I don't know why a window would make any difference, the hazard is identical if the window is open. Maybe if the window only opened 21" it could be the guardrail. Otherwise, I'd put a bar across it at 21" & 42".
 
redeyedfly said:
There are no specific sill height and fall protection requirements for windows outside of R-2,3. However, I consider those additional requirements to 1015.2. Is there a walking surface next to the windows? Is the sill height less than 42"? IS the grade more than 30" below the window sill? If the answer is yes to all three then you need a guardrail.
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not really
 
redeyedfly said:
I'm genuinely curious how you justify an opening in a wall (an open window) on the second story next to a walking surface would not need a guardrail.
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I can't find any code that would require what you have outlined.
 
redeyedfly said:
1015.2 and common sense.

What if the window is 4' wide and tall with a 6" sill height? That opening doesn't need a guardrail?
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I freely admit to enforcing common sense that has a tenuous basis in code. This window that you have suggested would probably get my attention....but as Tommy, the oldest Henderson boy said, "Here's the thing about that." Instead of a guard I would ask for a wall....and that would go nowhere.
 
1015.2 Where required.
"Guards shall be located along open-sided walking surfaces, including mezzanines, equipment platforms, aisles, stairs, ramps and landings that are located more than 30 inches (762 mm) measured vertically to the floor or grade below at any point within 36 inches (914 mm) horizontally to the edge of the open side."

So, that grade (or floor, sidewalk, whatever) outside that window which opens sure seems like it is more than 30" below and within 36" of the wall. Sure seems a guard is required or is it not "open sided" for a portion of the walking surface? As a designer, I'd never accept that liability anyways.
 
steveray said:
The second you find yourself applying "what if" to the code, you are wrong....I would agree it is bad design just like a 29.5" high sidewalk, but code does not require any protection there either....
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This isn't even a "what if". 1015.2 requires a guard.

"What if" it was a door? By your logic, 1015.2 wouldn't apply in that case either.

I can't believe this is even a question.
 
Our code deals with this similarly to yours:

A window in a public area that extends to less than 1000 mm above the floor and is located above the second storey in a building of residential occupancy, shall be protected by a barrier or railing no less than 1070 mm above the floor, of the window shall be non-openable and designed to withstand the lateral design loads for balcony guards required by article 4.1.5.14.

So, if it is not a residential occupancy, no protection is required.
 
So you call all exterior windows guards? Do you make them meet this?

1015.2.1 Glazing. Where glass is used to provide a guard
or as a portion of the guard system, the guard shall comply
with Section 2407. Where the glazing provided does
not meet the strength and attachment requirements of Section
1607.8, complying guards shall be located along
glazed sides of open-sided walking surfaces.
 
tmurray said:
Our code deals with this similarly to yours:

A window in a public area that extends to less than 1000 mm above the floor and is located above the second storey in a building of residential occupancy, shall be protected by a barrier or railing no less than 1070 mm above the floor, of the window shall be non-openable and designed to withstand the lateral design loads for balcony guards required by article 4.1.5.14.

So, if it is not a residential occupancy, no protection is required.
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No guardrails in Canada's commercial code? Weird.
 
redeyedfly said:
No guardrails in Canada's commercial code? Weird.
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Oh no, we require them in any surface that is 600mm above an adjacent surface or a slope of more than 1 in 2 to within 1200mm of the walking surface.

That is just the code section specific to windows.
 
steveray said:
So you call all exterior windows guards? Do you make them meet this?

1015.2.1 Glazing. Where glass is used to provide a guard
or as a portion of the guard system, the guard shall comply
with Section 2407. Where the glazing provided does
not meet the strength and attachment requirements of Section
1607.8, complying guards shall be located along
glazed sides of open-sided walking surfaces.
Click to expand...
Yes. Wind loads would surpass the guardrail load in any case.
 
Really.....the wind exceeds 200lbs X4?

2407.1.1 Loads. The panels and their support system shall
be designed to withstand the loads specified in Section
1607.8. A design factor of four shall be used for safety.

1607.8.1.1 Concentrated load. Handrails and guards
shall be designed to resist a concentrated load of 200
pounds (0.89 kN) in accordance with Section 4.5.1 of
ASCE 7.
 
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