pool deck barrier/railing heights

[joshua Riddick]

want to build a 14' x 12' deck leading to my pool I already have a deck off my house and want to step down pool deck off of this original deck.

1. do I need a barrier?/gate leading form the old deck to pool deck?

2. whats the height requirement for the barrier on the pool deck? I knowthe IRC states 48" above grade but is that from the ground or does my grade now start at the top of the deck surfaces?

3.

 

[steveray]

Somewhere you need to run into a 48" high unclimbable barrier....If the other deck is climbable, then, yes, you start over.....

 

[joshua Riddick]

Somewhere you need to run into a 48" high unclimbable barrier....If the other deck is climbable, then, yes, you start over.....

so just to be clear I do need to separate both decks with barrier?
deck that connects to pool is 46" off ground (pool deck will have stairs) and main deck is 69" off ground. main deck has no stairs

 

[steveray]

Might need to alarm the house door....

 

[joshua Riddick]

Might need to alarm the house door....

alarm already in place just wondering about the actual barriers

 

[TheCommish]

You need to have a barrier that separates the grade and stairs from the pool that is at least 48 inches tall, has a gate the swings away from the pool is self-closing and latching, and the latch meets it's access requirements.

 

[Mr. Inspector]

According to the 2015 international swimming and spa code requires the barrier to be not less than 48" above grade. It does not say 48" above a deck or a walking surface.
There is no definition of "grade" in this code or in the IBC or IRC but only the definition of "Grade Plane" which is the average ground level. In dictionaries it usually refers to the ground level or the angle of ground level

On the other hand the IRC and the IBC requires "guards" to be a minimum height from the adjacent walking surfaces.

305.2.1 Barrier height and clearances. Barrier heights
and clearances shall be in accordance with all of the following:
1. The top of the barrier shall be not less than 48 inches
(1219 mm) above grade where measured on the side
of the barrier that faces away from the pool or spa.
Such height shall exist around the entire perimeter
of the barrier and for a distance of 3 feet (914 mm)
measured horizontally from the outside of the
required barrier.

 

[tbz]

alarm already in place just wondering about the actual barriers

It's simple, you need a 48" high barrier between everyone outside your property and your pool that meets the limits within the pool code.

• If you have an alarm on all the openings exiting onto the deck that meet the pool code requirements then your house can qualify as one part of the barrier.
• You now have to check to see if you can get access on to the higher deck from a stepping point that is under 48" from the grade below, which nullifies the deck meeting barrier qualifications, just because the deck's walking surface is 69" above the grade below, is there a way to access it with a foot hold not complying with the pool barrier requirements.
  • Example pool filter, pool heater, etc
    
  • If good, with no access to higher deck then
• The lower deck walking surface is only 46" from grade, if you have no foot holds that reduce that distance to be less than 45 inches, then you only need to add 2 inches to the top edge with that access to be at 48" high or higher
  
• You noted that you have steps accessing the lower deck, then you need a barrier blocking access to those steps.

If you can access the pool through a method that does not meet the minimum requirements within the pool code keeping someone from getting to the pool, then you fail.

If no matter how you walk around the property you are inhibited by a barrier that meets the pool code you are good.

 

[steveray]

Well put Tom!....One of the hardest things I have to explain to a homeowner or contractor....

 

[willto]

want to build a 14' x 12' deck leading to my pool I already have a deck off my house and want to step down pool deck off of this original deck.

1. do I need a barrier?/gate leading form the old deck to pool deck?

2. whats the height requirement for the barrier on the pool deck? I knowthe IRC states 48" above grade but is that from the ground or does my grade now start at the top of the deck surfaces?

3.

Hey Joshua I'm having the same issue with my deck I leave in ny and the inspector is telling me the 48" starts from the top of the deck I don't think is right but I would m.like to see what other people think

 

[TheCommish]

The 48" barrier is from the walking surface to the pool

International Pool and Spa code, Check for NY amendments

305.2.1 Barrier Height and Clearances
Barrier heights and clearances shall be in accordance with all of the following:
The top of the barrier shall be not less than 48 inches (1219 mm) above grade where measured on the side of the barrier that faces away from the pool or spa. Such height shall exist around the entire perimeter of the barrier and for a distance of 3 feet (914 mm) measured horizontally from the outside of the required barrier.
The vertical clearance between grade and the bottom of the barrier shall not exceed 2 inches (51 mm) for grade surfaces that are not solid, such as grass or gravel, where measured on the side of the barrier that faces away from the pool or spa.
The vertical clearance between a surface below the barrier to a solid surface, such as concrete, and the bottom of the required barrier shall not exceed 4 inches (102 mm) where measured on the side of the required barrier that faces away from the pool or spa.
Where the top of the pool or spa structure is above grade, the barrier shall be installed on grade or shall be mounted on top of the pool or spa structure. Where the barrier is mounted on the top of the pool or spa, the vertical clearance between the top of the pool or spa and the bottom of the barrier shall not exceed 4 inches (102 mm).

 

[mark handler]

want to build a 14' x 12' deck leading to my pool I already have a deck off my house and want to step down pool deck off of this original deck.

1. do I need a barrier?/gate leading form the old deck to pool deck?

2. whats the height requirement for the barrier on the pool deck? I knowthe IRC states 48" above grade but is that from the ground or does my grade now start at the top of the deck surfaces?

3.

Yes you need a barrier
Yes you need a gate or door.
The deck width varies, here in CA it is 4-feet.