Railing code Question.

[Paul H]

I'm aware that the building code wants no attachment or opening located between 140 mm and 900 mm above the floor that would facilitate climbing, would a horizontal space of half an inch be acceptable, if so what would the maximum vertical opening be?

Thank You.

 

[steveray]

Not sure in Canada, but we only have climbability for pool barriers, not typical guards.....

 

[tmurray]

Openings would be permitted, provided they do not allow a 100mm sphere to pass. This has changed substantially in the national version, which now permits climbable guards under certain conditions.

A lot of these guards are dealt with on a case-by-case basis, especially when it come to very decorative guards. The 2010 version of the national code had some good illustrations which may help: https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/eng/view/ft/?id=cbd245df-bc91-4033-a538-fb20fcf536a1&dp=4&dsl=en See pages896-897 (A-90 to A-91) for guidance.

Ultimately, it is hard to say without seeing the exact design. Even then, it is somewhat of a judgement call by the building official. The illustrations in the code should provide you with some guidance though.

 

[tbz]

If you wait long enough you should get some responses from the North of the Boarder members here, but the reality is that it is more than likely a direct question for the local AHJ for your area.

In talking with many a fabricator up in that area over the last 20 plus years, the closer you get to Toronto, the more restrictive they are to the letter of the if this do that design guide for code on guard infill.

Not from that side of the boarder, but in the 2 trips I made to speak at conference/meetings as a guest speaker on the climb ability subject pre-2010, I found reality to be swept a side and acidemia what ifs to be the lead in making choices.

 

[Paul H]

thank you for the responses.
It's the climbability that is the real issue, I hate the vertical look and I'm trying to stay with the horizontal, if I laid strips of 3-in wide stainless steel spaced a quarter of an inch apart horizontally it would be impossible to climb I'm just wondering how far I can push that envelope, by increasing the gap before all hell broke loose.