These provisions address handrail clearance, particularly along a fire exit or fire stairs.
Florida stair rail code code#
The two code provisions with relevant information in regards to installing glass railings are NFPA 5000: Building Construction and Safety Code and NFPA 101: Life Safety Code. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has developed more than 300 consensus codes and standards that focus on eliminating death, injury, property, and economic loss due to fire, electrical, and related hazards. The majority of these relate to commercial buildings, however, there are some that address residential buildings which makes it prudent to review them and also to check with your local building code office to assure compliance.
Florida stair rail code install#
While the IRC/IBC are foundational building codes, there are other building codes, guidelines, and standards that may need to be considered depending on where you plan to install your glass railing. Both of these model codes are updated every three years and fall under the International Code Council (ICC), providing minimum safeguards for people at home, school, and in the workplace. The model code for a residential building is the International Residential Code (IRC), while the model code for commercial buildings is the International Building Code (IBC). There are different codes to follow depending on whether you are installing glass railings in a residential (either a one or two-family dwelling) or commercial or multi-family residential building. The grasp-ability of the handrail is determined by the diameter of the rail, which should be between 1 1/4" and 2", with some variations for residential railings. However, the IBC requires a guard to be 42" high for commercial railings, which is too high for a handrail (generally between 34" and 38"), so a handrail would need to be added to the guardrail at the appropriate height to meet code. This situation mainly applies to residential railings. A guard can potentially function as a handrail depending on the height of the guard and the grasp-ability of the top rail. Often building codes and standards address handrails and guardrails (or guards) and, at first glance, these may seem interchangeable, but they have a distinct difference - handrails are meant to provide guidance, whereas guards are meant to prevent accidental falls. Before you install your railing system, it is best to check with the local authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) because it is local code inspections you will need to pass. While we have done everything we can to engineer our eGlass Railing™ products to meet model building codes, your local building codes may have different provisions to meet. They indicate the standards to which structures should be built in order to prevent illness or injury. It can be a challenge trying to figure out what codes and standards to follow, as there are codes that address fire and electrical hazards ( NFPA), codes that relate to work environments ( OSHA), and codes that address accessibility for persons with disabilities ( ADA), as well as model building codes ( IRC and IBC) and local building codes.īuilding codes are developed to protect public health and safety. If you are planning to install your eGlass Railing™ system yourself, knowing the building code for your project will help you to avoid costly repairs in order to be in compliance. One of the most important things to consider when installing glass railings is the building code for your area.
0 kommentar(er)
