Don’t Lean Back!

The bench in the photo above looks like a nice place to sit and enjoy the view, and it would prevent you from accidentally walking off the edge of the deck. But it’s not a substitute for a guardrail.

Codes may vary by municipality, but where the International Residential Code is in force, decks that are more than 30 in. above the ground are required to have a guardrail that measures at least 36 in. from the deck surface to the top of the guardrail. Also, the guardrail design must not allow a 4-in. sphere to fit through any opening. And finally, the guardrail must be able to withstand a concentrated 200-lb. force anywhere along the top of the rail. The deck in the bottom photo meets these requirements.