Handrail/ guardrail requirments

[Awre]

The architectural drawing for a waterfront residential building includes paved walkway and riprap slope (1:3) to the water. The handrail consists of timber posts with ropes. The Timber posts are 42" in height, 8" diameter, and located at 8' apart. The ropes are in two rows (top and center), and extending between the posts. The handrail is located seperates the walkway and the edge of the slope.

Is there any specific code applies to this type of handrails such as offset distance from the edge, number of ropes, elevations of ropes, etc.?

I understand the general requirments (per ASCE 7) for design is 50#/ft or 200# applied at the top of the railing besides basic requirments per ASCE 7 section 1.3. I thought these requirments (per ASCE 7) may be too general and different codes may highlight the specific type of the proposed railing as above. I appreciate ant feedback and code references. Thanks

 

[dik]

I don't know if this can be used in an area accessible by the public.

Dik

 

[SeanMD]

I was asked to look at something similar recently. I found, with minimal deflections of the top rope (chain in my case), and the #200 point load, the tensile force in the rope and end reaction on the post gets really really big. Maybe you would have enough slack to minimize the force component, but you would have to stand the guard well away from the edge of slope.

Also, I was looking at industrial OSHA requirments. I agree with dik, I dont know if you could qualify a two rail system for use in areas accessible to the public per the IBC.

 

[Ron]

I assume that you are using the IBC.

Your application does not require a guardrail and what is there does not meet the criteria for a guardrail. You can use the general structural design criteria if you want, but don't make any claims that it is or is intended to be a guardrail. Call it a pedestrian guide rail or some such nonsense.

Unless there is a direct drop off at the sidewalk that exceeds 18 inches, there is no requirement for a guardrail.

If a guardrail is required, it must meet all the criteria of a guardrail (pickets spaced at no more than 4" o.c., bottom rail no more than 4" off solid surface, 200 lb lateral load applied at any point on the top rail or 50 plf applied along top rail in any direction).

 

[Awre]

Thanks all for feedback.

I started with BOCA and ASCE 7. Ron brought up a good point "don't call this guardrail, call it something else"! I somewhat agree since the code for the guardrail (specially openning requirments for guardrails) doesn't apply to this. But, is there any code that requires some sort of protection for this type of applications (to protect pedstrians from falling in the water). It's common to see similar (fences/guardrails/ guide rails..) along waterfront areas using either ropes or chains (as SeanMD mentioned). How these types of structure got permitted by local building codes and deemed safe for public use? What category they fell under and in what code?

 

[BigH]

You could also look at what is used as "hand-rails" when working at heights in industrial use - and use this for the handrail along your sidewalk. On the project I am working on, the rails are A53 steel - two rows with periodic posts (can't remember off hand the spacing). You don't expect this to hold back cars - but just to keep people from falling into the water, eh?

 

[MiketheEngineer]

1. Call your local building department

2. With just a mid and hand rail any kid can get through... Enough said

3. If you choose the 4'' maximum spacing - don't run the rail horizontally - they just make a good ladder..