Retaining Wall Guardrail Requirements 2

[john1525]

The local building code requires that all retainig walls shall be provided with a quardail when they are "located closer than two (2) feet to a walk, path parking lot or driveway".

We have an existing wall that has a 24" high by 30" wide stone knee wall above the concrete reataining wall. If mesured from the inside, the distance to the path driveway is only 6". However, if mesasured from the outside face of the wall it will be 30" from the driveway.

Can this be considered a code violation?

 

[Ron]

Interesting issue...the top of the wall is almost as wide as a walkway! This would be one that you might request an exception from the local building official, since the intent of a guardrail is to prevent incidental falls from a higher to lower surface..in your case, that appears to be achieved by the width and height of the wall.

 

[woodman88]

At 30" wide it would be very easy to walk along the top of this stone knee wall. I would be surprised if the building department does not require a guardrail.

Garth Dreger PE
AZ Phoenix area

 

[john1525]

Thanks

FYI - The dimensions given above are worng. The "stone" knee wall is 24" wide and not 30". Therefore, the inside dimension is 12" and the outside 36".