OSHA states that guardrail must reach a height of 42 inches, plus or minus 3 inches, above the walking-working surface and withstand a force of 200 pounds at any point in a downward or outward direction. If the railing dips below 39 inches, due to the force, the railing is not OSHA compliant.
When and where are guardrails required?
Generally, guardrails are required when the building has steps, landings, platforms or accessible roof spaces . According to the code, guardrails are required when there is a difference of 30 in. or greater between two upper and lower surfaces. OSHA requirements for guardrails are quite stringent.
At what height are guardrails required OSHA?
Top edge height of top rails, or equivalent guardrail system members, shall be 42 inches (1.1 m) plus or minus 3 inches (8 cm) above the walking/working level . When conditions warrant, the height of the top edge may exceed the 45-inch height, provided the guardrail system meets all other criteria of this paragraph.
What are the specifications for a guardrail system?
A standard railing should consist of a top rail, intermediate rail and posts, and shall have a vertical height of 42 inches . The structure must have the strength to withstand at least the minimum requirement of 200 pounds, applied in a downward or outward direction within 2 inches of the top edge.
What is guardrail code?
§ 3209 . Standard Guardrails. ... (a) A standard guardrail shall consist of top rail, midrail or equivalent protection, and posts, and shall have a vertical height within the range of 42 inches to 45 inches from the upper surface of the top rail to the floor, platform, runway, or ramp level.
At what height is a Toeboard required?
Toeboards shall be at least 31⁄2 inches (8.9 cm) in height from top edge to floor level , and be capable of withstanding a force of 50 pounds (222 N) applied in any direction.
At what height do you need a railing?
In most cases, you are required to have a railing when the floor of your porch is 30 inches or more above grade . However, 30 inches can be a long to fall; therefore some codes may require railings if your porch is 15 or 24 inches above grade.
Where should guardrails be installed?
along the open edges of elevated working areas such as the upper floors of building under construction or being repaired. around work elevated work surfaces including platforms, scaffolds, runways, or ramps. around openings in floors, roofs, and in working surfaces where the openings are not covered or protected.
What should guardrails be?
Is there a legally required height for guardrail? ... EN13374, the most common standard used when specifying rooftop guardrails, stipulates that temporary edge protection systems must be at least 1m high when perpendicular to the roof surface , and the gap in the system must not exceed 470mm.
Are toeboards required on guardrails?
While some of OSHA’s revised walking-working surface regulations require toeboards as part of a guardrail, they are not mandatory with every guardrail . ... Still, including them on guardrails may be a good idea if they could be needed in the future to protect workers from falling objects.
What are the 4 methods of fall protection?
Categories of Fall Protection
All active fall protection for the construction industry falls into four basic categories: fall arrest, positioning, suspension, and retrieval . OSHA provides standards for each category of fall protection.
What are the three main parts of a guardrail?
Guardrails have three main parts: a top rail, a mid rail, and a toe board .
What is the code for railing spacing?
In general, the International Residential Code (IRC) requires a deck, porch, or balcony to have a structural railing installed in order to pass a home inspection. For child safety, the balusters must be spaced less than 4′′ apart .
Are horizontal railings code?
Horizontal Railing Not Permitted In All Jurisdictions
It’s important for readers to know that horizontal railing is not permitted in every jurisdiction. USA residential guard rail standards permit horizontal railings and this is why we see horizontal cable railings in the US.
What is the code for handrail spacing?
30 inches of a handrail. Other than OSHA, all other codes and standards require that handrails be placed between 34 and 38 inches above the ramp, walking surface, or nosing. recommends a maximum height of 28 inches with a minimum of 9 inches of clearance between the child’s rail and the adult rail.
Which fall protection is not allowed at a leading edge?
Each employee on a walking/working surface 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above a lower level where leading edges are under construction, but who is not engaged in the leading edge work, shall be protected from falling by a guardrail system, safety net system, or personal fall arrest system .
