CT Building Codes for Porch Railings

Dimensions

• On porches that are not on the first floor, the railing should cover the entire length of the porch on all sides, and it should be at least 42 inches high. On first-floor porches that lead onto a street or driveway, however, the railing must not cover more than 65 percent of the longest side of the porch, so the occupants can escape quickly in case of fire. The shorter sides of the porch can be completely fenced in, however. On a first-floor porch, the railing can be less than 42 inches high.

Materials

• Porch railings can be made of wood, stone, metal, or any other material approved by the Connecticut building code for outdoor structures. To decrease the risk of fire, the materials must be naturally fire-resistant, such as stone, or be treated with fire-resistant chemicals. For instance, treated wood can be used to build porch railings.

Balusters

• Balusters are the vertical supports that hold up a horizontal porch railing or handrail. When completed, the balusters and porch railing together must be able to withstand a force of 50 lbs. per square inch without shifting, cracking or breaking. Balusters must be no more than four inches apart, and all railings should have at least three balusters, so they will stay in place if any one of the balusters breaks.

Exceptions

• As a rule, Connecticut building codes require all parts of a porch, including the railing, to be made of fire-resistant materials. However, if you're putting a railing on a porch that is not more than 10 feet deep and is attached to a one-story house, you do not have to use fire-resistant materials for the railing unless the porch ends less than 5 feet from the street.