Is There a Minimum Standard for Residential Deck Railing Slats?

Description

• Residential deck railing slats are the vertical members that run between the perimeter posts of a deck's hand rail. The slats can be a customized design or selected as part of a premade railing system. The actual size or diameter of the slat is determined by the style of the railing — a Victorian-style deck railing may have thin, turned vertical rails of an inch to an inch and a half in diameter. A more rustic style may have flat, wide planks for vertical railing members. Available styles, finishes and slat sizes vary greatly and are subject to the homeowner's tastes.

Local Standards

• Standard measurements used to build a residential deck railing require a maximum of four inches of space between the slats and do not reference a minimum standard for slat width. Builders should always verify this dimension before settling on a final design -- local building codes may require a more stringent measurement or require an additional measurement for minimum slat width.

Building Code

• Contacting the city or county building and construction department to inquire about permits and codes for decks should clear up any concerns about minimum standards. When permits are not required, the four-inch maximum is the measurement to use — four inches or less prevents anyone from pushing their body through the railing and suffering injury.

Additional Standards

• Further standards apply to deck railings. Not only do the slats need to be four inches apart or less, the horizontal member that sits across the bottom of the slats cannot be more than four inches from the deck surface. Building codes also include standards for the deck surface and the height of the railing. Decks, or deck-like structures, that are 30 inches above the ground are typically required to have a railing around the perimeter of the deck. However, codes can vary on the overall height of the railing, ranging anywhere from 36 to 44 inches. Local codes may also require certain standards for deck stairs and additional stair railings.