While state and local building, fire, and occupational safety codes have the effect of making roofs, balconies, and terraces more secure for users, the tangled web of requirements can wreak havoc with a building owner’s exterior envelope project.
Where existing railings—also known as guards—need replacement to meet stringent code requirements, the expense of thousands of linear feet of new railings can be an unexpected blow to a project budget.
Lacking familiarity with current requirements, some owners or managers complete a roof or balcony rehabilitation, only to learn after the fact that they need to tear noncompliant railings out of their new roof or terrace and install new ones.
The best strategy is to learn how railing regulations could impact the scope, logistics, and schedule of a building envelope project—and its cost.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After reading this article, you should be able to:
+ Distinguish among various code requirements for railings to determine applicable standards.
+ Apply the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.
+ Evaluate existing balcony and roof railings for signs of distress and failure, and diagnose the probable cause of deficiencies.
+ Implement appropriate strategies for railing repair, alteration, or replacement to meet building code requirements.
About the Authors: John P. Graz, AIA, is a Senior Architect with , Inc., with more than 20 years leading project teams in architectural design and restoration. Rachel C. Palisin, PE, LEED AP BD+C, is a Project Engineer with Hoffmann Architects, based in the firm’s New York City office.
TAKE THIS FREE AIA COURSE AT BDCUNIVERSITY
Related Stories
75 Top Building Products | Dec 1, 2020
Top Building Envelope Products for 2020
Sherwin-Williams' Emerald Rain Refresh and James Hardie's Aspyre Collection are among the 23 new building envelope products to make Building Design + Construction's 2020 75 Top Products report.
Coronavirus | Apr 8, 2020
COVID-19 alert: Most U.S. roofing contractors hit by coronavirus, says NRCA
NRCA survey shows 52% of roofing contractor said COVID-19 pandemic was having a significant or very significant impact on their businesses.
75 Top Building Products | Dec 16, 2019
Top Window and Door Products for 2019
Pella’s Rolscreen retractable screen and NanaWall’s HSW single-track sliding glass wall are among the 16 window and door products to make Building Design+Construction’s 2019 101 Top Products report.
75 Top Building Products | Dec 16, 2019
101 Top Products for 2019
Building Design+Construction readers and editors select their top building products for the past 12 months in the fourth-annual 101 Top Products report.
75 Top Building Products | Dec 16, 2019
Top Glass and Glazing Products for 2019
SageGlass's Harmony dynamic glass and Vitro Architectural Glass's Acuity low-iron glass are among the nine new glass and glazing products to make Building Design+Construction's 2019 101 Top Products report.
75 Top Building Products | Dec 12, 2019
Top Building Envelope Products for 2019
Sto's beetle-inspired exterior coating and Dörken Systems' UV-resistant vapor-permeable barrier are among the 28 new building envelope products to make Building Design+Construction's 2019 101 Top Products report.
Sponsored | Building Enclosure Systems | Oct 22, 2018
Effective water management building materials are essential for harsh weather events
The building envelope plays a crucial in protecting projects from excess moisture, mold, and rot.
Sponsored | Building Enclosure Systems | Jul 16, 2018
Building for Efficiency: Systems Approaches Boost Profitability
BD+C University Course | May 24, 2018
Accommodating movement in building envelope materials [AIA course]
We may think of the building envelope as an inanimate object, but in reality its components can be quite mobile. This AIA CES course is worth 1.0 AIA LU/HSW.