Donald Hester
Washington State Licensed Home Inspector #647
WSDA#80050
InterNachi Member #NACHI10022401
509-670-9572
Contact Us
Washington State Licensed Home Inspector #647
WSDA#80050
InterNachi Member #NACHI10022401
509-670-9572
Contact Us
DonHester's blog
A rail tail, be on guard of your guardrails.
Submitted by DonHester on Mon, 01/14/2013 - 17:00.A rail tail, be on guard of your guardrails. Chelan Home Inspections
They are so common we do not even think much about them. But they can be one of the most dangerous components in the home.
They are your stairs. Statistics from 2000- Fall on and from stairs and steps, deaths in year 2000- 1,307, one year odds are 1 in 210,640, and lifetime odds are 1 in 2,739.
Stairway accidents number the greatest among children in the home. There still are 100,000 accidents per year in children less than 5 years old.
But let’s talk about a specific component of the stairs and decks… the guardrail.
ES-ICC performed atest at an accredited testing facility to test the load capacity of traditional construction practices. Guard should be designed to withstand a 200 lb point load.
A stair was constructed with typical three 2x12 cut stringers and 2x6 members for each tread. They used dry #2 Douglas fir.
Three 48-inch-long posts were attached using two 3/8 -inch galvanized bolts. The top bolt was attached through the triangular cut portion of the stringer (normal practice) and the bottom bolt passed through the uncut portion of the stringer.
They applied a load to each post and measured it using a dynamometer. In each case, the bolt pulled through the stringer at a load of just 20 pounds. As the load was increased to 50 pounds, severe cracks were seen resulting in complete failure of both the stringer and the rail post support.
Guardrail failure should be non-existent and results can be tragic. All too often guardrail construction is poor at best, this is both interior and exterior installations. On most home inspection where guardrails are present I find that they are deficient. Many times it is almost scary how poorly designed and installed these important safety items are.
Ancora Imparo
NCW Home Inspections, LLC is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Oroville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…
Your Wenatchee and Chelan Professional Real Estate, Home and Structural Pest Inspection Service
www.ncwhomeinspections.com 509-670-9572
