Am I cracking up, or was there a change to the height of a deck that requires a permit recently?
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If the top of the deck treading is UNDER 1m to the ground, you legally don't need a handrail etc.
To me it seems stupid. If the tread on the top of the deck is 950mm, if you fall from that distance you'll still hurt yourself badly. But apparently, 950mm apparently 50mm safer than 1m.
I had a friend step off a deck that was 30mm above ground level (obviously no handrail). She spent four weeks in hospital with a dislocated (?) knee cap and six months of physiotherapy (including plaster casts, braces, crutches etc etc).
IMHO, the height makes no difference.... it's how you land.Patience is a virtue.
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Originally posted by AMR View PostYes there has, now decks with a fall height of less than 1.5m is considered exempt work. Still need a handrail for decks over 1m though.DFTBA
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Originally posted by cube View PostThanks AMR - I'm pretty sure there was a thread on PT about this, but I can't find it. Do you have a reference to the regs?
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Originally posted by essence View PostTo me it seems stupid. If the tread on the top of the deck is 950mm, if you fall from that distance you'll still hurt yourself badly. But apparently, 950mm apparently 50mm safer than 1m.
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I think they use ACC statistics to calculate the risks, greater than 1m can result in landing on your head which would be more serious.
The 1.0m height is a way of getting around the issue where there is a sloping site, personally I would put a barrier rail on deck higher
than 600 mm. This allows people to sit on the edge.
An other option is the put planting along the front of the deck &/or raise the ground level.
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I had an inspection done by the council today, and the inspector informed that a handrail was required on the deck steps (the deck is only 690 mm high) because it has 3 rises. Since the deck is not part of the consent, they didnt fail it, but I had to supply a letter which delcared it was an existing structure.............quite confusted about the rules now, so if anyone can clarify......much appreciated
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