Tempo:
Decks, Porches and Balconies
Decks, porches and balconies must be designed to carry snow and occupant loads, braced to ensure lateral stability and supported by a solid foundation. They must also be equipped with adequate guards and constructed to resist exposure to water. They may be free-standing or attached to a building.
LOADS AND SIZING OF FRAMING MEMBERS A 1.9 kPa (40 psf) live snow load and 0.5 kPa (10 psf) dead load are the minimum design loads for sizing wood members for outdoor decks in Canada. If specified roof snow loads in a given area exceed 1.9 kPa (40 psf), the snow load must be used in the deck design. For the sizing of deck joists and beams, refer to Tables 43 and 44 (pp. 310-312). Posts should be a minimum of 140 × 140 mm (6 × 6 in. nominal) unless
calculations show that lesser sizes are adequate. They should be wide enough to fully support all beam plies. Decks, porches and balconies over 600 mm (24 in.) and less than 1800 mm (71 in.) above the finished ground level are required to have guards at least 900 mm (36 in.) high. Decks higher than 1800 mm (71 in.) must have guards at least 1070 mm (42 in.) high. Figure 175 shows a common arrangement for a deck foundation, framing and guard. Outdoor decks differ from standard floor construction in that individual deck planks can carry the entire load—there is no subfloor to distribute the load. For this reason, it is important to ensure that the decking is thick enough and adequately supported to withstand the anticipated loads. Wood decking should be at least 32 mm (11⁄4 in.) thick if supported at 400 mm (16 in.) centres and at least 38 mm
Decks, porches and balconies must be designed to carry snow and occupant loads, braced to ensure lateral stability and supported by a solid foundation. They must also be equipped with adequate guards and constructed to resist exposure to water. They may be free-standing or attached to a building.
LOADS AND SIZING OF FRAMING MEMBERS A 1.9 kPa (40 psf) live snow load and 0.5 kPa (10 psf) dead load are the minimum design loads for sizing wood members for outdoor decks in Canada. If specified roof snow loads in a given area exceed 1.9 kPa (40 psf), the snow load must be used in the deck design. For the sizing of deck joists and beams, refer to Tables 43 and 44 (pp. 310-312). Posts should be a minimum of 140 × 140 mm (6 × 6 in. nominal) unless
calculations show that lesser sizes are adequate. They should be wide enough to fully support all beam plies. Decks, porches and balconies over 600 mm (24 in.) and less than 1800 mm (71 in.) above the finished ground level are required to have guards at least 900 mm (36 in.) high. Decks higher than 1800 mm (71 in.) must have guards at least 1070 mm (42 in.) high. Figure 175 shows a common arrangement for a deck foundation, framing and guard. Outdoor decks differ from standard floor construction in that individual deck planks can carry the entire load—there is no subfloor to distribute the load. For this reason, it is important to ensure that the decking is thick enough and adequately supported to withstand the anticipated loads. Wood decking should be at least 32 mm (11⁄4 in.) thick if supported at 400 mm (16 in.) centres and at least 38 mm
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