California Code of Regulations › Title 8 - Industrial Relations › Division 1 - Department of Industrial Relations › Chapter 4 - Division of Industrial Safety › Subchapter 7 - General Industry Safety Orders › Group 1 - General Physical Conditions and Structures › Article 2 - Standard Specifications › Section 3209 - Standard Guardrails

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
Wherever guardrail protection is required, the
						  following standards shall be adhered to except that other types and
						  arrangements of guardrail construction will be acceptable where the height,
						  surface and end projection of the top rail complies with the standard
						  specifications and the closure of the vertical area between the top rail and
						  floor, platform, runway, or ramp provides protection at least equivalent to
						  that afforded by a midrail.
(a) A
						standard guardrail shall consist of top rail, midrail or equivalent protection,
						and posts, and shall have a vertical height within the range of 42 inches to 45
						inches from the upper surface of the top rail to the floor, platform, runway,
						or ramp level. (Note: the permissible tolerance on height dimensions is one
						inch). The top rail shall be smooth-surfaced throughout the length of the
						railing. The midrail shall be approximately halfway between the top rail and
						the floor, platform, runway, or ramp. The ends of the rails shall not overhang
						the terminal posts, except where such overhang does not constitute a projection
						hazard. (Title 24, Part 2, Section
						2-1716(a).)
NOTE: Local building regulations may require 9-inch
						  spacing of midrails.
(b) All
						guardrails and other permissible types, including their connections and
						anchorage, shall be designed for a live load of 20 pounds per linear foot
						applied either horizontally or vertically downward at the top rail. Dimensional
						details of railing members of a few types of construction which comply with
						this strength requirement are given hereinafter in subsection (c).
NOTE: It is recognized that the minimum value of
						  railing strength here specified is inadequate for safety under operating
						  conditions where railings are liable to receive heavy stresses from crowds,
						  trucking, handling materials, etc. For such conditions, additional strength
						  shall be provided by use of heavier stock, closer spacing of posts, bracing, or
						  otherwise.
Railing members shall be framed in such a position that
						  they will afford the greatest support and protection, for example, top rails of
						  structural steel angles shall have the outside face of vertical leg located on
						  the side adjacent to the side of normal contact by the employee. (Title 24,
						  Part 2, Section
						  2-1716(b).)
(c) The following are some acceptable
						guardrail specifications: other combinations will be accepted as long as
						equivalent strength and protection are maintained.
(1) In wooden construction, the posts to be
						of at least 2-inch by 4-inch nominal material spaced not to exceed 6 feet, the
						top rails to be smooth with corners rounded and not less than 2-inch by 4-inch
						nominal material. The posts may be spaced on 8-foot centers if the top rails
						consist of double 1-inch by 4-inch nominal boards, provided that 1 board is
						fastened in a flat position on top of the posts and the other is fastened in an
						edge-up position to the inside of the posts and the side of the top board.
						Single midrails, where permitted, shall be not less than 2-inch by 4-inch
						nominal material and installed on the contact side of the guardrail.
(2) If constructed of standard metal pipe,
						the top rails and single midrail, where permitted, to be 1 ½ -inch
						outside diameter or larger. The posts to be 1 ½ -inch outside diameter
						or larger, the spacing not to exceed 8 feet.
(3) Guardrails installed on or before May 26,
						2011. If constructed of structural metal, the top rails to be angle iron of at
						least 2-inch by 2-inch by ¼ -inch angles or other metal shapes of
						equivalent bending strength; and the single midrail, where permitted, to be
						iron or steel of at least 2-inch by 2-inch by ¼ -inch angles or other
						metal shapes of equivalent strength. The posts to be angle iron of at least
						2-inch by 2-inch by ¼ -inch stock, the spacing not to exceed 8
						feet.
(4) Guardrails installed
						after May 26, 2011. If constructed of structural metal, the top rails to be
						angle iron of at least 2-inch by 2-inch by 3/8 -inch angles or other metal
						shapes of equivalent bending strength; and the single midrail, where permitted,
						to be iron or steel of at least 2-inch by 2-inch by 3/8 -inch angles or other
						metal shapes of equivalent strength. The posts to be angle iron of at least
						2-inch by 2-inch by 3/8 -inch stock, the spacing not to exceed 8
						feet.