Deck and Balcony Safety

Decks and balconies pose several hazards — the most serious being that your child could slip through the railings and fall, or become wedged in the railings and suffocate. Fortunately, with supervision and a few simple steps, you should be able to prevent these accidents.

Example of safe spacing on deck railing

If the railings on your deck or balcony create any gaps that are wider than 4 inches, you'll need to make some modifications to stop your child from squeezing through and to “child proof” the area. There are a number of options on the market to do this --cover the railings with plastic garden fencing, shade cloth, a sheet of clear plastic, or rigid sheets of Plexiglas.

Get in the habit of keeping patio furniture away from the railings -- this should include potted plants or other climbable objects.

Be aware of furniture light enough for a child to drag to the balcony's edge. You don't want to give your child a chance to climb up and go over the edge. 

Consider adding latches to any doors or windows that lead out to your balcony or deck. These latches should be installed well out of your child's reach.

Ensure children are always SUPERVISED.

Check Your Deck

Summer is here and your deck is the perfect place to entertain! Your deck is exposed to the elements 365 days a year and over time wood may begin to crack, splinter and rot increasing the risk of injury or structural failure. To ensure the safety of your guests and family, please keep these tips in mind:

• Avoid grilling on the deck.
• Know the Code. Codes are established to ensure your safety. 
• Light it up! Prevent trips and falls by incorporating lighting on your deck.
• Take time each year to check your deck. 
• Check not only the stairs/steps of your deck, but also all railings. Repair any area that is unstable. Also look for any trip hazards, such as loose wood. Lean from side to side on each stair to see if the stair wobbles. Look carefully at the points of connection between the stairs and the deck and replace anything that looks old or compromised.

Proper deck maintenance will help keep your deck strong. However, it can’t protect against a fire caused by grilling on your deck. Take a few minutes and ensure your deck is ready for summer gatherings. For more information:

Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services provided deck safety info for a segment on WRC TV 4.

Decks - To Shovel or Not to Shovel?

To shovel or not to shovel? The weight of snow varies with the weather, which can alter its density. Building Codes require decks to support more snow than most roofs. A properly built and maintained deck is not likely to collapse from the weight of the snow.

There are two situations that require shoveling your deck: When you need to create an exit route from your back door and when the snow gets higher than your deck rails.

#1 - Rule of Thumb: Most deck rails are about 36” high. Don’t worry until the snow is above the rails (deeper than 3 feet). If you can see the rail tops, you’re probably okay – even with a little rain added in. When snow is deeper than 3 feet, it’s time to reevaluate. When snow is deeper than 3 ½ feet, it’s time to shovel. To avoid damage to your deck, always shovel in a path parallel to the deck boards, not perpendicular and don’t use a shovel with a metal blade or ice pick on your deck. When shoveling, we recommend that you push snow off the deck using a broom, leaf blower or proper shovel that won’t damage your deck. Be especially careful on any deck stairs and railings which are likely to be slick.

#2 - Clear the snow to provide an exit path from your home. You should always have two separate exit paths from your house for safety. If clearing a second exit path will require you to shovel snow from your deck, all you need to clear is a path 3 feet wide --- no need to shovel the entire deck unless the snow is above the rails (or you just love to shovel). Be careful walking on the deck after you’ve cleared off snow because it is likely to be slick and once the snow is gone – re-inspect your deck for any storm damage.

Example of #1 - snow almost to railings

An example of #2 - Exit way blocked

Deck and Balcony Safety

Decks and balconies pose several hazards — the most serious being that your child could slip through the railings and fall, or become wedged in the railings and suffocate. Fortunately, with supervision and a few simple steps, you should be able to prevent these accidents.

Example of safe spacing on deck railing

If the railings on your deck or balcony create any gaps that are wider than 4 inches, you'll need to make some modifications to stop your child from squeezing through and to “child proof” the area. There are a number of options on the market to do this --cover the railings with plastic garden fencing, shade cloth, a sheet of clear plastic, or rigid sheets of Plexiglas.

Get in the habit of keeping patio furniture away from the railings -- this should include potted plants or other climbable objects.

Be aware of furniture light enough for a child to drag to the balcony's edge. You don't want to give your child a chance to climb up and go over the edge. 

Consider adding latches to any doors or windows that lead out to your balcony or deck. These latches should be installed well out of your child's reach.

Ensure children are always SUPERVISED.