Roof Deck Guardrail

by don
(philadelphia, pa, usa)

I'm planning a roof deck on an existing flat modified bitumen roof. I want to use modular deck tiles for the walking surface. The problem is finding an acceptable method of mounting the guardrail, preferably w/o penetrating the roof. The guard would be on 3 sides returning to & anchored into the masonry building walls.

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Jul 12, 2010
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Roof Deck Guardrail, cont'd
by: Don

Rich,
Thanks for the offer of help. Unfortunately, the contact form doesn't allow attachment of files. I attempted to fax a sketch last night but your fax machine is either turned off or not functioning. I will attempt to re-send today.

Jul 11, 2010
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Will refer to your drawings and our engineering results
by: Editor - Rich Bergman

Just saw your question and I would ask that you fax in or send a scan of your drawing with dimensions of the deck and I will send you back details based on Intertek engineering tests. I am assuming this is residential, subject to the IRC and therefore 36" high rails. I will need to see direction changes, lengths of runs and where you attach back to building to offer you proper guidance.

Fax us at 613-224-9713 or send a scan image us using the Contact form located in the footer of every page and will will help you out.

Jul 11, 2010
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Roof Deck Guardrail, cont'd
by: Don

Perhaps my question wasn't clear, let me clarify:

The situation involves an existing roof (recently re-roofed) which is over occupied tenant space, so opening up the roof to get to the joists is NOT an option. The modular deck tiles, while snapping together, would not be an acceptable source of attachment for the railing system since they are not fixed to anything structural. I came up with a scheme to mount the railing posts to a built-up "sleeper" assembly approx. 6" high using Titan Post Anchors. The sleeper assembly would sit on the roof surface & be anchored @ the ends into the adjacent bldg. walls. Does anyone think this will work or have suggestions for alternatives?

Jul 11, 2010
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A few possible ideas for your roof deck
by: Anonymous

If you can't secure the rail posts to the side of the rim joist of the roof structure then you are left with a surface mounted option. Can you set posts into the joist structure and if so you would use a traditional attachment means and perhaps rap and seal the post where it protrudes through the deck surface with adhesive rubber membrane.

If you can do that and you are just going to connect the rail posts to the deck tiles, you will have to rely on the shape of the rail itself and the attachment back to the walls to provide much of the strength. You could then use shorter fasteners to connect each rail post to the deck tile without penetrating the roof.

Or you could build a platform that sits above the roof membrane and the tiles sit on that.

Just a few ideas. Hope that helps.

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