Typical Deck Details - VBgov

City of Virginia Beach, VirginiaTypical Deck DetailsBased on the 2012 Virginia Residential CodeThe design details in this document apply to residential, single-leveldecks only. Construction cannot deviate from the details herein unlessprior approval is obtained by the city. A copy of this document mustbe on the job site and available during each required inspection.Version: 2012.1, 6/6/2016City of Virginia Beach, Virginia - Typical DeckPage 1 of 24

City of Virginia Beach, VirginiaTypical Deck DetailsCONTENTSguarddeckingblockingledger boardfastenersexisting housefloor constructionledger boardattachment toexisting houseguard postattachmentjoistsrim -beamconnectionknee-bracingSection 1 General Notes .3Design Considerations .3Material Specifications.3Post-to-Footing Connection . 12Post Size & Maximum Height . 11Beam-to-Post Connection . 12Section 2 Deck Surface .4Decking .4Safety Glazing .5Section 6 Ledger Attachment . 13General Requirements . 13Ledger Board Fasteners . 15Section 3 Joists .6Joist Size .6Joist Framing at Projections .8Joist Hangers.8Joist-to-Beam Connection .8Section 4 Beams.9Beam Size .10Beam Assembly .10Section 5 Footings & Posts .11Footing Size .11Version: 2012.1, 6/6/2016Section 7 Lateral Support . 17Bracing Methods . 17Bracing-to-Framing Connection . 19Section 8 Guards . 19Guard Construction. 19Guard Post Connections . 20Section 9 Stairs . 21Stair Geometry . 21Stair Landing . 21Stair Construction . 21Section 10 Complete My Deck . 24City of Virginia Beach, Virginia - Typical DeckPage 2 of 24

1 General NotesThese typical deck details are provided toensure design and construction of decks in VirginiaBeach is consistent and code compliant. Prior todesigning your deck, read this publication thoroughlyand pay close attention to each applicable detail.Once you have selected the size of your deck, use thejoist and beam span tables to determine their size,spacing, span lengths and overhang dimensions. Usethe remaining details to guide you in determining theother design elements of your deck. Ensure yourecord your deck design on Page 24.If you have questions, please contact the cityat 757-385-4211 option 3 or via email atperminsp@vbgov.com. Information regarding permitapplication and inspection requirements can befound nning/permits-inspections/Pages/default.aspxDESIGN CONSIDERATIONS1. These details are based on the prescriptiverequirements of the 2012 Virginia ResidentialCode, industry best-practices and applicablereferenced standards such as the National DesignSpecification for Wood Construction.4. Deviation from these details require approval bycity staff prior to construction.2. Framing members in these details are designed fora 40 PSF live load, 10 PSF dead load, normalloading duration, wet service conditions anddeflections of ℓ/360 for main spans and ℓ/180 foroverhangs with a 220-pound point load.6. Decks must be designed to ensure rain and meltingice and snow flow away from the existing house.5. Decks constructed in accordance with these detailsare not approved for privacy screens, planters,built-in seating or hot tubs.3. The use of these details to design and constructmulti-level decks is prohibited.MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS1. Lumber shall be preservative-treated, southernpine, grade #2 or better. Lumber not native toNorth America, such as Ipe, may be used asdecking only; its use in guards is prohibited.2. Lumber in contact with the ground shall be ratedas “ground-contact.” Not all treated lumber israted for ground contact.3. Concrete in footings shall have a minimumcompressive strength of 3,000 PSI.Version: 2012.1, 6/6/20164. Nails shall be threaded, ring-shanked or annulargrooved. A ⅛-inch pilot hole shall be used at toenailing locations.5. Carriage-bolts may be substituted where throughbolts are specified provided carriage-bolt washers(with square holes) are installed at the bolt head.6. Fasteners shall be hot-dipped galvanized, stainlesssteel or approved for use with preservative-treatedlumber.7. Hardware and mechanical connectors, e.g., joisthangers or post anchors, shall be stainless steel orCity of Virginia Beach, Virginia - Typical DeckPage 3 of 24

galvanized with 1.85 ounces of zinc per squarefoot (G-185 coating). Look for product lines suchas “Zmax,” “Triple Zinc” or “Gold Coat.”8. Flashing at ledger board connections (see Page 13)shall be copper (with copper nails only), stainlesssteel, UV resistant plastic or galvanized steel witha G-185 coating.9. Plastic composites are materials composed ofbound wood and plastic fibers. Permissible asnoted in this document, plastic composites mustbear a label indicating its compliance with ASTMD 7032. Plastic composite’s label and installationinstructions must be available to the inspector.210. When using plastic composites, exercise cautionas some members do not have the same capacityas their wood equivalents.11. PVC decking and guards are permitted providedthey have a valid evaluation report from anaccredited listing agency such as the InternationalCode Council – Evaluation Service. Installationshall be in conformance with the report and themanufacturer's instructions which must beavailable to the inspector.12. The use of other materials and products, other thanthose permitted herein, shall be approved by thecity prior to installation. Deck SurfaceDECKING Decking shall be per TABLE 1 and placed perpendicularly or at an angle up to 45 degrees to the joists. Wood decking shall be attached per FIGURE 1. If installed wet, place decking with no gap so after dryinga ⅛-inch gap is created. The use of hidden fasteners and similar attachment devices is prohibited. Each decking member shall bear on a minimum of three joists or blocking between joists. Placement and attachment of plastic composites shall be per manufacturer’s instructions.(2)8d nails or (2)#8screws at each joist2x4, 2x6 or "fivequarter" boardFIGURE 1: TYPICAL DECKINGTABLE 1: DECKING REQUIREMENTS AND MAXIMUM JOIST SPACINGMaximum Joist Spacing (inches)Material Type andNominal SizeAngularPerpendicularWood “five-quarter” boardWood 2x4 or 2x6Plastic composites, PVC1216per manufacturer1624per manufacturerVersion: 2012.1, 6/6/2016City of Virginia Beach, Virginia - Typical Deck DetailsPage 4 of 24

SAFETY GLAZINGTo reduce injury due to an accidental impact, safety glazing in window glass is required when the existinghouse wall encloses any portion of the deck surface or acts as a barrier to stairs, landings and areas at the topand bottom of the stairs.Windows adjacent a deck surface. As shown in FIGURE 2, single panes of glass meeting all therequirements listed below must be safety-glazed. Glass area is greater than 9 square feet, The bottom edge of the pane is less than 18 inches above the walking surface of the deck, and The top edge of the pane is greater than 36 inches above the walking surface of the deck.In the absence of safety glazing, a horizontal rail across the window must be installed. The rail must meet therequirements of a stair handrail per Page 23.Windows adjacent stairways and landings. Single panes, partially or wholly located in the hatched areashown in FIGURE 2, must be safety-glazed. In the absence of safety glazing, a stair guard per Page 22 orhandrail per Page 23, must be constructed to separate the window from the stairway.no safety glazingrequired 36"safety glazingrequiredwalkingsurfaceof decklowerwalkingsurface 18"36"36"safety glazingrequiredADJACENT DECK SURFACE60"ADJACENT STAIRS/LANDINGFIGURE 2: SAFETY GLAZING REQUIREMENTSVersion: 2012.1, 6/6/2016City of Virginia Beach, Virginia - Typical DeckPage 5 of 24

3 Joists Joists are repetitively placed framing members spaced at 12, 16 or 24 inches on center which aresupported at each end by a beam or ledger board. Single span decks are framed with joists that have one span between supports (not including overhang)as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. Multi-span decks have joists with more than one span which bear onmultiple beam as shown in FIGURES 5 and 6. At the house connection, joists bear on the attached ledger board. Joists on a free-standing deck do notconnect to the house; instead bearing is provided by an additional beam located at or near the house wallas shown in FIGURE 7.JOIST SIZE Joist span length is measured from the ledger board to the centerline of the supporting beam or betweenthe centerlines of the supporting beams at each end. Joists are permitted to overhang past a dropped beam; joist span length does not include overhangs. The joists’ design is based on spacing, size and span length. Use TABLE 2 to determine joist size andthe corresponding maximum allowable overhang. Note: the overhang dimension shall never exceedone-fourth of the actual joist span.Provide full-depth 2x blocking between overhanging joists above beam locations. Exception: blockingmay be omitted if the overhang is less than or equal to 2 feet. Where blocking between joists is required, attach blocking using joist hangers at each end or by toenailing blocking to joists at each end, top and bottom with 10d nails.Attach a continuous rim joist or blocking at the joist ends as shown in FIGURES 3, 5 and 7. Attach arim joist to the end of each joist with (3)10d nails or (3)#10 by 3-inch wood screws. When choosing 2x6 joists, the corresponding ledger board must be a 2x8 minimum. See Page 13 formore information. Guards cannot be attached to decks framed with 2x6 joists. See Page 20 for more information.Joist SpacingTABLE 2: MAXIMUM JOIST SPAN LENGTH(inches on center)1216241Version: 2012.1, 6/6/2016Joist 10"3'-4"Overhang dimension shall not exceed one-fourth of the actual joist span.City of Virginia Beach, Virginia - Typical DeckPage 6 of 24

continuousrim joistblocking (betweenoverhanging joists only)joist hangerdropped outsidebeamledgerboardjoistpostjoist spanoptional overhangFIGURE 3: SINGLE SPAN DECK - JOISTS ATTACHED AT HOUSE WITH DROPPED BEAMjoist hangerflushoutsidebeamjoist hangerpostledgerboardjoistjoist spanFIGURE 4: SINGLE SPAN DECK - JOISTS ATTACHED AT HOUSE WITH FLUSH BEAMjoist-overlap1continuous rim joistblocking (betweenoverhanging joists only)joist hangerdropped 2 spanoptional overhangledgerboardjoist-11joist-1 span1 One continuous joist is permitted to span over the top of the inside dropped beam with no overlap.FIGURE 5: MULTI-SPAN DECK - JOISTS WITH DROPPED BEAMSjoist hangerflushoutsidebeamflush insidebeamjoist-2postjoist-1ledgerboardpostjoist-2 spanjoist-1 spanFIGURE 6: MULTI-SPAN DECK - JOISTS WITH FLUSH BEAMS2x blocking between joistsor continuous rim joistcontinuousrim joistblocking (between overhanging joists only)droppedoutsidebeam1post2optional overhangjoist2droppedoutsidebeam1joist spanpost2optional overhang1 Flush beams are permitted with freestanding decks when joists do not overhang.2 Align joists to be located at post locations in order to accommodate lateral bracing per FIGURE 30.FIGURE 7: JOISTS WITH FREESTANDING DECKSVersion: 2012.1, 6/6/2016City of Virginia Beach, Virginia - Typical DeckPage 7 of 24