Required Vertical Clearance - Outside deck and overhead beam

Hello,

I am building a deck underneath a portion of my roof. There is a beam that supports my roof. Does code require a minimum clearance between the bottom of the beam and my proposed deck surface (6', 7', etc.)? People will be walking under the beam.

I've googled with no luck.

Thanks for the help.

 

You are building a "deck" under your "porch"......how will you get on it? That's pretty high for a deck. Now are you extending your roof over a deck?

 

Hi,

No porch is involved. I am installing a three foot high deck that extends past the roof eave. So part of the deck will be covered and the other part will be uncovered. An existing beam that supports the roof overhang above the proposed deck is my concern. If the proposed deck is not built low enough the beam will interfere with peoples heads.

What I am curious about is if there is a code requirement on the vertical distance between the beam and the deck floor. If its 7 feet i may need to lower the deck a few inches, but if, say 6'8" is acceptable I should be fine.

Hopefully that makes more sense.

Thanks

 

Is your deck to be attached to the sill of the house, or is it free standing? I am having a really difficult time envisioning what you are doing. Would it be possible for you to post a couple of pictures of the proposed deck site, along with the "beam" and elevation of the deck. I think it would clarify so much.
http://www.doityourself.com/forum/el...your-post.html

 

Here are a few common headroom codes:

R311.7.2 Headroom. "The minimum headroom in all parts of the stairway shall not be less than 6 feet 8 inches (2032 mm) measured vertically from the sloped line adjoining the tread nosing or from the floor surface of the landing or platform on that portion of the stairway."

That's stairs. But would this principle apply elsewhere?

Most prehung doorways are only 79 5/8" tall when you open the door and measure the clear height of the opening. Vinyl patio doors have even less space. Mobile home doors have even less. So it seems clear that the 80" height rule does not apply to ALL situations, just stairway headroom and landings.

R305.1 refers to Ceiling Heights, but applies to "Habitable space" only.

R309.7 refers to Headroom clearance, but applied to garages. Any portion of a garage shall have an unobstructed headroom clearance of not less than 6 feet 8 inches above the finished floor to any ceiling, beam, pipe, or similar construction except for wall-mounted shelves, storage surfaces, racks, or cabinets.

In the 2006 IBC section 1003.3.1 Headroom. "Protruding objects are permitted to extend below the minimum ceiling height required.......provided a minum headroom of 80 inches shall be provided for any walking surface, including walks, corridors, aisles and passageways."

So I guess while none of this specifically refers to an "exterior" deck, if there are stairs leading on/off of the deck, or if there is an exit from the home, it would be reasonable to think that you need to maintain 6'8" clearance just due to the fact that the deck could be considered as a large "landing or walkway". And a deck is a "walking surface"... I'm just not 100% clear on whether or not that applies outside the home. Common sense would dictate it would.

 

Xsleeper, wow, great information. Thanks. I'll design for 80" and let the plan reviewer deny or accept. I agree that common sense should dictate in this case.

Chandler, thanks again for the help.