The Ontario Building Code | Loads on Guards
9.8.8.2. Loads on Guards
(1) Except as provided in Sentence (5), guards shall be designed to resist the specified loads prescribed in Table 9.8.8.2.
Table 9.8.8.2.
Specified Loads for Guards
Forming Part of Sentence 9.8.8.2.(1)
| Item | Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 |
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| Location of Guard | Minimum Specified Loads |
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| Horizontal Load Applied Inward or Outward at any Point at the Minimum Required Height of the Guard | Horizontal Load Applied Inward or Outward on Elements Within the Guard, Including Solid panels and Pickets | Evenly Distributed Vertical Load Applied at the Top of the Guard |
| 1. | Guards within dwelling units and exterior guards serving not more than 2 dwelling units | 0.5 kN/m or concentrated load of 1.0 kN applied at any point(1) | 0.5 kN applied over a maximum width of 300 mm and a height of 300 mm(2) | 1.5 kN/m |
| 2. | Guards serving access walkways to equipment platforms, contiguous stairs and similar areas | Concentrated load of 1.0 kN applied at any point | Concentrated load of 0.5 kN applied at any point on individual elements | 1.5 kN/m |
| 3. | All other guards | 0.75 kN/m or concentrated load of 1.0 kN applied at any point(1) | Concentrated load of 0.5 kN applied at any point on individual elements | 1.5 kN/m |
Notes to Table 9.8.8.2.:
(1) The load that creates the most critical condition shall apply.
(2) See Sentence (2).
(2) Where the width and spacing of balusters in guards withindwelling units and in exterior guards serving not more than two dwelling units is such that three balusters can be engaged by a load imposed over a 300 mm width, the load shall be imposed so as to engage three balusters.
(3) None of the specified loads prescribed in Table 9.8.8.2. need be considered to act simultaneously.
(4) Forguards within dwelling unitsand for exterior guards serving not more than 2 dwelling units, Table 9.8.8.2. need not apply where the guard construction has been demonstrated to provide effective performance.
(5) Guards constructed in accordance with the requirements in MMAH Supplementary Standard SB-7, "Guards for Housing and Small buildings" shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of Sentence (1).