Floors

Decks — General

Decks shall be constructed per prescriptive provisions of this section or per approved engineering. Applies to wood deck construction attached to one- and two-family dwellings. Deck height, span, and post requirements specified.

Deck Ledger Connection to Band Joist

Deck ledger attachment to the band joist of the building is critical for structural safety. Minimum 1/2 inch lag screws or bolts per Table R507.6. Flashing required at the ledger-to-wall connection. Improperly attached ledgers are a leading cause of deck collapse.

Deck Lateral Load Connection

Decks must resist lateral loads at the connection to the main structure. Requires two hold-down tension devices attached to the deck and to the main building per Table R507.9. This section was added to prevent decks from pulling away from buildings.