According to a study of deck-related injuries during 2003-2007, failing deck rails (guardrails) were the cause of 33 percent of the structural failures that caused a visit to the emergency room. Failing deck rails caused 26,640 injuries in that 5 year period, nationwide. The Seattle Building Code (SBC) section 1607.8.1 and Seattle Residential Code (SRC) Table R301.5 both require that guards (the code term now used for guardrails) be designed to resist specific forces that simulate an adult falling against or pulling/pushing on a guard.
