(See Note A-9.8.8.1.)
(1)
Except as provided in Sentence (2) and except at the leading edge at the top of a flight, every surface to which access is provided, including but not limited to flights of steps and ramps, exterior landings, porches, balconies, mezzanines, galleries and raised walkways, shall be protected by a guard on each side that is not protected by a wall for the length where the difference in elevation is more than 600 mm between the walking surface and the adjacent surface within 1.2 m.
(2)
Guards are not required
(a)
at loading docks,
(b)
at floor pits in repair garages, or
(c)
where access is provided for maintenance purposes only.
(3)
Doors in buildings of residential occupancy, where the finished floor on one side of the door is more than 600 mm above the floor or other constructed surface or ground level on the other side of the door, shall be protected by
(a)
a guard, or
(b)
a mechanism capable of controlling the free swinging or sliding of the door so as to limit any clear unobstructed opening to not more than 100 mm.
(4)
Except as provided in Sentence (5), openable windows in buildings of residential occupancy shall be protected by
(a)
a guard, or
(b)
a mechanism that can only be released with the use of tools or special knowledge to control the free swinging or sliding operation of the openable part of the window so as to limit any clear unobstructed opening to not more than 100 mm measured either vertically or horizontally. (See Note A-9.8.8.1.(4))
(5)
Windows need not be protected in accordance with Sentence (4), where the bottom edge of the openable portion of the window is located
(a)
more than 900 mm above the finished floor, or
(b)
less than 1 800 mm above the floor or ground on the other side of the window. (See Note A-9.8.8.1.(4))
(6)
Except as provided in Sentence (7), glazing installed over stairs, ramps and landings that extends to less than 1 070 mm above the surface of the treads, ramp or landing shall be
(a)
protected by guards in accordance with this Subsection, or
(b)
non-openable and designed to withstand the specified lateral loads for guards as provided in Article 4.1.5.14.
(7)
In dwelling units, glazing installed over stairs, ramps and landings that extends to less than 900 mm above the surface of the treads, ramp or landing shall be
(a)
protected by guards in accordance with this Subsection, or
(b)
non-openable and designed to withstand the specified lateral loads for guards as provided in Article 4.1.5.14.
(8)
Glazing installed in public areas that extends to less than 1 m from the floor and is located above the second storey in buildings of residential occupancy shall be
(a)
protected by guards in accordance with this Subsection, or
(b)
non-openable and designed to withstand the specified lateral loads for guards as provided in Article 4.1.5.14.