Why it's OK to use ledger strips to support joists inside a house, but not to support deck joists.
An ICC Guideline that spells out how to actually install guard posts that meet code requirements would be an invaluable tool for both builders and inspectors.
When researchers at Virginia Tech applied measured loads to deck posts to see which connections could meet code, they discovered that two of the most common post connections (4x4 pressure-treated post notched and lag-screwed to the band joist, and post through-bolted to the deck band joist) cannot stand up to code-protocol test load.
During the last several years, wood science researchers at Virginia Tech have scrutinized the structural connections commonly found in residential wood decks.
