The 2009 IRC, which is the building code in my area, requires that a deck connected to and supported by its primary structure be “designed for vertical and lateral loads as applicable” (2009 IRC, R502.2.2).
The IRC’s vertical load requirement is clear: 50 pounds (40 live plus 10 dead) per square foot. Using a deck’s dimensions, you can easily calculate its vertical load on the connection between the deck ledger and the house band, and then refer to the code to find connection details and attachment configurations.
However, the IRC’s lateral load provision—intended to prevent a deck from being pulled away from its supporting structure—is anything but clear, as most contractors who build decks know ...
This article originally appeared in Professional Deck Builder magazine. To read it in its entirety, click here.
