Safety First
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When planning your deck, think first about the safety of family and guests. A deck is an uncovered, outdoor structural floor system that is expected to endure changing weather and resist significant loads and lateral forces over years of service. Careful material selection, design, installation and periodic inspection are keys to avoiding sudden, unexpected failure of deck or guard rail systems, which could result in serious injury or death.
The Prescriptive Residential Wood Deck Construction Guide, Design for Code Acceptance 6 (DCA6) from the American Wood Council provides code-compliant details for single-level residential wood decks. Both pros and do-it-yourselfers can use this guide to help design and build safe decks.
Preservatives
Today's pressure-treated wood products are manufactured with a new generation of preservatives and are safe for use around people, plants and pets. The treatment provides long-term resistance to decay and termite attack, with no components that are considered hazardous under Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations. New formulas reduce impact on aquatic and terrestrial environments, are less corrosive to fasteners and must meet stringent requirements. For more complete information on preservatives, refer to SPC’s Pressure-Treated Southern Pine.
Independent, certified agencies routinely inspect lumber mills and treatment plant operations to ensure standards compliance and monitor product quality. Pressure-treated lumber must be properly marked and/or tagged to meet building code requirements designed to protect public safety. See typical Grade and Quality Marks.
Handling Treated Wood
Dispose of treated wood in accordance with state, federal and local regulations. Treated wood should not be burned in open fires or in stoves, fireplaces or residential boilers because toxic chemicals may be produced as part of the smoke and ashes.
Avoid frequent or prolonged inhalation of sawdust from wood. Use a dust mask when sawing, sanding and machining wood. When power-sawing and machining, wear goggles to protect eyes from flying particles.
Wear gloves when working with the wood. After working with wood, wash exposed areas thoroughly before eating, drinking, toileting, or using tobacco products. Because preservatives or sawdust may accumulate on clothes, they should be laundered before reuse. Wash work clothes separately from other household clothing.
Inspect Your Deck Annually
Inspect your deck once a year for signs of decay, condition of structural connections and guard railings, etc. May is Deck Safety Month®, sponsored by the North American Deck and Railing Association. NADRA's Check Your Deck® inspection checklist is helpful for self-inspections.
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