National Safety Council

Data Sheet I-747 Rev. June 2006

Guardrail systems: Fall prevention

for floor and wall openings
and open-sided floors
least dimension in any floor, roof or
O ne-third of all fatalities in the U.S. con-
struction industry result from falls
from elevations. Falls from elevations also
platform, through which materials or
tools may fall
cause many serious injuries resulting in c. Wall opening – An opening at least 30
significant time lost from work. inches high and 18 inches wide in any
2. Unguarded floor openings, wall open- wall or partition, through which a person
ings, platforms and open-sided floors may fall more than 4 feet
expose workers to falls. Floor holes, d. Open-sided floor – Any floor, deck or
although smaller openings, represent trip- platform 6 feet or more above an adja-
ping and stumbling hazards. This data cent floor or ground level with no barrier
sheet focuses on measures to reduce and e. Guardrailing – A vertical barrier erected
guard these types of hazards. along the exposed edges of a floor
3. The most practical means for providing opening, wall opening, open-sided
protection and preventing falls is the erection floors or platforms to prevent per-
of guardrails along exposed edges or across sonnel from falling
openings such as stairwells, chute openings, f. Toeboard – A vertical barrier at floor
hatchways, elevator shafts, skylights, duct level, erected along the exposed
and pipe openings, window and doorway edges of a floor or wall opening to pre-
openings, decks, mezzanines, balconies, and vent materials or tools from falling
ladder openings. These openings are found
on most construction projects and can be Guarding floor openings and open-
the cause of serious injuries if not guarded sided floors
and maintained. 5. All openings should be protected by a
guardrail system consisting of a top rail, an
Definitions intermediate rail, a toeboard and posts
4. The following definitions conform to (Figure 1). The top rail should have a verti-
specifications in the American National cal height of approximately 42 inches (+/-3
Standards Institute, Standard A1264.l-l989, inches) from the top rail surface to the
Safety Requirements for Floor and Wall floor. The top railing should have a smooth
Openings and (non-residential) Stair and surface. An intermediate rail should be
Railing Systems. (note that all lumber erected halfway between the top rail and
dimensions are nominal lumber sizes.) the floor. A toeboard 4 inches in vertical
a. Floor opening – An opening 12 inches height from the floor and securely fas-
or more in its least dimension in any tened in place not more than 4 inches
floor, roof or platform, through which a above the floor should be erected.
person, material or tool may fall 6. Most guardrails on construction projects
b. Floor hole – An opening less than 12 are constructed of wood. The post stock
inches, but more than 1 inch in its should not be less than 2 inches by 4 inches

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National Safety Council
Data Sheet I-747 Rev. June 2006

should be at least 1 inch by 6 inches. The

toeboard stock should not be less than 1
inch by 4 inches. The guardrail structure
should be capable of withstanding a load
of 200 pounds applied in any direction at
any point on the top railing, with a mini-
mum of deflection.
7. Guardrails also can be constructed of
rigid materials, such as pipe or other
metal members, or other materials meet-
ing the prescribed strength standards
(Figure 2).
Figure 1. This guardrail system demonstrates how to 8. Cable or chains, however, are difficult
protect an opening by using a top rail, an intermediate to maintain at the prescribed rail height
rail, a toeboard and posts. Note that the bracings are without sagging, particularly when used
on the outside to avoid a tripping hazard. as top railings; they also invite workers to
(Courtesy Construction Safety Association of Ontario) use the top rail as a line to which lanyards
can be attached.
9. The guardrail system must be inspected
spaced no more than 8 feet apart. The top frequently and properly maintained when
rail stock should be not less than 2 inches the hazard of a floor opening or wall open-
by 4 inches. The intermediate rail stock ing exists.

Figure 2. Guardrail systems also can be fabricated from tube-and-clamp scaffold or equivalent compo-
nents. This arrangement requires cast-in-place sleeves to accept the posts.
(Courtesy Construction Safety Association of Ontario)

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National Safety Council
Data Sheet I-747 Rev. June 2006

10. Also available are manufactured

guardrail systems providing equivalent pro-
tection around floor and wall openings.
However, it is important to note some
manufactured systems require the building
be designed to accommodate the guardrail-
ings.

Guarding wall openings

11. If the size of the opening indicates a
wall opening, it should be protected by a
top rail, intermediate rail and toeboard. A
solid barrier or a screen fully covering the
opening also can be used. It may, at times,
be necessary to erect the guardrails so
they can be moved to permit materials
and/or personnel to pass through the Figure 3. Guardrails can be used to protect
opening. floor openings.
12. If a solid barrier or a screen is used, it (Courtesy Construction Safety Association of Ontario)
must be secured in place and meet the
loading requirements for guardrails.
reduce the possibility that the plywood will
Guarding floor holes be lifted or pried loose, and taken away for
13. Because of size and location in narrow other uses. Planning and preparation is
passageways, floor holes and openings are required if recessing is the option.
best covered over with material that is equal 16. Floor openings and hole covers must
to the strength of the surrounding floor or be identified. A warning sign in bright red
surrounded by a guardrail (Figure 3). letters reading, “Danger: Opening – Do not
14. Covers should be of 2-inch (scaffold- remove”, should be placed and maintained
grade) plank or plywood of equivalent on each cover as long as the possible hole
strength (exposure 1, class B), and at hazard exists.
least 3/4-inch thick. The cover must be
secured in place to prevent movement or Caution: Whenever a railing or a cover is
lifting. Movement can be prevented by being installed or removed to perform
constructing a frame of two-by-fours fit- work or move material, the exposed
ting the inside measurements of the hole workers should be protected with a fall
(Figure 4). Nail the frame to the planks or protection system, lifeline and/or lanyard
plywood, and fit the assembly in the attached to a body harness while this
opening. Feather the edges of the covers condition exists. No part of any type of a
to reduce the likelihood of tripping. To guardrail system should be used as an
prevent lifting, secure the covers with anchor point for a lifeline or lanyard. The
nails or concrete fasteners. guardrails are erected to withstand 200
15. When using plywood as covers, it is pounds of pressure, whereas anchorage
recommended the plywood be recessed for lifelines and lanyards must sustain a
so the cover is level with the floor. This will load of at least 5,000 pounds.

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National Safety Council
Data Sheet I-747 Rev. June 2006

Safety Engineers, 1800 E. Oakton, Des Plaines, IL

60018, 1991.
“Guardrails.” Construction Safety Association of
Ontario, 74 Victoria St., Toronto, Ontario, Canada
M5C2A5, 1991.
“OSHA Up To Date.” National Safety Council,
March 1990.
Safety Requirements for Floor and Wall Openings
(non-residential) Stair and Railing Systems, A1264.1-
l989. American National Standards Institute, 1819 L
St., N.W., 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20036, 1989.

Figure 4. Covers must be capable of supporting

all loads to which they may be subjected without
exceeding the allowable unit stress for the
material used.
(Courtesy Construction Safety Association of Ontario)

Acknowledgement
This data sheet was revised by the
Construction Division of the National
Safety Council, 1121 Spring Lake Drive,
Itasca, IL 60143.

Sources of information
Fall Protection Systems – A10.32-2004
“Accident Prevention Manual for Business &
Industry, 2 vols, 10th ed.,” National Safety Council,
1992.
29 CFR 1926.500, Safety and Health Regulations for
Construction, Subpart M, Floor and Wall Openings.
Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and
Health Administration, Washington, DC 20210.
Construction Division News, American Society of

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National Safety Council
Data Sheet I-747 Rev. June 2006

Minimum specifications for guardrail systems

Type of Size of top/mid rail Height (inches) Post size/spacing Strength

material (inches) Top rail (1) (2) (pounds) (3)

Wood 2x4/1x6 42 2x4/8 200

Pipe 1-1/2 nominal OD 42 1-1/2 nom./8 200
Steel 2x2x3/8 angle 42 2x2x3/8 angle/ 8 200 or equiv.
bend. strength
Wire rope 3/8 diameter(4) 42 equivalent to one 200
of above
Other equivalent to one 42 equivalent to one 200
equivalent of above of above

1. Acceptable heights range from 39-45 inches (42 ± 3). Mid-rail height should be about
half the height of top rail.

2. Spacing is horizontal distance measured center post to center post.

3. Railing must have minimum deflection in any direction of 200 pounds. Force is applied.
Minimum deflection is not defined although 3 inches of deflection for wire rope after
force is applied is a guideline. Strength criteria also applies to all structural members
of system, including post anchorages.

4. There is no OSHA national office guidance at this time for size of wire rope guardrails.
Three-eighths of an inch is a recommended size, however, any wire rope size ? inch or
larger (as per NPRM for Subpart M) would be acceptable.
Note: Lumber sizes listed above can be nominal size.

Copyright 2006 National Safety Council.

All rights reserved.

Although the information and recommendations

contained in this publication have been compiled
from sources believed to be reliable, the National
Safety Council makes no guarantee as to, and
assumes no responsibility for, the correctness,
sufficiency, or completeness of such information
or recommendations. Other or additional safety
measures may be required under particular
circumstances.