Fence on Pedestrian Bridge - need railing?
Fence on Pedestrian Bridge - need railing?
(OP)
I have a client that wants to provide a fence for a pedestrian bridge. My job is to provide calculations proving that the fence works as designed. The fence is providing a complete enclosure of the bridge because a METRO train runs above this pedestrian bridge. I was told to follow the 1997 AASHTO Guide Specifications for Design of Pedestrian Bridges. This guide does not mention anything about railings or fence. So I am referencing AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications Section 13.8.2 which gives design live loads for railings and fence.
So here is my question: If I have a complete fence enclosure over the entire bridge walkway, do I need railings? I can't find anything in the code that tells me that I DO NOT need railings. This is just a pedestrian bridge. There is no vehicular traffic on this bridge.
I have attached (2) drawings. One drawing is a section through the enclosed fence. The other drawing shows an elevation of the fence. In the elevation, you can see how they have railings beyond the fence enclosure.
So here is my question: If I have a complete fence enclosure over the entire bridge walkway, do I need railings? I can't find anything in the code that tells me that I DO NOT need railings. This is just a pedestrian bridge. There is no vehicular traffic on this bridge.
I have attached (2) drawings. One drawing is a section through the enclosed fence. The other drawing shows an elevation of the fence. In the elevation, you can see how they have railings beyond the fence enclosure.





RE: Fence on Pedestrian Bridge - need railing?
RE: Fence on Pedestrian Bridge - need railing?
RE: Fence on Pedestrian Bridge - need railing?
RE: Fence on Pedestrian Bridge - need railing?
RE: Fence on Pedestrian Bridge - need railing?
RE: Fence on Pedestrian Bridge - need railing?
(But with that much steel wrapped all around me, in a long enclosed tube of bare steel and fencing, I'D feel like I were in cattle chute headed to the boxcars for a concentration camp! )
RE: Fence on Pedestrian Bridge - need railing?
Never thought of it that way but you have a good point.
RE: Fence on Pedestrian Bridge - need railing?
RE: Fence on Pedestrian Bridge - need railing?
RE: Fence on Pedestrian Bridge - need railing?
Just a quick observation,
Dave
Thaidavid
RE: Fence on Pedestrian Bridge - need railing?
The county I work for bought a disused rail right of way. The state DOT made us put up hooligan fencing on an overpass over a state highway. I never thought about whether it would meet handrail loading, and apparently the state permit engineer didn't either.
RE: Fence on Pedestrian Bridge - need railing?