AskCodeMan

Dear Codeman,

Our home was built in the early 80s here in New Mexico. The railings on the upper back and front deck have custom-made wrought iron railings from Mexico that were installed at the time the home was built...the openings between the rails are 5 - 5.5 inches. These decks are 8 ft above the ground. The railings are in keeping with the style of this home.

QUESTION: If we remodel our deck and take the railings off and maybe cut them to fit the new space, does this put us in a situation where we need to replace those railings to meet the code for new construction?
thanks codeman.

Yes, it should mean that the modified railing will need to meet code, but ... your local AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction) - your local building department - may allow you to reuse your old nonconforming railing.

However ... YOU should not reuse that old railing because of safety reasons. There is no reason to put that decision onto the AHJ.