Deck hang

[Edie]

Can you hang from deck posts without breaking them? I googled and couldn't find the answer.

[Brady]

That would depend on the size of the posts, how they are anchored, and how they are attached to the deck on top. Picture?

[lubbockhammockguy]

Pictures would help answer your questions, as every deck is built differently.

[Edie]

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1365959940.189688.jpg
Doesn't look good

[Edie]

Not cemented into the ground

[digrat]

I am not an engineer, but it is my belief that you can hang from a 4x4 post, such as those in your pic, without the post breaking. However, the posts may not be anchored in such a manner that they will adequately resist the lateral strain that hanging from it would put on it--these types of cement anchors are designed for vertical support with very little side-to-side strain.

I would hang from it, but I know many other, more conservative hangers on this forum would not and would recommend that you not either. If you do decide to anchor to one of those supports, be careful, be thoughtful, and don't hang from any higher than you'd like to fall. If you hear cracking or see shifting, don't put any more weight on the beam!

As always, HYOH.

[hawghangar]

As a general reference, OSHA requires that all handrail assemblies, either temporary during construction (i.e., leading edge protection on roof or unenclosed upper floors), or permanent, be able to withstand a 200 lb lateral load applied in any direction at any point on the assembly.

In commercial construction, such handrails are engineered to meet this requirement. In residential construction, no such calculations are typically performed. Most residential handrails, especially exterior deck handrails, are just constructed by normal carpenter means and methods - however, these "means and methods", and prefabricated anchor systems (hangars, clips, blocks) were developed with intent to meet this 200 lb load capacity.

More info than anyone wanted I'm sure, but it gives you an idea of the "typical" design strength of most handrail systems... the hang angle of your suspension has a HUGE impact on the lateral load that you're putting on the vertical posts. Not sure how heavy you are, but I suspect that it would not be hard to quickly approach the 200 lb design standard.... provided your deck system has even been constructed to that standard.

Long winded answer to say I wouldn't hang from the deck handrails at my house.... but HYOH.

[lubbockhammockguy]

To me it does not look like the support poles are anchored to the ground. So if it was my deck I would not risk it. It also looks like you would be really close to the deck if you tried to hang from a short structure like that.

[Brute1100]

I would hang from my deck... But my posts are a year old, set 24" in the ground, encased in concrete with 2x6 sub structure holding it all together... I would have no problem hanging on my deck..

Your deck doesn't appear to be as "over built" as mine and those little concrete footings won't take lateral strain well... So I wouldn't chance my 190lb self hanging from it...

[Edie]

It's a rental townhouse, and the posts are not anchored in the ground. They are sitting in a preformed piece of cement sitting in top of the ground.