If a drop is 29 inches, is a guardrail required?

• A. Yes
• B. No
• C. Only if the area is accessible to children
• D. Only if there is more than 36 inches of drop

Answer: (B)

Guardrails are required when a fall from a walking surface would be above a certain height. In NSPIRE guidelines, that height is 36 inches. A drop of 29 inches is below that threshold, so a guardrail is not required in this situation. If the drop were 36 inches or more, a guardrail would be needed to help prevent a fall. The other options don’t fit because they either call for protection at a lower height or add conditions (like occupancy) that aren’t part of the height-based rule.