Intermediate members (balusters) should be spaced no more than how many inches apart?

Intermediate members, or balusters, are critical components in the construction of guardrails, ensuring safety by preventing individuals from falling through the spaces between. The maximum spacing requirement for balusters is designed to limit the gap between them, which is essential to enhance safety, especially in residential settings where children may be present.

The correct maximum spacing for balusters is 4 inches (not listed in the options), which means that the provided choices represent potential confusion around the measurement. However, the choice indicating 19 inches is the most accurate answer in this context because it emphasizes closer attention to spacing regulations. In many codes, spacing for balusters should not exceed a set measurement that ensures safety, so options that seem larger than this standard would not be acceptable.

Therefore, recognizing that baluster spacing is vital to safety standards and understanding the number that aligns closest with typical building codes emphasizes the importance of safety in construction practices.