Loose brick stacks must not exceed 7 feet in height, according to Legal Information Institute.
Key takeaways
- Check brick height before the crew pulls from the pile and keep the stack at or under 7 feet.
- Above 4 feet, taper the brick stack back 2 inches for each foot of added height.
- Above 6 feet, taper masonry block tiers back one-half block for each tier.
- Keep lumber at or under 20 feet, and manually handled lumber at or under 16 feet.
How high a loose brick stack may go
The 29 CFR § 1926.250 - General requirements for storage. | Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR) | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute page states that brick stacks shall not be more than 7 feet in height, according to Legal Information Institute. This limit applies to the total vertical measurement of the pile before the crew begins pulling material. When a loose brick stack reaches a height of 4 feet, it shall be tapered back 2 inches in every foot of height above the 4-foot level, according to Legal Information Institute. The taper requirement begins precisely at the 4-foot mark and continues for each additional foot of height up to the 7-foot maximum. Contractors should measure the stack from the ground to the top of the highest brick to verify compliance with the 7-foot cap. If the stack exceeds 4 feet, the taper must be applied to the portion of the pile above that level. The 2-inch reduction for each foot of height is a specific geometric requirement for the upper section of the brick pile. These rules are found in the storage requirements section of the federal code. The page does not specify different limits for different types of brick, so the 7-foot height and 4-foot taper trigger apply to loose brick stacks generally. Supervisors can use a tape measure to check the height and the taper angle during daily site inspections. If the pile is built on uneven ground, the height measurement should still reflect the vertical distance from the base to the top. Contractors should ensure that the bottom layers are stable before adding bricks that trigger the taper requirement. The 7-foot limit is a hard ceiling for the height of the loose brick stack. Any stack taller than 7 feet violates the stated rule. The 4-foot level is the threshold where the taper calculation starts. Below 4 feet, no taper is required by this specific clause. Above 4 feet, each foot of additional height requires a 2-inch setback. The rule is part of the general requirements for storage on construction sites. It is important to distinguish this brick rule from other material storage limits, which are covered in other sections of the guide. The focus here is strictly on loose brick stacks and their height and taper specifications.
Brick height and the taper above 4 feet
The 29 CFR § 1926.250 - General requirements for storage. It states that brick stacks shall not be more than 7 feet in height, according to Legal Information Institute. This limit applies to the total vertical height of the pile. When you measure the stack from the ground to the top course, that measurement must stay at or below this seven-foot mark. The rule does not distinguish between full bricks or half bricks; the height limit is the same for any loose brick storage on the site. If your pile reaches seven feet, you must stop adding more layers. The height is the primary constraint for safety and stability in this storage configuration.
The taper requirement kicks in before you reach the top limit. The same page specifies that when a loose brick stack reaches a height of 4 feet, it shall be tapered back 2 inches in every foot of height above the 4-foot level, according to Legal Information Institute. This means the stack must narrow as it gets taller. The taper starts exactly at the four-foot mark. From that point up to the seven-foot cap, the sides of the pile must step back by two inches for each additional foot of height. You do not need to taper the bottom four feet. The first four feet can be stacked vertically, side by side, with no setback. The taper is a geometric requirement for the upper portion of the pile.
When building the stack, use a level or a straight edge to check the vertical alignment of the first four feet. Once you pass the four-foot mark, check the setback with a tape measure. The two-inch figure is the standard for this specific regulation.
Illustrative example of taper on a brick stack
Picture a loose brick stack that is 4 feet high with straight sides. The crew then adds 3 feet of brick, so the top stands at 7 feet. The bottom 4 feet stay straight. Each of the 3 added feet steps back 2 inches. The stack stops at 7 feet, and no more brick goes on top. A tape measure checks the height from the base to the top brick and checks the step on the upper part. Nothing in this picture is a real pile or a named product.
Block stacks and lumber piles
Masonry blocks follow a different height rule than brick. According to Legal Information Institute, when masonry blocks are stacked higher than 6 feet, the stack shall be tapered back one-half block for each tier above the 6-foot level. This taper requirement applies specifically to the portion of the pile that rises above the 6-foot mark. The first six feet of the block stack do not require this specific taper step under this rule. The taper is measured in half-block increments for each additional tier. If you are building a block pile that will exceed 6 feet, plan the taper into the stacking sequence from the start. Each tier above the 6-foot level must be set back by half a block. This creates a stepped profile on the upper portion of the pile. The rule is explicit about the trigger point: it is 6 feet. It is also explicit about the amount: one-half block for each tier. Do not confuse this with the brick taper rule, which triggers at a different height and uses a different measurement. The block rule is found in the same storage requirements section as the brick and lumber rules, but the numbers are distinct.
A filled reference table of the stack heights
The table below lists only brick height, lumber height, and hoistway distance. Each row names the publisher and cites the specific rule that page prints.
| Publisher | Brick height it prints | Lumber height it prints | Any hoistway distance it prints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal Information Institute | 7 feet | 20 feet (16 feet manual) | 6 feet (hoistway) |
| California Department of Industrial Relations | 7 feet | 20 feet (16 feet manual) | Not printed |
| Washington State Legislature | 7 feet | Not printed | Not printed |
Legal Information Institute prints that brick stacks shall not be more than 7 feet in height. The same page states lumber piles shall not exceed 20 feet in height provided that lumber to be handled manually shall not be stacked more than 16 feet high. When a sling lifts that lumber, read lifting sling inspection records. It also specifies material stored inside buildings under construction shall not be placed within 6 feet of any hoistway.
Washington State Legislature prints that brick stacks must not be more than 7 feet in height.
Material kept back from hoistways and open walls
When storing material inside a building under construction, specific setback distances apply to protect workers from falling objects and structural hazards. The rules distinguish between proximity to vertical openings and exterior walls that do not rise above the stored material.
According to Legal Information Institute, material stored inside buildings under construction shall not be placed within 6 feet of any hoistway or inside floor openings. This same source specifies that material shall not be placed within 10 feet of an exterior wall which does not extend above the top of the material stored. These two distances define the minimum clearance required for indoor storage areas where hoistways or floor openings are present. The 6-foot rule applies to any hoistway or inside floor opening, while the 10-foot rule applies specifically to exterior walls that are lower than the top of the stored material.
The Ohio Administrative Code also addresses indoor storage setbacks. Contractors working in Ohio should verify the full text of Rule 4123:1-3-02 to confirm the exact wording and any additional requirements specific to that jurisdiction.
Record the location of each pile, the material type, the measured height, and the specific page or rule used to verify the setback. This documentation helps demonstrate compliance and provides a reference for future inspections. If a pile is placed near a hoistway or a low exterior wall, double-check the measurements to ensure they meet the 6-foot and 10-foot requirements. These setbacks are critical for maintaining a safe work environment and preventing accidents caused by falling materials or structural instability.
A blank line for today's stack check
Before the crew pulls from a pile, measure the brick stack and write the location, the height, and which page you used. The rule states brick stacks shall not be more than 7 feet in height according to Legal Information Institute.
| Row | Location | Material | Measured height | Page used |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Example | laydown area | loose brick | write the height you measured | write the page you checked |
Read daily log checklist for supervisors with the stack check.
FAQ about stack heights
How high may loose brick be stacked?
Loose brick stacks shall not be more than 7 feet in height, according to Legal Information Institute. This limit applies to the total height of the pile before the crew pulls from it.
What happens when a brick stack reaches 4 feet?
You must measure the stack at the 4-foot mark and adjust the upper layers to meet this taper requirement.
How do lumber height limits differ from brick?
Lumber piles shall not exceed 20 feet in height, provided that lumber to be handled manually shall not be stacked more than 16 feet high, according to Legal Information Institute. This is distinct from the 7-foot limit for brick, which also includes a specific taper rule above 4 feet.
What should be written down today?
Record the pile location, the material type, the height you measured, and the specific page you used for the limit. Writing these details creates a clear record of the stack check for your daily log.