Table of Contents
34″ to 38″ IRC OSHA Residential General Handrail Height 34″ to 38″ 30″ to 38″ Guard Height 36″ minimum 42″ — plus or minus 3″.
What height should a handrail be on a staircase?
Stairs should have a handrail on at least one side if they are less than 1metre wide, or both sides if they are wider. Stairs do not need a handrail on the bottom two steps. In all the buildings handrail height should be between 900mm and 1000mm measured from the top of the handrail to the pitch line.
What is code for handrail height?
(6) The height of handrails shall be not less than 34 inches nor more than 38 inches from the upper surface of the handrail to the surface of the tread, in line with the face of the riser at the forward edge of the tread.
What is the standard height of indoor stair railing?
Handrail height on the stairs should be no less than 34 inches and no greater than 38 inches. The way this is measured is to begin at the leading edge of the stair nosing and run an imaginary vertical line upward until it reaches the top of the railing.
How do you measure a stair handrail?
Before you go shopping for your handrails for stairs, measure from the nosing of the top landing to the floor at the bottom of the stairs and add 2 ft. This is the length of stair railing material you’ll need. You’ll find code-approved handrail and the other materials you’ll need at lumberyards and home centers.
What is OSHA standard for handrail?
OSHA states that guardrail must reach a height of 42 inches, plus or minus 3 inches, above the walking-working surface and withstand a force of 200 pounds at any point in a downward or outward direction. If the railing dips below 39 inches, due to the force, the railing is not OSHA compliant.
What angle should a handrail be?
The angle should be between 20 and 38 degrees.
Is it illegal not to have a handrail on stairs?
Handrails. One of the main concerns of building regulations on stairs is the health and safety of those dwelling in a property. Handrails are mandatory. Stairs should have a handrail on at least one side if they are less than one metre wide, and on both sides if wider than this.
Where should a handrail start and stop?
In residential settings, handrails conform to some but not all elements of the ADA Guidelines. The railing must be continuous, starting at the nosing of the upper landing and extending at a minimum to the nosing of the lowest step or “riser”.
How thick should a handrail be?
Handrail Dimensions A railing attached to a wall must be at least 1¼ inch and no more than 2 inches thick. The support brackets must hold the railing at a distance of at least 1½ inches from the wall and project a maximum of 3½ inches from the wall. The surface of a railing must be smooth, with no sharp corners.
What is the difference between a stair rail and a handrail?
Handrails and stair railings – they sound like pretty much the same thing. They’re not. A stair railing, on the other hand, is mostly to prevent people from falling off the side of the stairs. They aren’t asked to do much more – and they don’t.
What size handrail do I need?
Handrail height must be between 34 and 38 inches. Structurally, it must be able to withstand a concentrated load of 200 lbs. or a uniform load of 50 lbs./ft. Graspability requirements will limit handrail dimensions.
Are stairs 45 degrees?
For most standard stairs, the stair angle varies between 30 degrees and 45 degrees. Egress stairs have a shallower angle around 30-35 degrees while industrial stairs have steeper angles ranging from 40 to 70 degrees.
What side of stairs does handrail go on?
A landing is required for every 12 feet of vertical stairway rise. If the landing is not enclosed or has an open side, then there should be a handrailing along the open side. Ideally, the railing should not have any interruptions so that it could be held onto during a fall without the hand slipping off.
Do all stairs have to be same height?
Additionally, the riser measurement of all of the treads should be as close as possible to identical. The greatest riser height within a flight of stairs cannot exceed the smallest by more than 3/8 inch. A stairway in which there is a noticeable variation between the risers is a safety hazard.
How close can a door be to stairs?
When it comes to national building codes, you need to have a minimum of 36 inches (or three feet) from the bottom of your stairs to your front door. However, most people prefer to have four to eight feet at a bare minimum when it comes to personal preference. Individual municipal codes may require more space as well.
How many steps can you have without a handrail?
(2) Stairways having less than four risers need not have handrails or stair railings.
Do you need a return on a handrail?
Handrail extensions must return to a wall, itself or the walking surface. Note: While it is a common practice to leave a gap between a wall return and the wall, some inspectors have rejected this as they consider it a return toward the wall and not a return to the wall.
Do you need handrail on both sides?
Handrails are required on both sides of stairs and ramps. They are placed between 34 inches and 38 inches above the leading edge of a stair tread, the ramp surface, or the walking surface. Where children are the primary users of a facility, the ADA recommends a second handrail for children.
Do stairs need handrails on both sides?
Handrails are required on both sides of stairs and must be continuous within the full length of each stair flight.
