Stair Railing Building Code
| Stair Section | Requirement | Notes |
| Handrail Height | 34 to 38 inches | The distance between the stair nosing an ... |
| Maximum Projection of Railing From Wall | 4-1/2 inches | This rule is designed to provide enough ... |
| Minimum Hand Clearance From Wall | 1-1/2 inches | This rule is designed to provide clearan ... |
| Minimum Distance Between Two Railings | 27 inches | This is the distance between two railing ... |
What is the maximum height of the railing on the stairs?
This is a minimum only. The railing can exceed 36 inches with no limit. Handrail height is the height of the handrail in relation to the stairs. Handrail height on the stairs should be no less than 34 inches and no greater than 38 inches.
How do you measure the height of a handrail?
Handrail height is the height of the handrail in relation to the stairs. 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.
What is the minimum height of a guard rail?
Guard Railing Minimum Height: 36 Inches Guards are the rails that protect users from falling off of high areas, such as landings. Landings can be intermediate horizontal sections within a staircase or terminal sections at the top or bottom of a staircase.
How high should a railing be on a porch?
Residential properties typically require a railing of 36 inches, while commercial properties should have railings between 42 and 48 inches. Railings must withstand at least 200 pounds of pressure in either direction.
How tall should a loft railing be?
What are loft railings made of?
What are the advantages of lofted bedrooms?
How to keep things from falling to the floor?
Can you build a loft without a railing?
Is cable railing strong?
Can you put a cable railing on a loft?
See 2 more
How high should a loft railing be?
Go from there to the height of your rail—usually 37 inches for residential applications—which allows one inch for carpet and pad, and puts your rail height at 36 inches.
How high up should a stair railing be?
between 34 and 38 inchesThe top surface of the handrail should be between 34 and 38 inches above the floor or above the nosing line. Some installation guides suggest marking this height by measuring from the nosings of the steps.
How tall should a balcony rail be?
The International Residential Code requires balcony railings to be 36 inches high for homes. For business or fencing use, the railings should be 42 or 48 inches.
How high is second floor railing?
36 inchesThe IRC requires the guard rail to be at least 36 inches in height (distance from walking surface to the top of the rail); the IBC requires a minimum height of 42 inches. TVA will apply the standard of the IBC for determining a maximum acceptable guard rail height on second story decks.
How high should a stair rail be UK?
900mm highAll staircase handrails for both domestic and non domestic properties need to be a minimum of 900mm high. In domestic dwellings, internal balustrade need to be a minimum of 900mm high. In domestic dwellings, external railings need to be a minimum of 1100mm.
How high should a banister rail be UK?
900mm to 1000mmPosition the top of the handrail 900mm to 1000mm from the pitch line or floor. The handrail may form the top of a guarding if you can match the heights. If the stairs are 1000mm or wider: provide a handrail on both sides.
How high does a balcony railing have to be UK?
1.1 metres highHeight Regulations & Children's Safety In domestic and residential areas, railings on outdoor roofs and balconies must be at least 1.1 metres high. Any railing used on stairs or balconies must have gaps of under 99mm in all directions so that children can't pass between them.
Why should guardrails be 42 inches high?
Height: Top rail to walking-working surface should be around 42 inches – allows flexibility for +/-3 inches. Opening Limitations: OSHA requires a 21” midrail such that a 19” or larger spherical object cannot pass through the guardrail.
What is the maximum height without railing?
Some decks are not required to have guardrails, provided those decks are no more than 30 inches above grade. If you see a deck that has no guardrails (also called a low-rise deck), this might be the reason: its height is below 30 inches.
Where should a handrail start and stop?
Where should a handrail start and stop? Handrails should ideally be fitted from the pitch line of the stairs, which is on top of the nosing at the edge of the stair treads. They should ideally continue down the length of the stairs.
What is OSHA standard for handrail?
The top rail must be at least 42 inches in height (§1910.29(f)(1)(ii)(B)) and the handrail must be 30 to 38 inches in height (§1910.29(f)(1)(i)) (as measured at the leading edge of the stair tread to the top surface of the rail).
How high should a handrail be on a ramp?
34” - 38”Handrails must be 34” - 38” in height measured above the walking surface. Handrails must extend at least 12” beyond the top and bottom of any ramp run. Handrails must be continuous except at points of access along the ramp.
What height should a loft railing be?
In general, loft railings must be at least 36 inches tall. Guardrail height is more about safety than it is about looks. Before finalizing your lof...
Is a loft the same as an indoor balcony?
Yes and no. Lofts are elevated living spaces that serve a function. The only difference between a loft and any other room in your home is its locat...
What is the difference between a railing and a banister?
A railing is any structure that provides a barrier between one space and another. Typically, railings are used as a safety measure in places where...
Loft Railing - Photos & Ideas | Houzz
Renovated to accommodate a family of eight, this oceanfront home proudly overlooks the gateway to Marblehead Neck. This renovation preserves and highlights the character and charm of the existing circa 1900 gambrel while providing comfortable living for this large family.
How far away from the wall should a railing be?
When you have just one railing on a staircase, the inside (stair-side) edge of the railing must be at least 31 1/2 inches away from the wall on the other side of the staircase.
What is minimum railing distance?
Minimum railing distance means the walking space between a handrail on one wall and an adjacent wall that has no handrail.
How high should a handrail be on stairs?
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 far should a stair railing be from the wall?
For example, the minimum hand clearance between the railing and the wall that it is mounted on is 1 1/2 inches. Yet, if the railing is pushed out too far, there is the risk of violating another section of code that provides for 27 inches of walking width between the two railings of a double-railing staircase.
What is the staircase code?
Staircase code is rooted in a set of solid ideas that all revolve around the notion that gravity isn't our best friend on staircases. So, the staircase code dictates that there must be handrails on the incline portion of stairs and guards on the horizontal parts.
How far apart should stair rails be?
When you have two railings (one on each side of the stairwell) those railings must be at least 27 inches apart from each other, measuring between the inside (stair-side) surfaces of both handrails.
What is a guard rail?
Guards are the rails that protect users from falling off of high areas, such as landings. Landings can be intermediate horizontal sections within a staircase or terminal sections at the top or bottom of a staircase.
How many inches should a railing be?
Residential properties typically require a railing of 36 inches, while commercial properties should have railings between 42 and 48 inches. Railings must withstand at least 200 pounds of pressure in either direction. Railing systems require regular inspection to ensure they are secure. Advertisement.
How tall should a balcony railing be?
Because an interior balcony sits off the floor, it must adhere to a maximum distance between the railing's spindles or balusters. A 4-inch diameter ball should not be able to pass between them. The height of the railing is also specified by city building code. Residential properties typically require a railing of 36 inches, while commercial properties should have railings between 42 and 48 inches. Railings must withstand at least 200 pounds of pressure in either direction. Railing systems require regular inspection to ensure they are secure.
Do children need balcony rails?
Children. Those with children must consider balcony rail guidelines pertinent to a child's safety. Rail spindles or balusters must not have enough space between them that a child could fit or get stuck between the rails. The rails should sit high enough so a child can not fall over them.
Do balcony rails need a permit?
Interior balcony rails require a permit, similar to most structures built within a home or commercial building. Codes vary among cities as well as among residential and commercial applications for a rail installation.
Can a child get stuck between balcony rails?
Those with children must consider balcony rail guidelines pertinent to a child's safety. Rail spindles or balusters must not have enough space between them that a child could fit or get stuck between the rails. The rails should sit high enough so a child can not fall over them. Securing thick plexiglass sheets between the rails provides a greater degree of protection so a child cannot access the space between the rails.
How tall should a loft railing be?
In general, loft railings must be at least 36 inches tall.
What are loft railings made of?
Most modern railings are made of metal or glass. However, there are several ways to incorporate wood and other materials in your loft railing design without losing that modern edge.
What are the advantages of lofted bedrooms?
Opting for a lofted bedroom or home office has many advantages, including making the space feel larger and maximizing square footage. But it can also mean sacrificing a lot of privacy.
How to keep things from falling to the floor?
Use built-in shelves in place of railing beams for a simple storage solution — add a wall to the back to keep things from falling to the floor below.
Can you build a loft without a railing?
Lofts are incredibly interesting and versatile spaces. But you can’t just build a lofted room and call it a day. No loft is complete without a sturdy railing.
Is cable railing strong?
The same low-visibility that makes cable rails so desirable also makes them easy to overlook. They also aren’t nearly as strong as more traditional railing materials.
Can you put a cable railing on a loft?
With a cable railing, you can preserve the open atmosphere of your loft without sacrificing peace of mind. You can also install this railing style along your loft staircase.
