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 ... |
When is railing required at stairs?
The final authority on when and where railings (stair rails or guards and handrailings) are required on steps, stairs, landings, balconies and decks, rests with your local building code official. The building code requirement for stair railings typically requires handrailings on stairs that have a total rise of three feet or more.
What is the standard handrail height for stairs?
You should fit a handrail at a height between 900mm and 1000mm from the pitch line of the stairs, or the floor for landings. This is approximately 35.4–39 inches.
What are the parts of a stair rail?
- Step. The step is composed of the tread and riser.
- Tread. The part of the stairway that is stepped on.
- Riser. The vertical portion between each tread on the stair.
- Nosing.
- Starting step or Bullnose.
- Stringer, Stringer board or sometimes just String.
- Winders.
- Trim.
How to install indoor railings?
- Handrails must have a minimum clearance between the handrails and other objects of 2 1/4 inches.
- The standard height of handrails is between 34 and 38 inches, measured vertically from the nose of the stair treads.
- Handrails must be shaped in a manner that allows users to grip them firmly. ...
What are stair railings called?
Handrail: what is a handrail? A handrail, also called a bannister, is what people hold onto for support when going up and down the staircase. The handrail is fixed to vertical posts (balusters) or a wall up one or both sides of the staircase.
What is the difference between a handrail and stair rail?
And that's why people are choosing them to protect family members such as seniors who face threats from falling. 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 are railings used for?
Handrails are usually used to provide support for body or to hold clothings in a bathroom or similar areas. Handrails are commonly used while ascending or descending stairways and escalators in order to prevent injurious falls or to hold necessities. Handrails are typically supported by balusters or attached to walls.
What are the components of a stair railing?
Parts of a Railing SystemBaluster. A baluster is a short and decorative post, pillar, or column in a series that supports the top rail. ... Balustrade. A balustrade is a railing supported by a series of balusters. ... Bottom Rail. ... Guardrail. ... Hinge. ... Landing. ... Lattice. ... Newel Posts.More items...•
Whats the difference between a railing and a banister?
A banister is the definition of extended support that runs alongside staircases. Banisters are interchangeable with handrails in a definition sense. Meanwhile, a stair railing is what is there to prevent you from falling off the stairs.
Which type of railing is best?
Aluminum. An aluminum balcony railing is lightweight, easy to install, and more durable than one made of wood or plastic. Unlike stainless steel, aluminum is subject to significant corrosion. Aluminum is also a soft metal when compared to alternatives like iron or stainless steel.
How are stair rails attached?
3:054:28Installing Stair Rails - Menards - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThen in the hand rail drill a pilot hole for the bolt. And a larger hole for the nut. Apply glue andMoreThen in the hand rail drill a pilot hole for the bolt. And a larger hole for the nut. Apply glue and slide the rail onto the bolt. And tighten the nut attach the handrail at the top with finishing.
What are the 4 main parts of a railing?
BalustradeSpindles—the vertical supports that sit between a handrail and base rail. Also known as a balustrade. ... Base rail—sits on top of the string or along a landing. ... Handrail—a rail that sits on top of the baluster/spindles. ... Newel post—the vertical post that supports the handrail at the top and bottom of the stairs.
What is the top of a staircase called?
The landing of a staircase is either a platform where the direction of the staircase changes or is located at the top of a staircase. The outer string is the side of a staircase where the treads and risers can be seen from the side.
What is the trim on the side of stairs called?
Skirtboard. A trimboard running with the rake, pitch or incline of the stair against the wall on the closed side of the staircase. While usually nonstructural, skirtboard protects the drywall surface and adds to the décor of the staircase.
What are the spindles on a railing called?
Balusters are the closely spaced supports used to hold up a waist-high handrail, safely containing people inside a staircase or patio deck. They are practical and decorative, providing style and support to the rail system. Balusters are attached to either the floor or secondary support called a base rail.
What are the different parts of the stairs called?
The riser is the vertical surface of the stair. The tread on the other hand is the horizontal surface of the stair and the part of the stair you step on. Nosing is the portion of the tread that overhangs the front of the riser. Often a stair builder will talk about the rise and run of the stair.
What is the difference between a handrail and a guard rail?
Guard: A building component or a system of building components located near the open sides of elevated walking surfaces that minimizes the possibility of a fall from the walking surface to the lower level. Handrail: A horizontal or sloping rail intended for grasping by the hand for guidance or support.
Which side does handrail go on stairs?
Standard construction rules do not specify which side of a railing should be installed in a residential project. As long as the handrail extends the whole length of the steps, it can be on either side of the stairs.
What is the difference between a hand rail and a guard rail?
Thus, the IRC requirements relating to them are different. A guard is required when a stair rises more than 30 inches above the underlying surface. A handrail is required on stairs of four or more rises.
What is the standard height of a stair rail?
(6) The height of handrails shall be not more than 37 inches (94 cm) nor less than 30 inches (76 cm) 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.
How much does it cost to replace a stair railing?
A wood stair railing is on the lower scale of costs with the cost of 50 feet of material being as low as $750.
How far should a hand rail be from the edge of a stair?
As a general rule of thumb hand rails should be between 34” and 38” inches. To get this measurement you can measure from the edge of the stair straight up to the rail. Measuring further in toward the step may provide an improper result.
How Many Stairs Before a Handrail Is Required?
A handrail is required when you are working with a staircase with four risers or more. It’s important to note that this say four “risers” not four “steps.” This is crucial because it means you need to count the level of the next floor as a step.
How high should a handrail be?
As far as height, the handrail should be 34 to 38 inches high. This measurement is from the stair nosing to the railing. The stair nosing is the typically defined as the front of the stair step or tread on the edge of the step. The railing shouldn’t protrude from the wall more than 4 ½ inches.
What is the most important thing to have on a staircase?
One of the most important details of a beautiful staircase is a well designed hand rail. Not only is a handrail essential for safety, it can become a focal point of your home’s foyer and contribute to the overall theme of the design. The most popular types of handrails currently being used today are wood, wrought iron, glass, and metal.
What are the most popular types of handrails?
The most popular types of handrails currently being used today are wood, wrought iron, glass, and metal. When referring to types of stair railings, many people are referring to the style of the railing.
How much does a spiral staircase cost?
However, as a generalization you can find spiral staircases for as low as $600 up to $20,000.
What is stair railing?
Stair railings are a safety feature with strict building code requirements designed to keep you secure while navigating the various floors of your house. Whether you plan to install a DIY stair railing with or without the use of a cost-saving shortcut stair railing kit, or hire an architect to create a custom staircase from scratch, ...
What is a white staircase?
In this contemporary interior design from Kara Mann, a sculptural white staircase is a monumental statement that adds luxurious contours and an organic feel to the neutral space. The gleaming white enclosed structure of the staircase is augmented by minimalist black railings that follow the curves of the staircase from floor to floor, adding contrast.
Who designed the Art Deco staircase railing?
Art Deco-Inspired. Studio Surface. Interior designer Michelle Salz-Smith of Studio Surface told us that she collaborated with a local craftsman to create the one-of-a-kind, Art Deco-inspired stairwell railing above for a home in Del Mar, California.
Who designed the railing in the living room?
Tessa Neustadt / Design by Emily Henderson. In this airy, light-flooded living room from Design by Emily Henderson, a simple, pristine white linear railing lines the stairs in and out of the multi-level space and acts as a guardrail to the lower level.
Who designed the square staircase?
London-based metalwork firm Design + Weld designed this inventive "Square Staircase" concept for a private client. The geometric design incorporates a series of squares that create an unconventional railing with built-in book storage.
What is the blue powder coated staircase?
In this apartment outside of Prato, Italy renovated for a young couple by Deferrari+Modesti, the blue powder coated iron staircase was conceived as a piece of "micro architecture" that creates a focal point in the space. The railings consist of a mix of iron bars and painted perforated sheet metal in varying configurations that allow light to pass through the stairwell and between floors.
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.
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 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.
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.
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