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 standard height for a stair rail?
What is the standard height for a staircase handrail? 34 to 38 in. To meet building code requirements, the stair railing should be mounted so that the top of the handrail height is 34 to 38 in. above the front edge of the stair nosings.
How much does it cost to install a stairway handrail?
The exact costs per linear foot depend on the form and structure of each handrail. Integrated handrails form part of the staircase, running along the spindles or built into the wall. They cost between $30 and $100 per linear foot. They are made of various materials and come in smooth ungrooved designs or more elaborate grooved alternatives.
What height is a handrail required?
OSHA requires the top of the gripping surfaces of Handrails shall be 30 inches minimum and 38 inches maximum vertically above walking surfaces, stair nosings, and ramp surfaces. The height of top rails, or equivalent guardrail system members, is 42 inches, +/- 3 inches, and may not exceed 45 inches above the walking-working surface.
How to measure for a basic handrail installation?
Step 1: Measure the Area
- The height of the steps
- The depth of the steps
- The distance between the edge of the step and the post markers (offset)
How wide should a handrail be on a staircase?
Building regulations state that stairs less than 1000mm wide should have a handrail on at least one side. Stairs that have a width of more than 1000mm should have a handrail on both sides.
How high should a handrail be?
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 other building regulations apply to staircase parts?
Handrails form just one part of your staircase. To ensure your staircase is safe, you’ll need to take into account the other stair parts covered by Part K of the Building Regulations. Treads and risers are key staircase parts directly related to handrail height:
What is a riser on a staircase?
A riser is the vertical section between each tread on a staircase. A riser should be between 150mm and 220mm high, or 165mm and 200mm, and be at a consistent height on every step.
Where is the pitch line on a stair tread?
The pitch line is a virtual line that sits on top of the nosing at the edge of the stair treads. A stair tread is the horizontal part of the step on which you place your foot (or ‘tread’) when you climb the stairs. When you’re measuring the height of the handrail, don’t forget to take into account the diameter of the handrail too.
Do you need a handrail on the first two steps of a staircase?
Part K of the Building Regulations states that you don’t need a handrail on the first two steps of a staircase, such as on bullnose steps, where the newel post is positioned on the third step.
Can you sell your house with no handrails?
However, if you plan to sell your house or let your property, not having the correct handrails is likely to be a problem 2. Bear in mind as well that not having the correct handrails could make the staircase unsafe or difficult for people to use, particularly if a flight of stairs has open sides.
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.
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 minimum hand clearance?
Minimum hand clearance means the distance between the handrail and the wall. In other words, this is the area where your hand goes.
How tall should a handrail be?
Top of gripping surfaces of handrails shall be 34 inches (865 mm) minimum and 38 inches (965 mm) maximum vertically above walking surfaces, stair nosings, and ramp surfaces. Handrails shall be at a consistent height above walking surfaces, stair nosings, and ramp surfaces.
How far should a handrail be from the stairs?
The IRC required the top of all Handrails must be between 34 and 38 inches measured from the walking surface or the nose of the stairs.
How high should a handrail be for a child?
When children are the principal users in a building or facility (e.g., elementary schools), a second set of handrails at an appropriate height can assist them and aid in preventing accidents. A maximum height of 28 inches (710 mm) measured to the top of the gripping surface from the ramp surface or stair nosing is recommended for handrails designed for children. Sufficient vertical clearance between upper and lower handrails, 9 inches (230 mm) minimum, should be provided to help prevent entrapment.
What is ADA height?
ADA Handrail height requirements are issued to create a safe enjoyable space to enjoy for everyone. It should be noted that the ADA height of handrail requirements that will primarily be used by children. Customers are encouraged to call their local city to get information about their local building codes. Local building codes supersede national building codes. Inline Design is providing this information in an advisory capacity only and is not liable for any code non-compliance.
How far below the bottom of the gripping surface should the handrail be?
Horizontal projections of the Handrail Brackets shall be 1 1/2 inches below the bottom of the gripping surface.
What is the diameter of a handrail?
Handrail gripping surface with a circular cross section shall have an outside diameter between 1.125 and 2 inches. The gripping surface for a non-circular cross section shall have a perimeter dimension between 4 inches and 6.125 inches and a maximum cross section of 2 1/4 inches.
Why are handrails needed in elementary schools?
When children are the principal users in a building or facility (e.g., elementary schools), a second set of Handrails at an appropriate height can assist them and aid in preventing accidents.
How far from the top of the stairs should a hand railing be?
If your stairs were installed after 15th March, 1991, your hand railing cannot be shorter than 36 inches from the top of the tread on the stairs. Stair hand railings must also not have any protruding edges that can cause potential injury, either. Guard railings must also follow approved guidelines. There are also tread and riser laws too.
How high should a hand railing be?
There is one date you need to remember: the standard railing height requirement was set March 15, 1991. If your current stair railing was installed prior to that date, you will probably (or should) have a hand railing of between 36 and 37 inches from highest surface of the stair treads. This refers to the tops edges of the handrail and not the lower edge. If a staircase has risers equal to or more than 30 inches in height a hand railing needs to be installed at 36 to 37 inches from the top of the tread. A hand railing must be installed of there are a series of steps rising more than 30 inches from ground point.
How far should a hand railing be from the top of the tread?
If a staircase has risers equal to or more than 30 inches in height a hand railing needs to be installed at 36 to 37 inches from the top of the tread.
Do you have to obey stair railings?
There are regulations set down for legal requirements of a stair railing height, which must always be obeyed when constructing or remodeling a home. If a person intends to replace or renew a stair case they must follow these legal codes with regard to building regulations. Continue reading below Our Video of the Day.
How tall is a handrail?
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. You can learn more about building code definitions for handrail here.
How to count risers for handrails?
When counting the number of risers, include the riser from the bottom floor or landing to the first tread. Then count to the last tread to the floor or landing at the top of the set of stairs. When determining the number of treads, do not count the floors or landings, only the number of finished treads. Typically, you will have one more riser than you will have treads.
What is a flight of stairs?
This is where the commonly used phrase ‘a flight of stairs’ comes from. Landing – A landing is the term for the platform placed between two stair flights. Nosing – Nosing is the outer, often projecting edge of a tread. Winders – In the absence of a landing, these are tapering steps used for changing the direction of a stair.
What is a step in a ladder?
Step – A step is the combination of the tread and riser. This assembly is what allows the ascent or descent from one floor to another.
How to measure the length of a staircase?
Step 1 – Measure the overall height. The overall height is the distance from the floor or landing at the top of the set of stairs to the floor/landing at the bottom of the set of stairs. Step 2 – Measure the overall length.
What is the most important thing to remember when installing stairs?
The most important thing to remember is each set of stairs is unique and requires its own set of measurements. With the proper measurements, you can rest assured you will be installing a properly fitting, code compliant handrail, providing safety and beauty to all who use it. For more information contact us. Wagner.
Do you need measurements for stairs?
Whether you are purchasing individual components or an entire railing system, there are a few measurements that are needed to ensure the railing purchased is a proper fit. Each set of stairs is unique. Ensuring you have the correct dimensions is the first step in properly specifying any railing system.
How tall should a stair rail be?
A stair rail should be between 34 and 38 inches tall.
How high is a railing on a stair?
The railing height code distance, or the height from the top of the bottom stair to the rail, is 34 to 38 inches. A railing must be continuous from the bottom of the steps to the top and begin directly above the bottom step and end directly above the top step.
What is the difference between a guardrail and a stair rail?
Guardrails are designed to prevent falls, while stair rails are something to hold onto. Guards are required in nonresidential settings when the height of a fall from the stairs would be greater than 30 inches even if the staircase has fewer than four risers.
How tall is a 2x4 deck rail?
They can be between 34 and 38 inches tall, have a 1.5-inch space between the rail and the deck guard, if applicable, and the space between the balusters must be 4 inches or less. Despite their common use as stair rails on decks, flat 2x4 or 2x6 boards don’t meet IRC code.
How far apart should a handrail be?
There must be at least a 1.5-inch gap between the wall and the handrail. Greater distances up to 4.5 inches are acceptable, though they may not be practical if the stairway is narrow. Round handrails must have a diameter between 1.25 and 2 inches. Square or noncircular decorative handrails must be at least 4 inches around. Large handrails with a perimeter greater than 6.25 inches require a recess along both sides suitable for grasping.
How big of a gap between stair rails?
Other Stair Rail Dimensions. There must be at least a 1.5-inch gap between the wall and the handrail. Greater distances up to 4.5 inches are acceptable, though they may not be practical if the stairway is narrow. Round handrails must have a diameter between 1.25 and 2 inches.
How big should a round handrail be?
Round handrails must have a diameter between 1.25 and 2 inches. Square or noncircular decorative handrails must be at least 4 inches around. Large handrails with a perimeter greater than 6.25 inches require a recess along both sides suitable for grasping.
What is the standard height for stair railings?
The ADA states that exterior stair railings must fall within the standard 34 inch to 38 inch range. It also requires that all railings maintain a consistent height above stair nosings and be free from sharp points or surfaces that prevent proper use.
How high should stair railings be?
This is the case in cities such as Kenosha, Wisconsin where exterior stairs in single family homes or duplex homes can be anywhere from 30 to 38 inches high.
How high should a handrail be?
Optimal Handrail Height. Most building codes require handrails for exterior stairs to be between 34 inches and 38 inches above the stair nosings. This means that a handrail's height is measured from the top of the stair treads, or horizontal stepping members.
Why do you need stairs on an exterior patio?
Exterior stairs that connect your deck or patio to the ground, or serve as an entryway for an exterior door, need to be constructed so that people can use them safely. This includes meeting building code requirements that pertain to stair dimensions and railings.
