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 handrail height for stairs?
Handrail Height: 34 Inches to 38 Inches Area Defined: Handrail height is the height of the handrail in relation to the stairs. Details: Railing height on stairs should be between 34 and 38 inches.
How much clearance do you need for a stair railing?
Building codes and ADA regulations require a minimum clearance of 1.5 inches when railings are attached to a wall rather than vertical posts that are part of the stairway. Exterior railing height requirements are also not necessarily the same as the height and clearance requirements for indoor stair rails.
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.
What is the New York State stair rail height rule?
The preamble to the final rule states: …because the final rule requires that all stair rail systems installed on or after the effective date, which is January 17, 2017, must be at least 42 inches in height, final paragraph (f) (1) (iii) (A) is only applicable to stair rail systems installed before the effective date. (81 FR 82630).
How do you measure for an outdoor stair railing?
Overall length is determined by measuring the horizontal distance from the edge of the nosing on the first tread at the bottom of the staircase to the edge of the nosing on the floor/landing at the top of the staircase. The final measurement to acquire is the distance along the nosing.
How high should a railing be from the step?
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 stair rail be from the stairs?
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 tall should outdoor handrails 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.
What is the difference between a handrail and a stair rail?
Rock solid and designed to be elegant safety features in any stairwell, Promenaid handrails are made to be easy to install and are the ideal solution for mobility challenges. A stair railing, on the other hand, is primarily used to prevent people from falling off the side of the stairs.
How many exterior steps require a handrail?
Three stepsThe building code requirement for stair railings typically requires handrails on stairs that have a total rise of three feet or more. Three steps or more will require a handrail.
What side should stair handrail be on?
Standard building codes do not state a requirement for what side a handrail should be placed for residential structures. The handrail can be on either side of the stairs as long as it continuously runs the entire length of the stairs.
How high should a railing be on a deck?
The IRC requires guardrails to be at least 36" in height measured from the deck surface to the top of the rail. Commercial decks attached to multifamily buildings, such as apartment buildings or businesses, are regulated under the Internation Building Code (IBC). The IBC requires 42" high guardrails.
Do I need a handrail for 3 steps?
Building Codes Handrails are an important element of stair safety. So when is a handrail required? The building code does not refer to the number of “steps” but it does require a handrail when there are two or more “risers”.
How high should a stair rail be?
1910.23 (e) (2) A stair railing shall be of construction similar to a standard railing, but the vertical height shall be not more than 34 inches nor less than 30 inches from an upper surface of top rail to the surface of tread in line with the face of the riser at the forward edge of the tread.
How tall is a stair railing?
For stairs to be IBC-compliant in height: 1014.2 – Handrail height must not be less than 34 inches (854 mm) or more than 38 inches (965 mm). 1015.3 – Guardrail height must not be less than 42 inches (1,067 mm) in height.
Why are stair rails required to be high?
This height requirement is put forth to ensure the safety of people or workers using these stairs.
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 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.
What section of IBC is used for exterior stair handrails?
Exterior stair handrails must comply with all the general IBC handrail requirements found in section 1014 Handrails and section 1011.11 Handrails.
How deep should outdoor stair treads be?
The tread depth shall not be less than 10 inches.
What is the IBC code for outdoor stairs?
The IBC building code for outdoor stairs includes all the general requirements for stairways found in Section 1011 plus additional criteria for outdoor stair design, construction, and use.
What is the IBC section for exit ramps?
IBC Section 1027.3 states that exterior exit stairways and ramps serving as an element of a required means of egress shall be open on not less than one side, except for required structural columns, beams, handrails, and guards. The opening can be along the length side or the width side of the stairway.
What is IBC 1011.7.2?
IBC Section 1011.7.2 states that outdoor stairways and outdoor approaches to stairways shall be designed so that water will not accumulate on walking surfaces.
What is the minimum depth of stair tread?
The minimum tread depth shall be 11 inches.
What is an exterior egress stair?
The exterior egress stair requirements are in place to ensure the public health and safety for exterior stairs used as a means of egress from commercial, residential, and industrial buildings. The requirements set standards for the egress path, location, fire protection, and materials used in the construction of exterior 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 gripping surface?
The Handrail gripping surface is the actual Handrail you grip while using the Handrail. This surface needs to be continuous along the length and not obstructed at its tops or sides, including the landings and corners.
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 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 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.
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.
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.
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 central pole?
This type of post is also commonly referred to as a central pole or support column. Balusters or Spindles – These are vertical components used to fill the opening between the handrail and the bottom rail or treads. They provide strength, safety, and aesthetics.
What is a balustrade?
Balustrade – This term refers to the combined framework of handrail and balusters.
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.
What are winders used for?
Winders – In the absence of a landing, these are tapering steps used for changing the direction of a stair.
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.
How tall is a newel?
The vertical post supporting a handrail at the foot of a staircase is referred to as a "newel." These posts can also be used as intermediate support on a stair landing and at the top of the staircase. Most newels are three to three and a half feet in height. Box newels, though, are typically five to five and a half feet tall.
What is a baluster post?
Baluster Posts. A baluster, sometimes referred to as a stair stick or banister, is one of a group of mounted vertical shafts, or posts, that support a stair handrail. Some of these balusters are molded. Others are turned on a lathe. But all must conform to local codes.
How tall is a handrail?
Although there is an international residential code for handrail heights (34 to 38 inches) local codes may require sizes that are different from those of the international code. Sizes for handrails, both balusters, and newels, must also conform to these codes.
What is the purpose of articles being reviewed?
To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience.
Do you have to apply local code to stair rails?
Building stairs that comply with safety standards requires not only that you apply local code standards to constructed stair rails heights, but also to constructed stair post heights.
