What height is a handrail on stairs?
3 min read
Asked by: Kathy Bailey
between 34 and 38 inchesbetween 34 and 38 inches. The height is calculated in relation to the stairs and is measured from the very end of the stair tread in a completely vertical line.
What is the standard height of a staircase handrail?
Answer: Section 1926.1052 (Stairways) states: (c) Stairrails and handrails. (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.
What is the proper height for a handrail and How Is It Measured?
Handrails should be no less than 34 inches above the stair or ramp and no more than 38 inches above. If you are working with alternating tread devices or ship ladders, you should measure above the tread nosings. The handrail should be between 30-34 inches above.
What is the best height for a handrail?
The 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 the height by measuring from the nosings of the steps.
What side of stairs does handrail go on?
The handrail can be on either side of the stairs as long as it continuously runs the entire length of the stairs. Building codes require a guardrail if there is a drop that is more than 30 inches in order to prevent serious falls.
How far apart should handrail brackets be placed?
36 to 48 inches apart
We recommend spacing the Brackets 36 to 48 inches apart. In most cases, it is desirable to transition the Handrail past the last stair with a horizontal rail of 6 to 12 inches. Some local codes require this extension be 12 inches.
Do you legally have to have a handrail on stairs?
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. Handrails should be placed between 900mm and 1000mm above the highest point on the staircase steps.
How do you calculate stair handrails?
5 Easy Steps For Measuring
- Step 1 – Measure the overall height. …
- Step 2 – Measure the overall length. …
- Step 3 – Length of nosing. …
- Step 4 – Depth of finished tread. …
- Step 5 – Height of finished tread.
Where do you measure height of handrail from?
So. If I measure from the front of the tread the face of the tread. So here we have we don't have a nose in on this we just have a regular tread and riser we're going to be measuring from the face of
How many steps can you take without a handrail?
Building Codes
The building code does not refer to the number of “steps” but it does require a handrail when there are two or more “risers”. For clarification, a “riser” is the vertical portion of a stair. The “tread” is the top of a step. A two riser minimum would translate to two steps.
Do you need a handrail on both sides of stairs?
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.
