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Questions and answers about sports

What is the normal height for a stair handrail?

3 min read

Asked by: Tiffany Houseknecht

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 standard height of a handrail from a stairwell?

Stair Railing Height

IRC OSHA
Residential General
Handrail Height 34″ to 38″ 30″ to 38″
Guard Height 36″ minimum 42″ — plus or minus 3″


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.

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

What side should stair handrail be on?

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.

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.

What angle should a handrail be?

The angle should be between 20 and 38 degrees.

How do you calculate stair handrails?

5 Easy Steps For Measuring

  1. Step 1 – Measure the overall height. …
  2. Step 2 – Measure the overall length. …
  3. Step 3 – Length of nosing. …
  4. Step 4 – Depth of finished tread. …
  5. Step 5 – Height of finished tread.


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.

What height is a bannister?

For all buildings



Position 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.

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.