Where should a stair railing be placed?

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.

When should have the intermittent hand rail?





Intermediate handrails are required so that all portions of the stairway width required for egress capacity are within 30 inches (762 mm) of a handrail. On monumental stairs, handrails shall be located along the most direct path of egress travel.

What is the middle part of a staircase called?

Landing or Platform

A landing is the area of a floor near the top or bottom step of a stair. An intermediate landing is a small platform that is built as part of the stair between main floor levels and is typically used to allow stairs to change directions, or to allow the user a rest.

Where should a handrail start and stop?

The railing must be continuous, starting at the nosing of the upper landing and extending at a minimum to the nosing of the lowest step or “riser”. For optimal safety, whenever possible the handrail should run the entire length of the Nosing Line.

How far apart should handrail brackets be placed?





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. Contact your local authorities to confirm requirements.

What are intermediate handrails?

Intermediate handrails are required so that all portions of the stairway width required for egress capacity are within 30 inches (762 mm) of a handrail. On monumental stairs, handrails shall be located along the most direct path of egress travel.

How tall is a handrail supposed to be?

ADA Height Requirements

The current ADA standards dictate that the top of Handrails gripping surfaces shall be 34 inches minimum and 38 inches maximum measured vertically above walking surfaces, stair nosings, and ramp surfaces with a greater than a 1:20 slope.

How tall should a handrail be on a ramp?



between 34”-38”

The top grippable surface of any ramp handrail must be set at a height between 34”-38” (86.4-96.5 cm) above the ramp surface and a minimum clear width of 36” (91.4 cm) must be provided between handrails.

What angle should a handrail be?

The angle should be between 20 and 38 degrees.

Do stairs need a handrail?



Stairs should have a handrail on at least one side if they are less than 1metre wide, or both sides if they are wider. Stairs do not need a handrail on the bottom two steps. In all the buildings handrail height should be between 900mm and 1000mm measured from the top of the handrail to the pitch line.

Does handrail need to be continuous?

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) explains that handrails are required on both sides of stairs and must be continuous within the full length of each stair flight. The code adds that inside handrails on switchback or dogleg stairs must also be continuous.

What is continuous handrail?

The term “continuous” means not only that a single handrail must run from the top riser to the bottom riser, but it also indicates that users should be able to grasp the handrail and maintain their grasp without having to release the rail where it is supported.

What is the Australian standard for handrails?

Handrail height for stairs according to the Australian standards is the height of a handrail above the floor or the nosing of a stair tread, shall be no less than 865mm. On a landing where fall from height is significant the height of the guardrail must be at least 1000 mm.

How long does a handrail have to be?



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.

How many stairs before you need a railing?

If a stair has a minimum of four risers, a handrail is required. Handrails must be between 30 and 38 inches as measured from the leading edge of the stair tread. Stair rail system: Top rail may also serve as handrail if height of the system is between 36 and 38 inches.

How thick should a handrail be?

Handrail Dimensions

A railing attached to a wall must be at least 1¼ inch and no more than 2 inches thick. The support brackets must hold the railing at a distance of at least 1½ inches from the wall and project a maximum of 3½ inches from the wall. The surface of a railing must be smooth, with no sharp corners.

Can a 2×4 be used as a handrail?



According to the IRC (2018), you can use a 2×4 to make a handrail, but you must cut finger recesses along both sides of the board and position the lumber lengthwise on its end. Using a 2×4 as a handrail laid vertically is not allowed.