Residential Interior Handrail Height

To meet building code requirements the stair railing should be mounted so that the top of the handrail height is 34 to 38 in.

Residential interior handrail height.

The handrail itself should be easy to grip with a minimum diameter of 1 1 4. 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. Also keep in mind anyone with special mobility needs who will be using the rail if you are installing a handrail specifically for the use of an elderly person measure a comfortable height for that individual within the 30 to 36 inch range. A handrail must be between 865mm and 1070mm 34 and 42 inches above the nosing.

Measure railing height from the bottom of the ground at each step to the top of where the handrail will be located. The same height rules apply to stairs and the inspector measures the handrail height from nose of the stair tread. Step 3 below shows how to find this wall mounted handrail height point at the top of the stair. In the u s the i codes require handrail placed between 34 and 38 inches.

Handrail height on the stairs should be no less than 34 inches and no greater than 38 inches. The ontario building code height of handrails 9 8 7 4. For stairs installed before april 3 1997 this height shall be between 30 and 38 inches. Height of handrails 1 the height of handrails on stairs and ramps shall be measured vertically from the top of the handrail to a a straight line drawn tangent to the tread nosings of the stair served by the handrail or b the surface of the ramp floor or landing served by the handrail.

We chose 36 in. C the top of stair railings handrails and handrail extensions installed on or after april 3 1997 shall be at a vertical height between 34 and 38 inches above the nosing of treads and landings. It is important to note that all designs and any construction methods must be solid. Codes require railings against a wall to be between 30 inches and 38 inches high while handrails on open stairs must be 34 to 38 inches high.

Above the front edge of the stair nosings. Handrail height is the height of the handrail in relation to the stairs. In commercial applications the nbc permits the top or a guard 42 minimum height to also serve as handrail. Since guardrails are commonly used to serve as a guard we want to see how this section applies to guardrails so that they can comply as a guard as defined per section r312.

These building codes for handrails on stairs and guardrails around walkways are based on information in section r311 7 8 on page 61 of the 2012 international residential code.