Recent Q&A on guards & railings used on stairs, balconies, decks, ramps, walks:

This article series provides building code specifications, sketches, photographs, and examples of stair & railing safety defects used in inspecting indoor or outdoor stair railings or handrails and related conditions for safety and proper construction.

Railing Specifications, Codes Q&A Set 3

These questions & answers on railing safety & codes were posted originally

at RAILING CODES & STANDARDS - be sure to read that article.

Railings, guardrails, and handrails are a critical safety feature on outdoor and indoor stairs, and ramps, both as graspable handrails to guide a user or to protect against a stair-fall, and as are guardrails along stairs, landings, platforms, decks, porches, and similar structures.

On 2019-06-15 by (mod) -

Phil,

Codes typically are concerned that the railing must be graspable, and that it not intrude too far into the walking space. You're worrying about the opposite: a handrail that's too far away from the walking surface.

As long as it is at least graspable at the edge of the walking surface of the stair, the rail can be over or at the outer edge of a stair. The double-run wood handrail shown at Intercam in San Miguel de Allende in Guanajuato is not readily graspable by someone walking up or down those stairs - it's a good 18" away from the walking edge of the steps.

In my opinion if that wooden handrail's inner face or perhaps even its outer face were just above the left edge of the walking surface of those steps it'd be readily graspable.

However you'd best be sure to consider the adequacy of your structural connection if you're too close to the edge.

Below is a different example: a handrail that is just over the walking surface of the stair, but it is mounted tight against the wall and so is not readily graspable.

On 2019-06-15 by Phil Amthor

I am using a purchased railing assembly. with a top rail, bottom rail and balusters. Does the railing have to be over aome portion of the edge of the steps or can it run along the very edge of the steps?

On 2019-05-28 by Mark

When building a deck, do I need to plan for a grab rail on all rails when there are rails on both sides of the steps? ...When there is a wall on one side?
Or do I just need the graspable rail on one side or the other?

On 2019-04-15 by (mod) -

Yes

On 2019-04-15 by Ken

Question; Must stair rail be on open side of stairs?

On 2018-09-30 by (mod) -

Nope but it has to be graspable and of course not sharp or shaped so as to injure someone or trap or catch clothing or a handbag strap.

To avoid that sort of trap many rail ends are looped back and enclosed.

Details are at https://inspectapedia.com/Stairs/Stair_Snags.php - SNAG HAZARDS on STAIRWAYS

On 2018-09-28 by Anonymous

does grasp rail have to have radiused start onends

On 2018-09-28 by bryan

on a ramp rail grasp rail how does it have to start an stop? do they have to have the 12in approach loop?

...

Continue reading at RAILING CODES & STANDARDS or select a topic from closely-related articles below, or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• BUILDING CODE DOWNLOADS - free downloadable PDF files of building codes & standards
• GUARDRAIL CODES & STANDARDS (railings on landings and open hallways, porches, screened porches, balconies that are more than 30" above floors or grade
• HANDRAILS & HANDRAILINGS
• GRASPABILITY of HANDRAILINGS
• HANDRAIL CODES & OSHA HAND RAIL SPECS
• HANDRAIL CODES - GRASPABILITY
• HANDRAIL CONTINUITY
• HANDRAIL EXTENSION REQUIREMENTS
• HANDRAILING STRENGTH
• RAILINGS, DECK & PORCH
• RAILING POST CONNECTIONS
• RAILINGS, STAIRWAY
• RETAINING WALL GUARDRAIL CODES & STANDARDS
• STAIR CODES & STANDARDS - home
• STAIR CODE DETAILS

Suggested citation for this web page

RAILING CODES & SPECIFICATIONS FAQs-3 at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to STAIRS RAILINGS LANDINGS RAMPS

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Citations & References

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