What is the standard height for a stair rail?
The ADA states that exterior stair railings must fall within the standard 34 inch to 38 inch range. It also requires that all railings maintain a consistent height above stair nosings and be free from sharp points or surfaces that prevent proper use.
What is the standard height of a deck rail?
Deck railing height should be a minimum of 36” for any platform elevated to 30” and more from the surface. The maximum space between the bottom rail and the surface is 4”. The same gap is allowed between the decorative elements of the deck railing .
What height deck requires a railing?
There is no maximum height. A railing is only necessary if the deck is 30” or more off the ground, and 24” in certain jurisdictions. Many states and provinces mandate deck railings to be at least 42” if the deck is 6’ or more off the ground.
What is the minimum height of a guardrail?
When a guardrail is required per the above explanation, it must meet a minimum height requirement of no less than 36 inches for it to serve the purpose of minimizing a fall. The height is measured vertically above the walking surface or the line that connects the nosing of a set of stairs.
The Basics of When Guardrail is Required
In General Industry, OSHA standards say the guardrail height railing must be 42” high. Simple!
Guardrail Height for Elevated Workers
One such caveat specifically noted in the OSHA regulations for Construction is if workers are working on stilts.
Measure from Working Surface
It is also important to remember that the height of 42” is measured from the walking/working surface which is not always the same as the floor or roof height.
Consider the Work Being Done
Other times, the tasks we are working on inadvertently cause us to bypass the protections that have been put in place. Take a look at any multi-story construction site you pass. First, do you see rails at the perimeter of the building? If so, let’s assume the rails meet all the proper height criteria.
Guardrail Exceptions for the General Industry
Finally, we can’t forget to turn to letters of interpretation to see if anything differs from the regulations as written. In this case, for General Industry, one such letter of interpretation exists.
How high should a porch railing be?
The top of your porch railing should never be higher than the top of the window sill. That may mean that your original porch railing is only 24 inches high above the porch floor (a common height). When looking out the window from indoors, the porch railing and balusters should never block any of your view.
How high above the floor is a porch balustrade?
In the example above, the top of the balustrade is 25 inches above the floor. Minimal repairs are permitted to the porch as long as repairs do not trigger a building permit. If a permit were required, the current balustrade would not be allowed. The handrail is too low and there is too much space between the balusters.
How high should a balustrade be for a low window?
If your windows are this low, use a 24-25 inch railing height. Floor to ceiling windows – the exception to the rule. In this example, the rail height is only 25 inches above the floor. Although the windows are much lower, the balustrade still appears very attractive and in proportion to the house.
Can you paint porch railing without a permit?
One choice you have is to build an architecturally correct porch railing, paint it, and then quickly install it without a permit and risk the possibility of being fined. If questioned later, and if the carpenter did a good job and it looks original, the code inspector may think it is a well maintained original railing that is grand-fathered by code.
Do wrong windows make a right railing?
Wrong windows do not make a right railing. There are rules for window sill heights that affect the railing heights, and affect the overall balance of the house. And yes, this harmony (or disharmony) transfers over to how you see the house next door. The height of this enclosed balustrade is perfect.
Does plastic railing match Victorian style?
Skinny, high, contemporary plastic porch railing does not match Victorian style. Sawn balusters and lower hand rail match the Victorian style of this house. In the example above, the porch rail height is just a few inches too high.
How high should a deck railing be?
The minimum height of the railing varies based on the height of the deck. Decks 24" to 5-10" (180 cm) need 36" guards and anything above 5-10" requires a 42" high railing.
How high is a guardrail?
USA Rail Height For REsidences. Guardrails are required once the deck is 30" or more above the grade. A 36" rail measured from the top of rail to the deck surface is required. California is the one exception where they require 42" guards.
How high should a handrail be on stairs?
Handrail height on the stairs should be no less than 34 inches and no greater than 38 inches. 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.
How far apart should two railings be?
When you have two railings (one on each side of the stairwell) those railings must be at least 27 inches apart from each other, measuring between the inside (stair-side) surfaces of both handrails.
How far away should a handrail be from the wall?
When you have just one railing on a staircase, the inside (stair-side) edge of the railing must be at least 31 1/2 inches away from the wall on the other side of the staircase. Measure this distance from the side of the handrail closest to the wall and extend the line to the wall.
How much clearance do you need for a handrail?
Minimum hand clearance means the distance between the handrail and the wall. In other words, this is the area where your hand goes. Provide at least 1 1/2 inches of clearance between the wall and the railing for easy grasping by the hand.
What is the staircase code?
Staircase code is rooted in a set of solid ideas that all revolve around the notion that gravity isn't our best friend on staircases. So, the staircase code dictates that there must be handrails on the incline portion of stairs and guards on the horizontal parts.
What is a guard rail?
Guards are the rails that protect users from falling off of high areas, such as landings. Landings can be intermediate horizontal sections within a staircase or terminal sections at the top or bottom of a staircase.
How high can you fall off a deck?
The theory is that a person may become injured by falling off of an 18 inch-high deck, for example, but nowhere near as severely as if that person fell 8 feet down. Even though building code does not require a guard for surfaces that are lower than 30 inches, it is always safest to include one in these situations.
How much space between handrail and guardrail?
Handrail ends must be returned and terminated at rail posts. The handgrips must allow a minimum of 1-1/2” space between the handrail and the guardrail or wall. A variety of gripping shapes may be acceptable but must meet requirements for the gripping surface.
How tall is a guardrail?
The IRC requires guardrails to be at least 36" in height, measured from the deck surface to the top of the rail. Note that some local jurisdiction or state require higher, such as 42" in California.
What size handrail should I use for a circular cross section?
If you are using a circular cross section, then the handrail must have an outside diameter of between 1-1/4” and 2”. Engineered railing systems must be tested and certified to meet IRC and IBC building codes. The tests include:
How strong are guardrails for stairs?
The guardrails must be strong enough to withstand a concentrated 200 lb. force anywhere along the top of the rail.