I know that stair handrail codes vary from City to City but my question refers to the UBC (1003.3.3.6) interpretation for residential construction. My metal railing sub contractor thinks code for interior stair rail requires the hand rail to level out and extend 12″ past the nose of the bottom tread and to level out and extend 24″ past the nose of the top tread before returnining to the wall either end. On the other hand I interpret the code as requiring the hand rail to run from within the bottom tread to at least in line with the nose of the top tread and return to the wall both ends although I like to extend a few inches past the nose on each of the bottom & top treads. Could you tell me who is right as it could make a significant difference in the cost.
Also, what seems to be the most comfortable rail dimension (for the average person) for square metal stock?
Replies
I have never seen it level out as he describes except in commercial locations. He may be confusing his codes since this is residential.
The code is also specific about cross section sizing of the rail. A lot of the old nicely profiled wood handrails are now illegal to use. This new code requires something you can grip around and not just rest a hand on.
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
There's alot of good info about Stair Codes at this site.
http://www.arcways.com/IRC2000a.pdf
I still wonder why the code is open to interpretation. It should be worded in a way that nobody has any question about what it means. It's my understanding that in a commercial building, the handrail must be graspable form one end to the other. In residential, graspability isn't as critical or specific.
"I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."
Joe,
Thanks for the link!!!!!!!!! You may have just saved me countless hrs of scratching out little pictures on boards to illustrate the stair code when explaining it to home owners and employees.
Thanks much,
kcoyner
That's an interesting site...but I'm not sure it's entirely accurate. The NC IRC gives a 30" min on rake handrails, and an 8 1/4" max riser height.I did like the pictorials, though I wish I could find one that shows the overlapping allowed for winders. I can't visualize it for beans...in answer to the original question for residential: the handrail shall be continuous from a point directly over the top riser to a point directly above the lowest riser. Don't worry, we can fix that later!
BB,
Your right on the code, if your talking single family residential. But if their is more then 10 units the code changes. This would include riser ht. & hand rail. A 10 unit condo is still residential but does not allow what a single family unit would code wise!
Hey Buck, I think the winder code shown in those illustrations make the assumption that the inside will be the open side, and forcing it to meet that much run is going to make them uncomfortable to walk if the outside is the open side, which would be the natural walking path. Also, if you have someone hold their hand out and grasp an imaginary handrail, and measure to the center of their body, you are more likely to get 18" instead of 12".
I built a free-flying semi-elliptical stair about eight years ago which was outside of any code zone, and that is how I laid it out. Each tread was 11" @ 18" from the OS rail, and it feels just right.:
I see I left an important part out...I was talikng about an overlapping handrail, sorry.We got an exception on this because it's not really gripable, but it is continuous<G> Don't worry, we can fix that later!
For what it's worth... a few of years ago made and installed steel, exterior handrails on an apt. complex and condos with the same extensions you are talking about on the top and bottom. I understood that to be code at the time in those type dwellings whether it was inside or outside.