Can anyone point me in the direction of standards on the fastening schedule for wall mounted hand rails on stairways. I’m specifically looking for information that is backed by codes and/or best practice.
I’ve given a cursory look here at home and seem to find only specific info on Ht of rail, rail size and projection and mention of rail being able to withstand 200lb force in any direction.
Thanks.
A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Replies
I don't know but that you aren't looking for something that isn't in writing or codified.
I most often look to not exceed about 5' between brackets for a standard handrail.
Well then I guess I'm not as ignorant as I thought. I think I've seen in print on a bracket package, 4' max between. Common sense dictates that or the 5' you mention. I looked through a couple of the area approved codes (till they finally stick to one code-area interpretation) and outside of the rise/run, ht of rail and the 4'' thing, there's just not much else.
The reason for my search, I was contacted this a.m. by a friend that does paralegal work in Cleve. The firm he works for has a client that fell down the basement steps in a rental. I don't know what angle they are taking, but evidently the install was bogus. Beats me on my part in this. Of course, the owner has already re-installed the rail so the "how" it was installed is probably not going to be viewable.
I bet you've seen some haphazard installs which held up the rail-but certainly couldn't be counted on to hold up the occupant.
We'll see what transpires here with any more information in print.
thanks.A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
It may help if you tell us why you are inquiring about this. Did you have a run in with an inspector, or questioning what a contractor has told you, or are you just curious?
Here's the why ^ (above).A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Bummer. Cant say what happened, but I do know thats why I really make sure my rentals are as safe as they can be.
In my state anyway, there is no code for that. The only thing remotely similar is that guard rails must withstand 200 lbs of lateral force - whatever that means. I mean' I'm about 200#s (or a little less) but with 8 beers in me I have a lot more lateral force... :-)
but with 8 beers in me I have a lot more lateral force... :-)
Hell I must be a lightweight, 8 beers and all my force is horizontal!
Doug
OK - I'm a light weight these days too - but have a hard time admitting it. Still old habits die hard and I have a lifelong "ambition" to try every beer made.. :-)
The only thing remotely similar is that guard rails must withstand 200 lbs of lateral force - whatever that means.
That means if you hook up a jumb sized fish scale to the railing, and hook a come-along to the other end of the scale and crank, the rail cannot fail at less than 200 lbs. Guardrails must withstand this force in any direction. Some argue that standard engineering practice is to build in a 250% safety factor, and that makes the 200 lb. standard 500 lbs. in practice. Andy
"Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig." Robert A. Heinlein (or maybe Mark Twain)
"Get off your dead #### and on your dying feet." Mom
"Everything not forbidden is compulsory." T.H. White, The Book of Merlin
I knew what it meant... Just kind of hard for an inspector (or anyone else) to actually measure it in the real world.
One of the things I check when judging a trim carpentry job is how stable the guardrails are. A lot of it goes back to the glue job...
You're right - it's practically impossible to field verify that code requirement. In truth, I wonder for example, how many volute newels would pass the test?Andy
"Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig." Robert A. Heinlein (or maybe Mark Twain)
"Get off your dead #### and on your dying feet." Mom
"Everything not forbidden is compulsory." T.H. White, The Once and Future King
i can see where there would be no code on this... i could make an 8 -12 ft run use'n a metal handrail that would only need to be attached at each end.....
you could attach something every 24" to drywall with junk fasteners... and still not have squat...
not a great question..
p
As much as they apply "code" to structural issues, you'd think there'd be a special subsection on residential rails. Such as, the returns required on the ends so (I guess) you don't snag you sleeves, causing a fall.
Yet nada on fastening methods etc on the means to catch yourself from careening to your demise.
Well damn.A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
thin'n the herd.... you can't code everything that can kill you...
>> As much as they apply "code" to structural issues, you'd think there'd be a special subsection on residential rails. <<
There is, but since that section is modified in our NC version of IRC2003, I can't tell exactly what it says unless you want the NC version.
>> Such as, the returns required on the ends so (I guess) you don't snag you sleeves, causing a fall. <<
Same answer: There is, but since that section is modified in our NC version of IRC2003, I can't tell exactly what it says.
Take a look at this link of visual interpretations of IRC stair building codes. Maybe it will give you some more specific info on some of your Qs. Note that this is not code, but rather a code interpretation.
Thanks for the link Matt.
Merry Christmas.A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Having seen somethings and considering the vastness of the world around us
it would not surprise me to see handrail brackets that someone had installed with sheetrock screws.
not trying to be funny
And then some..............A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
it would not surprise me to see handrail brackets that someone had installed with sheetrock screws.
Damn, another thing I cant use sheetrock screws on! How the hell am I going to use all these screws up?
Doug
Doug:
Sheetrock guys recently left a 5 gallon bucket of coarse thread 1 5/8" drywall screws on my job. If you want I can "hook you up". :-)
Maybe they didn't like them because they were coarse thread?
left a 5 gallon bucket of coarse thread 1 5/8" drywall screws on my job. If you want I can "hook you up". :-)
If they were just a little longer I could hang some cabinets with em, damn the luck!
Doug
Whats the problem ? 1/8 cabinet back , 1/2 drywall leaves you an inch of bite.
They can't get your Goat if you don't tell them where it is hidden.
HEY, oooohhh, never mind!
and might even get lucky and hit a stud.
Disgruntled renter of an upstairs apt had to have kicked the banister off the wall as the top bracket holding the rail was secured with old quarterinch dia 3inch steel woodscrews.
Sucker kicked the screws out of the wood and in the process bent one of them to close to a 90degree angle.
there are some funky people in the world.
renters suck!
Sometimes