A handrail is a rail that is designed to be grasped by the hand so as to provide safety or support. In

Britain Britain most often refers to: * The United Kingdom, a sovereign state in Europe comprising the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands * Great Britain, the largest island in the United King ...

, handrails are referred to as banisters. Handrails are usually used to provide support for body or to hold clothings in a bathroom or similar areas. Handrails are commonly used while ascending or descending

stairway Stairs are a structure designed to bridge a large vertical distance between lower and higher levels by dividing it into smaller vertical distances. This is achieved as a diagonal series of horizontal platforms called steps which enable passage ...

s and

escalator An escalator is a moving staircase which carries people between floors of a building or structure. It consists of a motor-driven chain of individually linked steps on a track which cycle on a pair of tracks which keep the step tread horizo ...

s in order to prevent injurious falls or to hold necessities. Handrails are typically supported by

baluster A baluster is an upright support, often a vertical moulded shaft, square, or lathe-turned form found in stairways, parapets, and other architectural features. In furniture construction it is known as a spindle. Common materials used in its cons ...

s or attached to walls. Similar items not covered in this article include bathroom handrails—which help to prevent falls on slippery, wet floors—other

grab bar Grab bars are safety devices designed to enable a person to maintain balance, lessen fatigue while standing, hold some of their weight while maneuvering, or have something to grab onto in case of a slip or fall. A caregiver may use a grab bar to a ...

s, used, for instance, in ships' galleys, and

barre Barre or Barré may refer to: * Barre (name) or Barré, a surname and given name Places United States * Barre, Massachusetts, a New England town ** Barre (CDP), Massachusetts, the central village in the town * Barre, New York, a town * Barre (c ...

s, which serve as training aids for ballet dancers.

Guard rails Guard rail, guardrails, or protective guarding, in general, are a boundary feature and may be a means to prevent or deter access to dangerous or off-limits areas while allowing light and visibility in a greater way than a fence. Common shapes ...

and

balustrades A baluster is an upright support, often a vertical moulded shaft, square, or lathe-turned form found in stairways, parapets, and other architectural features. In furniture construction it is known as a spindle. Common materials used in its cons ...

line drop-offs and other dangerous areas, keeping people and vehicles out. RSC Staircase

British specifications

British Standard and British Standard Code of Practice are harmonized to European Normal (EN) series. Handrail height is set between .

US specifications

Dimensions

Various model codes—The

International Code Council The International Building Code (IBC) is a model building code developed by the International Code Council (ICC). It has been adopted for use as a base code standard by most jurisdictions in the United States. The IBC addresses both health and saf ...

(ICC) and

National Fire Protection Association The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is an international nonprofit organization devoted to eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazards. As of 2018, the NFPA claims to have 50,000 mem ...

(NFPA)—and accessibility standards—ANSI A117.1 and the

Americans With Disabilities Act The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 or ADA () is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability. It affords similar protections against discrimination to Americans with disabilities as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ...

Standards for Accessible Design (ADASAD)—refer to handrail dimensions. Current versions of these codes and standards now agree that handrail is defined as either a circular cross section with an outside diameter of minimum and maximum or a non-circular cross section with a perimeter dimension of minimum and maximum and a cross section dimension of ) maximum. In addition, the International Residential Code (IRC) includes a definition of a "Type II" handrail that allows for handrail with a perimeter dimension greater than . The IRC and residential portion of the 2009 IBC define Type II handrail as follows:

Type II. Handrails with a perimeter greater than shall provide a graspable finger recess area on both sides of the profile. The finger recess shall begin within a distance of measured vertically from the tallest portion of the profile and achieve a depth of at least within below the widest portion of the profile. This required depth shall continue for at least to a level that is not less than below the tallest portion of the profile. The minimum width of the handrail above the recess shall be to a maximum of . Edges shall have a minimum radius of .

Handrails are located at a height between . In areas where children are the principal users of a building or facility, the 2010 ADASAD recommends that a second set of handrails at a maximum height of measured to the top of the gripping surface from the ramp surface or

stair nosing Nosing is the horizontal, protruding edge of a stair where most foot traffic frequently occurs. Tread nosing The horizontal projection to the front of a tread where most foot traffic frequently occurs. The nosing is the protrusion beyond the ris ...

can assist in preventing accidents.

Clearance

The distance between the wall and handrail gripping surface is also governed by local code with the most common requirement being minimum. The

National Fire Protection Agency The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is an international nonprofit organization devoted to eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazards. As of 2018, the NFPA claims to have 50,000 mem ...

(NFPA) and the

Occupational Safety and Health Administration The Occupational Safety and Health Administration'' (OSHA ) is a large regulatory agency of the United States Department of Labor that originally had federal visitorial powers to inspect and examine workplaces. Congress established the agenc ...

(OSHA) require that the distance between the wall and handrail be a minimum of . The 1992

Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) stated that there was to be an absolute dimension of between a handrail and a wall. This was actually a "grab bar" dimension which was part of the 1986 ANSI A117.1. ANSI changed the notation to minimum in 1990. This was not corrected in 2010 with the approval of the new ADASAD which now calls for a minimum clearance. Codes also generally require that there be a clearance between the underside of the handrail and any obstruction—including the horizontal bracket arm. There is an allowance however for variations in the handrail size—for every of additional perimeter dimension over , may be subtracted from the clearance requirement.

Strength

Handrails are to support a continuous load of or a concentrated load of applied at the top of the handrail. As handrails come in different materials, the strengths can vary. From timber to stainless steel, it is best to pick a handrail that will be right for the area. Stainless steel will be stronger and more durable outside, whereas timber can be just as strong but less durable outside.

ADA height notations

ADA Handrail height requirements are issued to create a safe enjoyable space to enjoy for everyone. The ADA height of handrail requirements that will primarily be used by children have their own unique requirements. The top of gripping surfaces of handrails shall be 34 inches minimum and 38 inches maximum vertically above walking surfaces, stair nosing, and ramp surfaces. Handrails shall be at a consistent height above walking surfaces, stair nosing, and ramp surfaces. When children are the principal users in a building or facility (e.g., elementary schools), a second set of handrails at an appropriate height can assist them and aid in preventing accidents. A maximum height of 28 inches measured to the top of the gripping surface from the ramp surface or stair nosing. Sufficient vertical clearance between upper and lower handrails, 9 inches minimum, should be provided to help prevent entrapment.

Adult requirements

Top of gripping surfaces of handrails shall be between vertically above walking surfaces, stair nosings, and ramp surfaces. Handrails shall be at a consistent height above walking surfaces, stair nosings, and ramp surfaces.

Child recommendation

When children are the principal users in a building or facility (e.g., elementary schools), a second set of handrails at an appropriate height can assist them and aid in preventing accidents. A maximum height of measured to the top of the gripping surface from the ramp surface or stair nosing is recommended for handrails designed for children. Sufficient vertical clearance between upper and lower handrails, minimum, should be provided to help prevent entrapment. Types of handrails Handrails are available in several different varieties including wooden/timber,

stainless steel Stainless steel is an alloy of iron that is resistant to rusting and corrosion. It contains at least 11% chromium and may contain elements such as carbon, other nonmetals and metals to obtain other desired properties. Stainless steel's corros ...

aluminium Aluminium (aluminum in American and Canadian English) is a chemical element with the symbol Al and atomic number 13. Aluminium has a density lower than those of other common metals, at approximately one third that of steel. I ...

. Some varieties are more hard wearing than others, and the cost can vary depending on the style you choose. You can also choose various fixings to allow for a more modern/sleek look.

References

External links

{{Authority control Stairs Stairways Architectural elements Garden features Ironmongery