OSHA Approved Handrails for Stairs

Stairway Requirements

• Stairways that travel a minimum of 30 inches vertically or have at least four risers or are required to include handrails. A minimum of one handrail is required for every unprotected side of the stairway. Spiral and winding stairways require an offset handrail that prevents pedestrians from using the inner parts of stairway that are less than 6 inches wide.

Landings

• Straight stairways that have landings are required to use guard rails in place of hand rails. These guard rails are required for each unprotected side or edge of the landing and must measure at least 42 inches in height.

Hand Rails

• The hand rails used in stairways are required to support at least 200 pounds of weight applied down or out from the wall. OSHA requires a minimum 30 inches of clearance between the stairs and the hand rail with a maximum height of 37 inches. The hand rails must provide an adequate handhold that can support a falling person. Temporary handrail systems require at least three inches of space between the handrail and other objects.

Midrails

• OSHA requires a physical barrier between handrail and the stairway known as a midrail. This type of railing includes screens, meshs, vertical supports and other similar devices. Railing used for a midrail is built halfway between the railing and steps. Screen or mesh midrails are required to cover the entire gap between the handrail and stairs. Vertical supports used in place of a midrail can not have spacing exceeding 19 inches.

Stair Railing

• Stair rails are a combination of handrailing and midrailing consisting of uniform vertical supports and a handrail. Stair rails that double as hand rails must measure between 36 and 37 inches in height if constructed after March of 1991. OSHA also prohibits designs with dangerous projections at the end of the hand rails. This prohibition includes railings that extend past the end posts of the rail system. Hand rails also require smooth surfacing that prevents punctures, lacerations and does not snag clothing. This requirement is designed to prevent injury from cuts or tripping while on the stairs.