Height Requirements for Staircase Handrails

Requirements

• Local and state building requirements for staircase handrails are remarkably similar because they all originate from the International Residential Code or IRC. This set of standards comes from the International Code Council, a nonprofit, member-focused association that helps the construction industry provide safe, sustainable and affording construction. The Council was established in 1994 from three code authorities to consolidate and eliminate the three separate building standards that existed to that time.

Height

• Measuring from the finished stairstep or an adjacent ramp slope, the height of staircase handrails must be 34 to 36 inches, according to the IRC. Handrails that transition between flights, go from handrails to guardrails (such as on a landing) or start a flight can exceed this mandate. A turnout, also known as a volute or starting easing, that goes over the lowest tread can be lower than these requirements. At least one handrail is needed on one side of a continuous flight of stairs if it has four or more steps.

Rail

• Stair height is measured to the top of the rail grip, which can vary in thickness. Type I handrails with circular profiles need an outside diameter from 1.25 to 2 inches. If they're not circular, their perimeter must be 4 to 6.25 inches, with a maximum cross section of 2.25 inches. The edges must have a minimum radius of 0.01 inches. Type II handrails bigger than 6.25 inches need a recessed area for finger-grasping. The recess must begin within 0.75 inches from the tallest part of the profile and continue at least 1.75 inches below the tallest profile. Edges must also have a minimum radius of 0.01 inches.

Exception

• A bulkhead enclosure stairway joins the outside grade level at a driveway, for example, to a finished lower level such as a basement. It can ignore these height and size specifications if it meets the following requirements. The lower level must have another route of access to a higher level or exit. The maximum height from the basement finished floor to the grade must be less than 8 feet. And the opening from the grade level to the staircase must be covered with hinged doors or other approved means.