You don’t need a handrail on both sides, but you may need a railing if your deck is higher than 30″. Many contractors construct a combo handrail and stair rail system, installed on both sides, to cover all safety requirements.
Are two handrails required?
(a) Stairways shall have handrails or stair railings on each side, and every stairway required to be more than 88 inches in width shall be provided with not less than one intermediate stair railing for each 88 inches of required width.
What is code for deck stair railing?
Stair rails on decks should be between 34 inches and 38 inches high, measured vertically from the nose of the tread to the top of the rail. Treads must be at least 10 inches deep, measuring from front to back. … The rise, or the vertical distance from one tread to the next, can be no more than 7 1/4 inches high.
Do you need 2 handrails on stairs?
Stairways with four or more risers, or that rise more than 30 inches (76 cm) in height- whichever is less- must have at least one handrail. Winding or spiral stairways must have a handrail to prevent use of areas where the tread width is less than 6 inches (15 cm).
Does my deck need a handrail?
If your deck is below 30 inches, a railing is not required. With that said, if you choose to build a deck, even if it is only 24 inches off the ground, that is still high enough that even an adult could injure themselves.
How many deck steps require a handrail?
So whether you’re constructing a residential composite deck, lumber deck or a deck made from other decking material, you’re typically required to install a graspable secondary handrail on one side of the deck’s stair railing when there are four or more stair risers present.
Do I need a handrail on my deck stairs?
To protect people near your construction project, all doors opening onto the construction of any exterior stairs, landings, and decks must be mechanically secured against opening until handrails and guards are installed as required by the current edition of the Alberta Building Code.
Can a 2x2 be used as a handrail?
According to the IRC (2018), you can use a 2×4 to make a handrail, but you must cut finger recesses along both sides of the board and position the lumber lengthwise on its end. Using a 2×4 as a handrail laid vertically is not allowed.
What are the OSHA requirements for handrails?
The top rail must be at least 42 inches in height (§1910.29(f)(1)(ii)(B)) and the handrail must be 30 to 38 inches in height (§1910.29(f)(1)(i)) (as measured at the leading edge of the stair tread to the top surface of the rail).
How high can a deck be without a railing?
He’d made a point of building his deck so as to stay under the 30-inch requirement–which is the maximum deck height you can have without a railing.
Do 3 steps need a handrail?
A: Editorial Adviser Mike Guertin replies: Since your stairs will have only three risers, you don’t need to install a handrail. That said, it’s important to count the number of risers accurately.
How wide can deck stairs be without a center handrail?
The clear width of 48 inches (1219 mm) between handrails is not required for exit stairways accessed from a horizontal exit. The width of stairways shall be determined as specified in Section 1005.1, but such width shall not be less than 44 inches (1118 mm). See Section 1007.3 for accessible means of egress stairways.
Do outdoor stairs need railings?
The open side can be along the length or width of the stairway. This means that exterior stairs will require a guardrail and / or handrail along the open side.
Do stairs have to have banisters?
Handrails are mandatory. Stairs should have a handrail on at least one side if they are less than one metre wide, and on both sides if wider than this. Handrails should be placed between 900mm and 1000mm above the highest point on the staircase steps.
How many steps require a handrail FHA?
That leaves it up to the lender and underwriter to determine whether adding a handrail is a requirement for the loan. If you have just a step or two without a handrail, you may not be required to add one. Three stairs or more may require a handrail, whether that’s because of state regulations or lender standards.
Can I use 2x6 for handrail?
Handrails are required for stairs in many applications and must meet standards as specified by R311. … Flat 2×4 and 2×6 handrails do not meet the requirements for graspable handrails. If you are using a circular cross section, then the handrail must have an outside diameter of between 1-1/4” and 2”.
What is the difference between a handrail and a stair rail?
Handrails and stair railings – they sound like pretty much the same thing. They’re not. … A stair railing, on the other hand, is mostly to prevent people from falling off the side of the stairs. They aren’t asked to do much more – and they don’t.
How far apart should handrail supports be?
We recommend spacing the Brackets 36 to 48 inches apart. In most cases, it is desirable to transition the Handrail past the last stair with a horizontal rail of 6 to 12 inches. Some local codes require this extension be 12 inches.
What are the OSHA requirements for stairs?
Riser height shall be from 6 to 7.5 inches (15.24 to 19.05 cm), stair width a minimum of 22 inches (55.88 cm) between vertical barriers, tread depth a minimum of 12±2 inches (30.48±5.08 cm), and tread nosing shall be straight leading edges. Stair landings shall be at least 20 inches (50.8 cm) in depth.
Does my porch need railing?
In most cases, you are required to have a railing when the floor of your porch is 30 inches or more above grade. However, 30 inches can be a long to fall; therefore some codes may require railings if your porch is 15 or 24 inches above grade.
How far apart can handrails be on stairs?
The minimum distance for two railings refers to the walking space between two handrails on the same staircase. When you have two railings (one on each side of the stairwell) those railings must be at least 27 inches apart from each other, measuring between the inside (stair-side) surfaces of both handrails.