One for the railing/handrail experts!?

[dan.taylor.1]

Hi all,

Ive got a little job coming up requiring some handrails on some steps outside an elderly couples house, i know the couple well so its an on the cheap job but im not fussed as the guys done a lot of wiring for us on the farm foc as hes retired norweb or something!

Anyhow, im just wondering what the advised height for a handrail is, or is it more whats comfy for the end user? Also construction wise, any advise on uprights, mountings etc, it will be mild steel so ive plenty of scope for fancy scrolls etc!

Cheers Dan

 

[Welderpaul]

On a stair a handrail should be between 900 and 1000mm above the pitch line. If the handrail acts as a barrier against falling it should be 1100mm

 

[dan.taylor.1]

Cheers Paul, the stair rail wont be preventing falling, but theres another at 90 degrees to it that will, so might have to taper up, or just stick it all at 1100, are those bs heights or just whats usually done?

Dan

 

[chevy2]

Pretty sure it should be 900mm from the front of the stair nose or 1000mm when running along a flat walkway or platform.

 

[Welderpaul]

Building regs. Usually make it a constant 900 or more likely 1000 on the stair, keep it parallel with the stair, then 'swan neck' it up at the top of the stair to 1100 on the landing.

Handrail needs to start 300mm before, and project 300mm past, first and last steps on a stair.

Page 23 ish

 

[chevy2]

Building regs. Usually make it a constant 900 or more likely 1000 on the stair, keep it parallel with the stair, then 'swan neck' it up at the top of the stair to 1100 on the landing.

Handrail needs to start 300mm before, and project 300mm past, first and last steps on a stair.

Page 23 ish

Handy document,
Based on that keeping the handrail around 1000mm at stair nosing and platform would be best alround then so no need to swan neck at the top.

 

[Welderpaul]

As long as you cant fall off the platform the rail is ok at 1000. Most times the rail needs to be 1100 so you end up with a swan neck.

 

[dan.taylor.1]

I've got a full building regs cd somewhere, should have thought to look on that! Cheers guys, I think the handrail is just something to hold while walking from the steps so might not need to be 1100.

Dan