Interior Stair Railing Height Code
Top edges of stair rail systems used as handrails must not be more than 37 inches 94 cm high nor less than 36 inches 91 5 cm from the upper surface of the stair rail system to the surface of the tread.
Interior stair railing height code. A guard is in place to prevent an accidental fall. It is required when you have two or mores risers on ramps with a rise greater than 6 inches. Codes require railings against a wall to be between 30 inches and 38 inches high while handrails on open stairs must be 34 to 38 inches high.
The height is calculated in relation to the stairs and is measured from the very end of the stair tread in a completely vertical line. Distance from wall to ensure your hand has enough room to slide down the rail the rail must be at least 1 5 inches from the wall. Install railings on any deck that is 30 inches or more from the surrounding surface and on at least one side of a stairway leading to the deck.
The way this is measured is to begin at the leading edge of the stair nosing and run an imaginary vertical line upward until it reaches the top of the railing. Stair rails installed after march 15 1991 must be not less than 36 inches 91 5 cm in height. The top of the handrail should be at least 34 inches.
A handrail is in place to provide guidance on a stair. For stairs installed before april 3 1997 this height shall be between 30 and 38 inches. The code specifies that risers should not be more than 7 inches in height and that any variation of risers within a flight of stairs should not be more than inch.
Note that dimensions here should be taken excluding carpets rugs or runners. C the top of stair railings handrails and handrail extensions installed on or after april 3 1997 shall be at a vertical height between 34 and 38 inches above the nosing of treads and landings. Handrails shall not be less than 30 inches 762 mm high or more than 42 inches 1067 mm high measured vertically above the nosing of the tread or above the finished floor of the landing or walking surfaces.