Building Regulations Handrails For Stairs

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.

Building regulations handrails for stairs.

Uk building regulations for handrails. A quick guide to everything you need to know whether you need guardrails and handrails for the stairs of a commercial office development or for a new mezzanine floor in factory or warehouse there is a raft of specifications required by uk building regulations to ensure your handrails and railings meet required legislation for safety and building compliance. Stairs should have a handrail on at least one side if the stairs are less than 1 metre wide. The handrailmay form the top of a guardingif you can match the heights.

If staircases are less than one meter wide they should have a handrail on at least one side. The spindles must be fitted so that a 100mm sphere cannot pass between them. Gaps between the handrails should not be big enough to allow a 100mm sphere to pass through them. The pitchline is defined as the line joining the leading edge or nosings of successive stair treads.

It is often the case in commercial buildings that the handrail height on level floors is not necessarily the same as the handrail height on the stairs as measured on the raking nosing line. Handrails should be placed between 900mm and 1000mm above the highest point on the staircase steps. The height of handrails should be between 900mm and 100mm. You do not need a handrail on the first two bottom steps.

The minimum height of the handrail is 900mm on both the stairs and landing for a domestic dwelling. Stair handrails often connect with handrails or balustrade around the void edge and usually considered part of the same package. For a public staircase the handrail must be 900mm still but the handrail on the landing must be at least 1100mm. Position the top of the handrail 900mm to 1000mm from the pitch line or floor.

The acceptable solution f4 as1 table 1 requires barrier heights in buildings other than housing to be 900mm on stairs and ramps and 1100mm elsewhere. In summary the regulations that affect handrails and balustrades are as follows. If the stairs are 1000mm or wider. A handrail on both sides of the stairs will be required if the stair width is greater than this.

It is also a building regulations requirement that no openings in any balustrading should allow the passage of a 100mm sphere. Handrails must be positioned between 900 and 1000mm above the pitchline. Provide a handrail on both sides. When planning your stairs remember these handrail rules handrails are mandatory.

Where there is a drop that exceeds 600mm either on a landing or on stairs then a guard needs to be used. Staircases more than one meter must have handrails on both sides.