| Most building code
books require at least one handrail on stairs that fall into these
categories. Remember, this is a handrail or handrailing and not a
guardrail. Guardrails are used to protect people from falling from
levels exceeding 30 inches in height and hand rails are used to provide
people with something to grab onto, while using the stairway.
1. Total stairway width is 44 inches or less.
2. Stairs serve individual dwelling.
3. Private stairs are less than 30 inches in overall height.
Stairways specifically used for an individual dwelling and has four
risers or less doesn't require a handrail. Now this one can get
confusing. What if I have a 36 inch wide exterior stairway that serves
an individual dwelling and only has three risers? In this case, you fall
into the four risers or less building code which wouldn't require a
handrail.
In the picture above, the entry stairway has more than four risers, the
stair landing is higher than 30 inches from the ground, serves an
individual dwelling and the total stairway width doesn't exceed 44
inches. This stairway would only require one handrail unless the
stairway was larger than 44 inches.
The building codes do not specify which side of the
stairway to place the individual handrail. That's a choice that you get
to make on your own.
Grip Able Handrail
Stairways Requiring
Hand Rail on Each Side
Three or More
Handrails for Wide Stairways
Gripable
Handrail Size
Gripable Handrail
Height
Gripable Stair
Banisters
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