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handrail distance from landing
can anyone tell me what the vertical distance is from the finished floor on a landing to the top hand rail? is it 3'-6, and the top handrail on the actual stair part 2'-10 from nosing line? this is for metal stairs, using c12 x 20.7, with pour pans and deck. thanks.
hi alexdring,
the national building code of canada says for landings, 1070mm ~42", for stairs, not less than 800mm ~32" and not more than 965mm ~38". i would check with you local building code.
regards
vod
thanks vod
all building codes list both the criteria for the handrail and the guardrail. the criteria listed by vod matches what is in boca, sbc and the florida building code. of course there are certain requirements for the ada facilities.
good luck.
is there a site to look at these requirments or do you simply have to buy them?
for industrial applications (42 inches high, with an intermediate rail & toeplate) go to www.osha.gov and search the site for "handrail". there is a lot of information.
also a google search on "osha handrail" will give you many supplier web sites that have sketches and downloadable proprietary information.
if egress stair, check with life safety code published by nfpa as well as local building code. unfortunately, these are not available for free like the osha requirements. suggestion to go to supplier websites is a good one.
for industrial stairs, osha is inconsistant in the height of the guardrails for stairs and landings. osha allows the stair top rail to be used as a guardrail at 36 -37". however, at landings, they require a 42" guardrail. the best (safest) solution is what the life safety and many building codes require: provide guardrail of 42" at landings and stairs and also have a continuous handrail at 36" along the stairs.
here is the osha guide to stairways and ladders. it gives the requirements for handrails but doesn't crossreference to the exact cfr chapter and verse.
dang thanks rockengineer that is a excellent reference.

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