Pre-formed angled rails and right angled rails Rails set at an incline (fixed at a slight angle to the horizontal) may assist someone with weak or painful arms or wrists to support his/her forearm on the rail whilst pushing up, thus spreading the body weight over a larger area. It is not necessary to lean far forward to grasp the rail at the lower end and the hand can travel up the rail to maintain the support once the person is standing. This keeps the wrist in a neutral position. The rail can be placed at an angle of 45 degrees up and away from the user. Rails set at an angle can help a person who needs a steadying support - e.g. Vertical rails may assist when pulling up into a standing position or for just maintaining balance. Most people find it easier to push down on a rail rather than pull on one, so horizontal rails are more commonly used. Horizontal rails may help when pushing up from sitting and provide support when lowering, e.g. They can be fixed in a horizontal or a vertical position, or at an incline or angle. Straight rails are wall-fixed rails which run in one direction only. The main types are briefly introduced below, before going into greater detail about grab rails and their use in specific areas of the home. They may be required if your stair rail cannot be attached straight to the wall with angled brackets (perhaps because the wall is a partition wall or made of hollow bricks). Vertical supports for fixing stair rails support a stair handrail by attaching to your stair's tread and wall string. They provide a continuous grip as the user reaches the bottom or top of the stairs and turns the corner. Newel rails are designed to turn through 90 degrees around the newel post (the upright post/s of the stair banister). If a sudden movement is made, such as if you were to lose your balance, the rail/bar locks in position giving you a secure handhold. You hold the bar and move it gradually up/down while ascending or descending. Stair rails which move with the user are manual devices designed to assist you maintain your balance whilst walking up and down stairs. Stair and corridor rails have features which make them safer or easier for a person with a disability or an older person to use. At each end, the extension must return to a wall or the walking surface or continue to the handrail of an attached stair flight (sections 505.10.2 and 505.10.3).This section includes rails that can be used to provide support while climbing or descending the stairs. At the bottom of the stair flight, the handrail must extend at the slope of the stairs for at least equal to one tread depth beyond the last riser nosing. How far does a handrail need to extend?Īt the top of a stair flight, the handrail must extend parallel to the ground for 12 inches minimum starting above the first riser nosing. In assembly areas, extensions are not required where aisles provide access to seating (sections 505.10.2 and 505.10.3). Handrail gripping surfaces must extend beyond and in the same direction of stairways, although extensions are not required for inside turns in switchback or dogleg configurations. Extensions Do handrails need to extend past the stairway? One exception is that handrails do not have to be continuous in assembly areas on aisles with access to seating, such as a theatre (section 505.3). Handrails must be continuous within the full length of each flight of a stairway, including switchback or dogleg configurations. Do handrails need to be continuous within stairways? One exception is assembly areas where a handrail is provided within the aisle width or at either side of the aisle (section 505.2). Handrails are required on both sides of a stairway. Do I need to provide a handrail on both sides of a stairway? The standard does not apply to more uncommon stairway configurations such as alternating tread devices, ship’s ladders, and aisle stairs in assembly areas (section 210). You are required to provide an ADA compliant handrail in an interior or exterior stairway if it is the only option for entering or leaving an area. General Questions Do I need an ADA handrail in my stairway? This article only covers regulations unique to handrails on stairways. For more information on best practices and a summary of general ADA handrail requirements, see our guide to handrails here. A complete list of ADA requirements can be found at or a more accessible version at Handrails are only required for stairways and ramps, but it’s best practice to install a handrail in areas where people may be at risk of falling. We hope that this article provides a brief overview of ADA regulations for handrails specific to stairways. If you’re designing a building with plans for stairs, you may find yourself uncertain about requirements for handrails that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
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