What are the regulations for handrails?

What are the regulations for handrails?

You should fit a handrail at a height between 900mm and 1000mm from the pitch line of the stairs, or the floor for landings. This is approximately 35.4–39 inches. Staircases require at least one handrail: If the stairs are less than 1m wide: provide a handrail on one or both sides.

Do outdoor steps need a handrail UK?

UK Regulations for Handrails & Balustrades Stairs do not need a handrail on the bottom two steps. In all the buildings handrail height should be between 900mm and 1000mm measured from the top of the handrail to the pitch line.

Do external steps need a handrail?

A handrail should be provided where the total rise of a flight of external steps is more than 600mm and the going of individual steps is less than 600mm.

What height should a handrail be?

In all public buildings, handrail height needs to be between 900mm and 1000mm – this is measured to the top of the handrail above the pitch line and floor.

Does my porch need a railing?

In most cases, you are required to have a railing when the floor of your porch is 30 inches or more above grade. However, 30 inches can be a long to fall; therefore some codes may require railings if your porch is 15 or 24 inches above grade.

What do you need to know about handrails in the UK?

Luckily, there are several guidelines written into UK building regulations regarding their use. Different regulations apply depending on the location of your handrail and its intended use. With this in mind, it’s important to go over the basic requirements before choosing which outdoor handrail is right for you.

How big should outdoor handrails be for stairs?

Outdoor handrails for steps and staircases. Some regulations cover all buildings when it comes to choosing handrails for steps and stairs. Others apply only to private homes or only to public buildings. Here’s what you need to know: All buildings. Handrails should be positioned 900mm to 1000mm from the surface of the step

When does requirement K1 apply outside a building?

0.3 Requirement K1 applies to means of access outside a building only when the access is part of the building (i.e. attached). For example, requirement K1 does not apply to steps on land leading to a building, but does apply to entrance steps which are part of the building.

When do handrails need to be protected by balustrade?

When a handrail forms part of a balustrade on an external balcony or decking, different regulations apply. The main points can be summed up as follows: Private homes – drops of over 600mm must be protected by a balustrade Public properties – drops of over 300mm must be protected by a balustrade