What height should a stair handrail be?

(6) The height of handrails shall be not more than 37 inches (94 cm) nor less than 30 inches (76 cm) from the upper surface of the handrail to the surface of the tread, in line with the face of the riser at the forward edge of the tread.

Is horizontal railing safe?

In a cable railing system, the cables can be oriented horizontally or vertically. Horizontal cables can be dangerous for children (and children-at-heart), who might view the cables like rungs of a ladder and attempt to climb up. For this reason, some jurisdictions don’t allow horizontal railings.

What is code for horizontal deck railing?

Minimum Height Guards are required on decks where a point 36 inches horizontally from the edge is more than 30 inches above the ground. The job of a guard is to keep people from falling off a deck or staircase, and the number one feature allowing a guard to perform this service is its height.

What is the proper height of a stair rail?

Proper Height. A stair rail must be between 34 and 38 inches above the top of the stair tread at all times to meet United States building code requirements. It should also extend a foot before and after the stairs, for added safety.

How to measure the height of a stair rail?

Mark with a pencil where the top of any existing railing lines up with the wall.

What is the average height of a stairway railing?

This includes meeting building code requirements that pertain to stair dimensions and railings. In general, the railing for exterior stairs should be around 36 inches high.

What is the required height for railing on basement stairs?

The installed height should be between 36 and 38 inches to meet building codes. If there is any doubt as to the code requirements in your area, contact your local municipal office for specific handrail requirements before installing a basement stairway handrail. Measure up 36 inches from the front edge of the bottom riser.