Can both railings turn immediately at top of stair?

[gnarkill283]

Can both railings turn immediately at top of stair to return to walls, meaning they don't extend a foot at the top?

 

[NCRooster]

Handrails need to extend 12" in the same direction of travel as the stair before returning to a wall / floor / post. Having the railings turn before the 12" extension isn't allowed, though it's certainly something that slips through frequently.

2020 BC NYS 1014.6: Where handrails are not continuous between flights, the handrails shall extend horizontally not less than 12" beyond the top riser and continue to slope for the depth of one tread beyond the bottom riser. [...] The extensions of handrails shall be in the same direction of the flights of stairs at stairways.

2017 ICC A117.1 505.10: Handrails shall extend beyond and in the same direction of stair flights and ramp runs. [...] At the top of a stair flight, handrails shall extend horizontally above the landing for 12" minimum beginning directly above the landing nosing. At the bottom of a stair flight, handrails shall extend at the slope of the stair flight for a horizontal distance equal to one tread depth beyond the bottom tread nosing. Extensions shall return to a wall, guard, or the landing surface, or shall be continuous to the handrail of an adjacent stair flight.

 

[BN4537]

Only in IRC one-and-two family homes and townhouses. Anywhere else will either have the IBC, the ADA, or the Fair Housing Act applied, and all require the 12" referenced above.

 

[NCRooster]

My understanding (others feel free to chime in) is that the handrail extension length is important because someone who has difficulty with stairs needs that support while they are taking that last step onto the landing and vice versa, and that the direction of the extension is important because it lets someone who is visually impaired know that they are approaching a stair / ramp. No extension increases fall risk at the transition, and an extension in the wrong direction may confuse someone about the actual location of the stair.

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

Only in IRC one-and-two family homes and townhouses. Anywhere else will either have the IBC, the ADA, or the Fair Housing Act applied, and all require the 12" referenced above.

And ICC/ANSI A117.1

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

Can both railings turn immediately at top of stair to return to walls, meaning they don't extend a foot at the top?

No.

 

[jar546]

Is it possible this thread should be in Accessibility?

 

[steveray]

Is it possible this thread should be in Accessibility?

Possibly...but it is in our Ch. 10...

1014.6 Handrail Extensions​

Diagram
Handrails shall return to a wall, guard or the walking surface or shall be continuous to the handrail of an adjacent flight of stairs or ramp run. Where handrails are not continuous between flights, the handrails shall extend horizontally not less than 12 inches (305 mm) beyond the top riser and continue to slope for the depth of one tread beyond the bottom riser. At ramps where handrails are not continuous between runs, the handrails shall extend horizontally above the landing 12 inches (305 mm) minimum beyond the top and bottom of ramp runs. The extensions of handrails shall be in the same direction of the flights of stairs at stairways and the ramp runs at ramps.

 

[tbz]

Is it possible this thread should be in Accessibility?

Though handrail extensions are first thought of as accessibility requirements, the IBC is footed with the same requirements, though not as precise.

IMO it should stay here first, as the IBC is the main document, then A117.1 for building department review and inspection & for the end user 2010ADA.

We got the wording revised to be more clear of the intent of the requirement in the 2024 edition in section 1014.7 & then refined it more recently 3 months ago in the first committee hearing in Orlando, approved "AM" with proposal E83-24 for the 2027 publication.

Good location IMO