tbz
Silver Member
Good morning All,
I have a project that I need clarification on and when I tried to search old posts, well I can't seem to find it, though I believe we have talked about it in the past on here.
Have a split stair going from 1st floor main office space to 2nd floor main office space, not required MOE, the stairs and 2nd floor opening is a wrap around glass guard. The handrails are drawn that when they reach the 2nd floor level that they turn prior to the required 12" extension in the same direction and then wrap completely around and then back down the stair flight.
Thus handrail comes up the stair flight levels off and continues to run 7 inches approximately and then turns left and then continues to run completely around the 2nd floor level opening, about 40 ft, turning 5 times before going back down the other side of the same stair flight.
Based on 2015 IBC 1014.6, handrails shall extend not less than 12" beyond the top riser and that required extension is not allowed to turn prior to reaching the 12 inch dimension. I posted the code section below for quick reference.
Now I am being told that the design professional and the sub-code official disagree with me and say that because the handrail is continuous and runs around the entire floor level and then goes back down the same stair flight that it does not need to have the required 12 inch extensions at the top of the stair flight.
So I ask how do you all see this code interp; are the handrails required to extend the 12 inches before turning or not? And provide a little commentary also, as it will help.
Thanks - Tom
2015 IBC 1014.6 as adopted by NJ
“1014.6 Handrail extensions. 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."
I have a project that I need clarification on and when I tried to search old posts, well I can't seem to find it, though I believe we have talked about it in the past on here.
Have a split stair going from 1st floor main office space to 2nd floor main office space, not required MOE, the stairs and 2nd floor opening is a wrap around glass guard. The handrails are drawn that when they reach the 2nd floor level that they turn prior to the required 12" extension in the same direction and then wrap completely around and then back down the stair flight.
Thus handrail comes up the stair flight levels off and continues to run 7 inches approximately and then turns left and then continues to run completely around the 2nd floor level opening, about 40 ft, turning 5 times before going back down the other side of the same stair flight.
Based on 2015 IBC 1014.6, handrails shall extend not less than 12" beyond the top riser and that required extension is not allowed to turn prior to reaching the 12 inch dimension. I posted the code section below for quick reference.
Now I am being told that the design professional and the sub-code official disagree with me and say that because the handrail is continuous and runs around the entire floor level and then goes back down the same stair flight that it does not need to have the required 12 inch extensions at the top of the stair flight.
So I ask how do you all see this code interp; are the handrails required to extend the 12 inches before turning or not? And provide a little commentary also, as it will help.
Thanks - Tom
2015 IBC 1014.6 as adopted by NJ
“1014.6 Handrail extensions. 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."