Educational Summary: Code Change Proposal RB110-22 (2024 IRC)

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The RB110-22 proposal focuses on consolidating and simplifying handrail requirements within the IRC by relocating and organizing scattered handrail provisions into a new section. The proposal affects various sections related to handrails for stairs and ramps, merging them under a single section for clarity and consistency, especially for residential applications.

Key Changes and Consolidations​

1. New Section for Handrails (Section R312):
   
   • A new Section R312 is introduced, solely dedicated to handrail requirements. This section consolidates requirements previously found in R311.7 (stairs) and R311.8 (ramps), making it easier for users to locate and interpret handrail standards.
   • The new R312 section standardizes requirements across stairs, ramps, alternating tread devices, and ship’s ladders, aiming to reduce redundancy and confusion.
2. Removal and Relocation of Specific Provisions:
   
   • Requirements that were previously duplicated in multiple sections have now been removed from R311.7 and R311.8 and relocated to R312:
     • R311.7.8.1 (Height) is now R312.2: Handrail height is defined with minor adjustments, standardizing measurements for all devices but clarifying height distinctions for alternating tread devices and ship’s ladders.
     • R311.7.8.2 (Projection) is now R312.3: Specifies the maximum handrail projection for both stairs and ramps, incorporating language to cover ramp projections explicitly.
     • R311.7.8.3 (Clearance) is now R312.4: Requires a minimum clearance between handrails and adjacent walls.
     • R311.7.8.4 (Continuity) is now R312.5: Ensures that handrails on both stairs and ramps are continuous, with specific exceptions for certain handrail terminations and turns.
     • R311.7.8.5 (Grip Size) is now R312.6: Standardizes handrail grip size to ensure graspability.
     • R311.7.8.6 (Exterior Composite Handrails) is now R312.7: Clarifies that exterior composite handrails must also meet requirements outlined in R507.2.2.
3. Removal of Ramp-Specific Handrail Requirements in R311.8:
   
   • The following provisions in R311.8 were deleted without substitution, as they are now consolidated in R312:
     • R311.8.3.1 (Height): Specific height requirements for ramp handrails were removed, aligning height standards across stairs and ramps under the new R312.2.
     • R311.8.3.2 (Grip Size): Grip size requirements for ramp handrails were deleted, as R312.6 now addresses these dimensions consistently across all handrails.
     • R311.8.3.3 (Continuity): Requirements for ramp handrail continuity, including handrail terminations, were struck out and replaced by the comprehensive continuity rules in R312.5.
4. Minor Text Edits for Consistency:
   
   • Language across sections was edited to ensure uniformity. For instance, in R312.5, the word "safety terminals" was replaced with precise language about handrail terminations: "shall be returned toward a wall, guard, walking surface continuous to itself, or terminate to a post."

Purpose of the Proposal​

The proposal aims to:

• Simplify and streamline the IRC by consolidating handrail requirements into one unified section, eliminating redundancies.
• Improve accessibility of code information, helping builders and inspectors find handrail provisions without navigating multiple sections.
• Clarify minor inconsistencies between handrail requirements for stairs and ramps, making the IRC more user-friendly.

Cost Impact​

This reorganization does not introduce any new material or construction costs, as it primarily consolidates and clarifies existing requirements. The only minor technical change is in R312.3 (Handrail Projection), which explicitly extends projection requirements to ramps, aligning them with stair handrail standards.

Public Hearing Results​

The ICC Committee approved RB110-22 as submitted, recognizing the benefit of consolidating handrail requirements into a single section. The committee appreciated the alignment with the International Building Code (IBC) egress format and the addition of needed clarifications.

This change provides a more accessible and logically organized IRC section for handrails, simplifying compliance while ensuring consistent safety standards across different egress devices.