Handrail Attachment

[Mech]

ANSI A117.1 - 2003

This is a proposed 2" pipe column (2-3/8" OD) with a 1-1/4" pipe handrail (1-5/8" OD) I have been asked to review. Does this comply or not?

I'm thinking it does not comply since the horizontal projection of the column occurs within 3/8" from the bottom of the handrail. Section 505.6 Gripping Surface, Handrail brackets or balusters attached to the bottom surface of the handrail shall not be considered obstructions, provided they comply with the following criteria --> Exception B - horizontal projections beyond the sides of the handrail occur 1-1/2" minumum below the bottom of the handrail . . .

Thanks in advance.

 

[alora]

ANSI A117.1 - 2003... Exception B - horizontal projections beyond the sides of the handrail occur 1-1/2" minumum below the bottom of the handrail . . .

I would think Exception C as well.

The depicted 135-degree angle is not rounded.

 

[alora]

I wonder why they'd rather not just order 2" O.D. pipe and be done.

 

[brudgers]

I wonder why they'd rather not just order 2" O.D. pipe and be done.

2" pipe sucks for accessibility - if you ever get a chance to actually see a railing with an actual OD between 1.25" and 1.5" you will realize why that was the original requirement in ADAAG. It is immensely more graspable than what the IBC allows and ADA was weakened to allow.

 

[steveray]

I'd agree w/ Brudgers on that...we build alot of Jeep stuff out of 2" and down tubing and the 2" is not nearly as nice to grab as 1.5"...and I am temporarily able bodied!

 

[imhotep]

ANSI A117.1 - 2003This is a proposed 2" pipe column (2-3/8" OD) with a 1-1/4" pipe handrail (1-5/8" OD) I have been asked to review. Does this comply or not?

I'm thinking it does not comply since the horizontal projection of the column occurs within 3/8" from the bottom of the handrail. Section 505.6 Gripping Surface, Handrail brackets or balusters attached to the bottom surface of the handrail shall not be considered obstructions, provided they comply with the following criteria --> Exception B - horizontal projections beyond the sides of the handrail occur 1-1/2" minumum below the bottom of the handrail . . .

Thanks in advance.

I concur. Requirement 1 b) is not met. The design does not provide an uninterrupted gripping surface.

 

[tbz]

The easy way to look at it is to simply draw 2 vertical lines, one each side of the widest portion of the handrail and then measure from below the handrail for 1.5".

As noted the design shown does not comply.

As to using the larger sized vertical supports/posts has to do with loads and spacing between supports.

The 2" pipe (2.375 O.D.) could not be used for the handrail anyway.