Handrail | Continuous Graspability

[rosegamble]

Hello,

I am wondering if any of you know whether a circular handrail meeting requirements of Type 1 handrails for a commercial building is permitted to have vertical pickets at 3" on center or does the bottom of the rail have to be continuously free of obstruction? This isn't feasible because even if free of obstruction brackets would still be required at the bottom of the circular handrail to secure it to the wall. Per 1014.4 (3), balusters can be attached to the bottom surface of the handrail is they do not project horizontally past sides of the the handrail within 1.5" of the bottom of the handrail.

So... I am thinking it's allowed?

 

[bill1952]

Those pickets certainly do obstruct graspability and make a power grip difficult if not impossible. The ability to have your fingers extend under the rail and "hook" the rail is necessary for most falls in decent.

Whether a reviewer or official will ding you for it is another question.

 

[tbz]

Hello,

I am wondering if any of you know whether a circular handrail meeting requirements of Type 1 handrails for a commercial building is permitted to have vertical pickets at 3" on center or does the bottom of the rail have to be continuously free of obstruction? This isn't feasible because even if free of obstruction brackets would still be required at the bottom of the circular handrail to secure it to the wall. Per 1014.4 (3), balusters can be attached to the bottom surface of the handrail is they do not project horizontally past sides of the the handrail within 1.5" of the bottom of the handrail.

So... I am thinking it's allowed?

2010 ADA and ANSI A117.1 both cover this under section 505.6 Gripping surface.

Second Sentence

"The bottoms of handrail gripping surfaces shall not be obstructed for more than 20 percent on their length."

This is specifically centered around infill touch the bottom of handrails within the first 1.5"

So question is not so easy as can vertical pickets be set at 3" centerlines, one needs to know the size to count how many and any other vertical obstruction within the 1.5", add them all up, divide that number by the length and see if it hits 20% or larger.

If not, your good, if it does, then your are N/G.

That is the simple skinny...

 

[rosegamble]

Thanks for your input. What's your take on that exception then? It seems to suggest pickets/balusters can interrupt the bottom rail.

Those pickets certainly do obstruct graspability and make a power grip difficult if not impossible. The ability to have your fingers extend under the rail and "hook" the rail is necessary for most falls in decent.

Whether a reviewer or official will ding you for it is another question.

 

[RLGA]

One thing to keep in mind is that the height of a guard is higher than that of the handrail. So if the pickets form the guard, then something has to continue up to the required guard height and not stop at the handrail.

 

[rosegamble]

Got it! Thanks for the heads up about ADA/ANSI A117.1. No guardrail required here (we're close to grade).

 

[tbz]

Thanks for your input. What's your take on that exception then? It seems to suggest pickets/balusters can interrupt the bottom rail.

When you are next to a wall or guard, the common method of attachment is with a bracket.

The 1.5" is the starting point, (3) notes you can do it, and then the codes and standards allow for a reduction in the 1.5" distance of 0.125" for each 1/2" the perimeter of the handrail is greater than 4", the same in exception (2) in ADA and ANSI A117.1 section 505.6.

Thus, the vertical clearances for the most common type I handrails are as follows.

• 1.5" O.D. Circular Handrail is 4.7124" in perimeter
  • Thus the 1.5" is reduced to 1.375"
• 1.66" O.D. (1.25" SCHD40 Pipe) is 5.2150" in perimeter
  • Thus the 1.5" is reduced to 1.25"
• 1.9" O.D. (1.5" SCHD40 Pipe) is 5.9690" in perimeter
  • Thus the 1.5" is reduced to 1.125"

 

[tbz]

Can't edit forgot to reup Sawhorse:

The 1.5" you are noting is for when the horizontal can extend out past the vertical limits of the sides of the handrail.

See figure 505.6 in the 2010ADA at ADA.gov online. Scroll to 505.6 once linked to Section

 

[steveray]

One thing to keep in mind is that the height of a guard is higher than that of the handrail. So if the pickets form the guard, then something has to continue up to the required guard height and not stop at the handrail.

With about 5 exceptions most of which are R3 uses where it can do double duty....2015 IBC 1015.3

 

[RLGA]

With about 5 exceptions most of which are R3 uses where it can do double duty....2015 IBC 1015.3

I agree, but he did mention it was a commercial building, so I did not bother with the residential application.

 

[steveray]

But commercial commercial or commercial residential....?...lol

 

[ADAguy]

When you are next to a wall or guard, the common method of attachment is with a bracket.

The 1.5" is the starting point, (3) notes you can do it, and then the codes and standards allow for a reduction in the 1.5" distance of 0.125" for each 1/2" the perimeter of the handrail is greater than 4", the same in exception (2) in ADA and ANSI A117.1 section 505.6.

Thus, the vertical clearances for the most common type I handrails are as follows.

• 1.5" O.D. Circular Handrail is 4.7124" in perimeter
  • Thus the 1.5" is reduced to 1.375"
• 1.66" O.D. (1.25" SCHD40 Pipe) is 5.2150" in perimeter
  • Thus the 1.5" is reduced to 1.25"
• 1.9" O.D. (1.5" SCHD40 Pipe) is 5.9690" in perimeter
  • Thus the 1.5" is reduced to 1.125"

thank you for these