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Handrails - limit on lateral distance from walking surface?

N

nealderidder

Sawhorse
Joined
Dec 7, 2010
Messages
399
Location
Sacramento, CA
Good Morning all. I'm pondering some shop drawings and came across something I'm not sure about. There are plenty of regulations around handrails. Things like height, diameter, graspability, projection limits etc. But I'm not seeing a limit on how far away from the walking surface a handrail can be. There is certainly a practical limit, but is there any code limit? I'm talking about the 3-1/4" dimension on the attached. Is 3.25" too far? How about 6" or 8"?
 

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Oh yeah, good one Mark. I could nitpick that and say - 10" to the inside face of handrail? outside face? center?

But that 10" max does give me something to hang my hat on. Thanks!
 
I believe one of our guys submitted a 2024 change to put a dimension on it, but I do not remember what...somewhere between 4" and 9"
 
Those are ADA reaching distances and A117.1 as noted in post #5 a little there is nothing that addresses this issue on stairs and ramps specifically within any published model code of the ICC.

However in the Part "A" cycle more than a few proposal where submitted to establish a range, they were disapproved during committee action hearings, but a single version was approved at the final action hearings in Pittsburgh. I have to look up the specific code change, however that information and documentation will be published in the 2024 IBC, and as thus is coming but not currently adopted by any AHJ I am currently aware of with a local modification.
 
TheCommish said:
If this is a ramp where is the lower rail?
Click to expand...
Help me out - where is that in the IBC? I know it's required in some assembly aisle handrails, though there its original intent is to prevent cross-unders and hanging from the top rail.

Thank you!
 
Accessibility requirements drive the lower rail, unless for some reason this is not on an accessible route
 
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Neal, since you are located in Sacramento, I assume that this is a California project. CBC 11B-505.5 places limits on how far away a handrail can be "recessed" away from the walking surface. I've superimposed it on your original sketch:

1675716065643.png
 
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Yikes said:
Neal, since you are located in Sacramento, I assume that this is a California project. CBC 11B-505.5 places limits on how far away a handrail can be "recessed" away from the walking surface.
Click to expand...
? Yikes,

So Cali has added in a modification to chapter 11 accessibility section, how is it applied to areas outside of chapter 11?

I guess I am wondering why they didn't just drop it in chapter 10?

Nice to know this modification is out there though, was news to me.
 
The wording is a little off also for interpretation, as it says the recess can only be 3-inches, not the distance to the closest point of the handrail.

Symantec's I know, but questionable.
 
When the code is silent, we look at it from a different perspective using intent and purpose.
Given the minimum required width is provided between the handrails. (2018 IBC, Secdtion 1012.5.1)
and given that "Projections into the required width of aisles, stairways and ramps at each side shall not exceed 4 1/2 inches at or below the handrail (per IBC 1014.8), we allow no more than 4.5".
 
nealderidder said:
Good Morning all. I'm pondering some shop drawings and came across something I'm not sure about. There are plenty of regulations around handrails. Things like height, diameter, graspability, projection limits etc. But I'm not seeing a limit on how far away from the walking surface a handrail can be. There is certainly a practical limit, but is there any code limit? I'm talking about the 3-1/4" dimension on the attached. Is 3.25" too far? How about 6" or 8"?
Click to expand...
FHAG ANSI A117.1 1986 (4.8.5(6) ramps, 4.9.4(6) stairs= 30-34 inches. ADA 34 to 38 inches, (505.4). can you see where I am going. If you make it 34" Max to the top of the graspable (round) surface. You will meet both the ADA and FHA requirements.
 
nealderidder said:
Good Morning all. I'm pondering some shop drawings and came across something I'm not sure about. There are plenty of regulations around handrails. Things like height, diameter, graspability, projection limits etc. But I'm not seeing a limit on how far away from the walking surface a handrail can be. There is certainly a practical limit, but is there any code limit? I'm talking about the 3-1/4" dimension on the attached. Is 3.25" too far? How about 6" or 8"?
Click to expand...
For FHA it is 3" with the inside face of the graspable handrail in line with the wall below. see ANSI A117.1 1986 diagram 4.24 figure 39 (d) or ADA 505.5 and Figure 505.5. I don't understand the reference to the walking surface. you can go to the US Access boards website to see illustrations of the ADA requirements.
 
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