If the handrail is not circular and has more than a 6-1/4″ perimeter, then graspable finger recesses should be provided on both sides of the rail. If the handrail is not circular, it should have a minimum 4″ perimeter (not diameter) and a maximum 6-1/4″ perimeter. The handrail should have a minimum 1-1/4″ diameter and a maximum 2″ diameter if it is circular in shape. Handrail termination is important so clothes or equipment doesn’t get stuck on the end of the handrail, especially in emergency situations like fleeing a fire. The end of the handrail also needs to return to the wall, have newel posts, or safety terminals. The handrail also needs to be continuous from the top of the highest riser to the lowest riser. And there should be a minimum of 1-1/2 inches of clearance between the handrail and the wall. Handrails shall have a maximum projection from the wall of 4-1/2 inches. Handrail Projection, Clearance, and Continuity
#STAIR RAIL CODE ILLUSTRATED CODE#
The exterior stair railing code requirements has mostly the same code as indoor stairs (same riser and tread dimensions etc.) except that the composite materials used for deck stairs must conforms to ASTM standards. The top of the handrail is measured from the stair nosing, as if you drew a diagonal line across the top of the stairs. The stair railing height code in the IRC states that the minimum height is 34-inches and the maximum height is 38-inches. The IRC states that if there are four or more risers, then handrails are required. Stair railings are very important to home inspectors, and I have called out numerous stairs that violate stair railing code such as missing handrails. The width of the landing must not be less than the width of the stairs.Īlso, the horizontal slope of landings shouldn’t be more than a 2% slope gradience. Landings also make it easier to make turns onto a level or a different stair direction. One reason is that if there is a fall, you will only fall down the stairs a certain distance before hitting a landing. Landings are required at the top and bottom of stairs.
Nosings are also not required if the stair treads are 11-inches or greater. Similar to the risers and treads, there shouldn’t be more than a 3/8″ difference between the length of the nosings. According to the IRC, the nosing shall have a minimum depth of 3/4″ and a maximum depth of 1-1/4″ depth. Stair nosings usually have a circular or beveled edge. The stair nosing is the portion of the tread that sticks out beyond the riser. The maximum vertical rise of stairs according to the IRC shall be 151″ or about 12.5-feet. Vertical rise is the total height of the stairs as measured between floors or landings. This rule also applies to landings as measured from any area on the landing to the ceiling. It is measured from the imaginary diagonal slope atop the stair risers or nosings. The minimum headroom as measured from the stairs to the top should be at minimum 6-ft and 8-in. The stairs to the basement had a ceiling protrusion that was probably around 5 feet and I repeatedly hit my head on the top. I recently did a home inspection on an old home with numerous additions. This rule will more likely be an issue on older homes that I inspect, and they are usually grandfathered into existing code due to age. Basically, this rule helps prevent people banging their head when using the stairs. Headroom is the space required from the stairs to the ceiling.
If there are handrails on both sides, then the minimum width of the rails should be at least 27-inches below the handrails. The minimum stair width above the handrail and below the ceiling shouldn’t be less than 36 inches.īelow the handrail, the minimum width should be at least 31.5 inches if there is one handrail. Read Also: 7 Things That Fail A Home Inspection Basically, if there are no risers, then a child’s head shouldn’t be able to pass through above than 30″ point from the ground. If the stairs has open risers, then anywhere above 30″ from the floor should not permit a sphere of 4-inch diameter to pass through. There shouldn’t be a height difference of more than 3/8″ between the tallest and shortest riser. Riser height should have a maximum height of 7-3/4 inch height (4-inch minimum). The longest tread versus the shortest tread shouldn’t be more than 3/8-inch. The treads (horizontal portions) of a stairs should be at minimum 10-inches long. Nevertheless, I have compiled the seven most important stair code requirements with some helpful pictures below: 1. Staircase code for residential homes can get pretty complex, and there are numerous exceptions within the IRC handbook as well as state code that can take priority.