Recommended Stair Railing Height

The irc requires guardrails to be at least 36 in height measured from the deck surface to the top of the rail.
Recommended stair railing height. The international residential code for one and two family dwellings irc and the international building code ibc address staircase railings. If you choose to install a guardrail on a deck lower than 30 you must still meet code requirements. In addition to a railing s height the space between the wall and the railing known as the railing s clearance is also important. How to choose the stair railing height so your design is up to code.
The minimum height of the railing varies based on the height of the deck. Decks attached to single family detached homes are regulated under the rules of the international residential code irc. Step 3 below shows how to find this wall mounted handrail height point at the top of the stair. Building codes and ada regulations require a minimum clearance of 1 5 inches when railings are attached to a wall rather than vertical posts that are part of the stairway.
Guards are required when then deck is 24 60 cm above grade. Guard railings must also follow approved guidelines. These are two model codes and are offered as suggested guidelines for local code authorities to follow at their discretion. 34 to 38 34 to 38 28 with a minimum of 9 clearance between the child and adult handrail 30 to 38 36 to 38 may also serve as guard 34 and 42 34 and 42 guard height.
Maximum 12 3 vertical height rise for a flight of stairs. Handrail height to be placed a minimum 34 inches to 38 inches. Handrail graspability to be either type i or ii with a minimum 1 1 2 inch clearance from a wall. Above the front edge of the stair nosings.
We chose 36 in. Canada residential rail height and dimensions. Stair hand railings must also not have any protruding edges that can cause potential injury either. There are also tread and riser laws too.
Irc stair railing code. When designing or building a staircase we focus mostly on the big things more exactly the actual staircase and we tend to ignore the details such as the railing forgetting that there s a building code which we need to respect. Maximum 7 3 4 inch stair riser height. Minimum 10 inch stair tread depth with nosing or minimum 11 inches with no nosing.
See enclosed figure 2 for an example of a stair rail system installed after january 17 2017. Decks 24 to 5 10 180 cm need 36 guards and anything above 5 10 requires a 42 high railing. To meet building code requirements the stair railing should be mounted so that the top of the handrail height is 34 to 38 in.