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How high should deck stair rails be?

How high should deck stair rails be?

For straight railing, the IRC requires guardrails to be at least a 36″ railing height. Stair railing is a bit different and must be 34″ high, which is measured from the nosing of the stair tread to the top of the rail.

How high is a guard rail on a deck?

36 inches
The deck guardrail height should be a minimum of 36 inches, as measured from the surface of the deck to the top of the rail. Some local municipalities have their own code requirements about guardrail height, so check with the building department to ensure it does not require a higher railing than 36 inches.

What is the code for railing on a deck?

Building codes vary, but most require a railing on decks more than 24 inches above the ground. A railing height requirement of 36 inches is common. If you’re using treated wood, make sure to use an end cut sealer on all the cuts to protect the exposed untreated wood.

Do deck stairs need 2 handrails?

Nope. You don’t need a handrail on both sides, but you may need a railing if your deck is higher than 30″. Many contractors construct a combo handrail and stair rail system, installed on both sides, to cover all safety requirements.

How high can my deck be without a railing?

30 inches
If your deck is below 30 inches, a railing is not required. With that said, if you choose to build a deck, even if it is only 24 inches off the ground, that is still high enough that even an adult could injure themselves.

Does my deck need a railing?

All decks higher than 30″ above grade must have a guardrail. The IRC requires guardrails to be at least 36″ in height, measured from the deck surface to the top of the rail.

Do my deck stairs need a railing?

If your deck is over 30 inches from the ground, then by law you need railings for the deck stairs. Low rise (aka floating) decks are less than 30 inches from grade and are exempt. Guardrails must be installed on a high deck or a balcony. Stair rails are a type of guardrail.

Do I need a handrail for 3 risers?

The building code does not refer to the number of “steps” but it does require a handrail when there are two or more “risers”. For clarification, a “riser” is the vertical portion of a stair. The “tread” is the top of a step. The handrail must be between 1-1/4″ and 2″ in diameter or provide equivalent graspability.

At what height do you need a railing?

In most cases, you are required to have a railing when the floor of your porch is 30 inches or more above grade. However, 30 inches can be a long to fall; therefore some codes may require railings if your porch is 15 or 24 inches above grade.

Do my deck stairs need a handrail?

What is the standard height of a stair rail?

In general, the railing for exterior stairs should be around 36 inches high. Most building codes require handrails for exterior stairs to be between 34 inches and 38 inches above the stair nosings. This means that a handrail’s height is measured from the top of the stair treads, or horizontal stepping members.

What is the OSHA height requirement for stair rail?

For stair rails being used as a handrail or separately installed handrails, OSHA requires an installed height of at least 36 inches, but no more than 37 inches.

What is the standard handrail height for stairs?

Public building codes typically mandate an interior handrail height of 30 to 37 inches for staircases located against a wall and 36 to 42 inches for staircases with open sides. This height allows people to easily grab the rail for stability while climbing up and down the stairs.

How tall are stair railings?

A stair rail must be between 34 and 38 inches above the top of the stair tread at all times to meet United States building code requirements.