California Building Code Guardrail Requirements

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At California Railing, we ensure that our handrails meet all necessary safety standards. Here’s a summary of the key handrail requirements for residential and commercial projects:

Height Standards:

• Handrails must be between 34 inches and 38 inches tall, measured from the stair tread nosing or the finished surface of a ramp.

Handrail Dimensions:

• Circular Handrails: Should have an outside diameter of 1¼ inches to 2 inches.
• Non-Circular Handrails: Must have a perimeter of 4 inches to 6¼ inches, with a maximum cross-section dimension of 2¼ inches. All edges should have a minimum radius of 0.01 inches.
• The surface must be smooth and free from sharp corners for a safe grip.

Continuity:

• Handrails must run continuously along the full length of stairways and ramps, except in specific cases:
  • In dwelling units, handrails can be interrupted by a newel post at landings.
  • Volutes or turnouts are allowed on the lowest tread in residential units.

Return Requirements:

• Handrails should return to a wall, guard, or the walking surface. If there are gaps between handrail runs, they must extend horizontally at least 12 inches beyond the top and bottom of ramps.

Clear Space:

• There should be a clear space of at least 1½ inches between the handrail and any adjacent wall or surface, which should also be free of sharp edges.
• On ramps, the distance between handrails must be a minimum of 36 inches.

Projections:

• Projections from handrails should not exceed 4.5 inches at or below the handrail height.

Intermediate Handrails:

• Stairways must have intermediate handrails positioned so that all areas of the stairway width required for safe egress are within 30 inches of a handrail.

For more information or to discuss your project needs, contact us today!