Minimum 36 inch clear width for stairway.
Stair railing width.
Ibc 1012 8 b intermediate handrails.
Whether you are purchasing individual components or an entire railing system there are a few measurements that are needed to ensure the railing purchased is a proper fit.
On ramps the clear width between handrails shall be 36 inches 914 mm minimum.
The guard may project into the required width below the handrail but not above it.
Definition of stairway width or stair width don t confuse stair width with stair depth stair tread width green arrow smaller than stairway width due to side trim boards stairway width blue arrow over most of this stairway nominally 36 or wider stairway width near stair top pink arrow.
Therefore let us recap on the residential stair code requirements.
Maximum 12 3 vertical height rise for a flight of stairs.
36 inches guards are the rails that protect users from falling off of high areas such as landings.
Minimum 6 8 headroom height clearance for stairway.
Guard railing minimum height.
Each set of stairs is unique.
Maximum 4 1 2 inch handrail projection into stairway width on either side.
The 31 1 2 inch minimum distance provides a full 4 1 2 inches more width than the double railing minimum.
Projections into the required width of stairways and ramps at each handrail shall not exceed 4 5 inches 114 mm at or below the handrail height.
The top of the handrail should be at least 34 inches.
Ensuring you have the correct dimensions is the first step in properly specifying any railing system.