Are handrails required on deck stairs?
So whether you’re constructing a residential composite deck, lumber deck or a deck made from other decking material, you’re typically required to install a graspable secondary handrail on one side of the deck’s stair railing when there are four or more stair risers present.
Do I need handrails on both sides of deck stairs?
Do I Need Handrails On Both Sides of Deck Stairs? 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.
What is the height of handrail on deck stairs?
between 34 and 38 inches high
Deck stair railing should stand at least 34 inches high, measuring vertically from the nose of the stair tread to the top of the rail. The IRC specifies that deck stair railing should measure between 34 and 38 inches high, so homeowners may wish to use railing that is even higher than 34 inches for their deck stairs.
How wide can stairs be without a handrail?
The clear width of 48 inches (1219 mm) between handrails is not required for exit stairways accessed from a horizontal exit. The width of stairways shall be determined as specified in Section 1005.1, but such width shall not be less than 44 inches (1118 mm). See Section 1007.3 for accessible means of egress stairways.
Do outdoor stairs need a railing?
Exterior stair railing code The open side can be along the length or width of the stairway. This means that exterior stairs will require a guardrail and / or handrail along the open side.
How far apart are deck railing posts?
U.S. building code requires support posts for the rail structure to be no further apart than 6 feet on a deck with 4×4′ deck rail posts and no more than 8 feet apart for decks with 6×6′ deck rail posts. Posts should be no further apart than 5.5 feet on stairs.
Do I need 1 or 2 handrails?
Stairways which serve an individual dwelling unit must have a handrail on one side if they have four risers or more. Such stairways with fewer than four risers are not required to have handrails. Handrails projecting from a wall shall have not less than 1 1/2 inches between the wall and handrail.