This allows everyone from homeowners to first responders to safely traverse a staircase without snagging clothing or equipment on a handrail and falling down a staircase.Īnother common code requirement you’ll hear about during a horizontal railing project covers load requirements, or a certain amount of pressure either applied to a specific point of a railing system or distributed throughout the system by linear foot. Code also requires handrails return into a wall or structural member of the railing system. Code requires handrails be mounted between 34 and 38 inches. Handrail refers to a graspable element of a railing system designed to assist you in ascending or descending a staircase. Be sure to check with your code official regarding your area’s guardrail height requirements. Code requires guardrail in residential structures be a minimum of 36 inches. A guardrail is typically required for stairs with 4-or-more risers, or for a deck or balcony with 30 inches above grade. Guardrail refers to the structural railing element that sits atop a railing system.
Handrail & guardrail are commonly confused as being the same component of a railing system. The rule states a 6 inch sphere should be unable to pass through this triangular gap. The exception to the 4 inch sphere rule is the gap created between the bottom run of infill and the 90 degree angle created where the rear of a stair tread meets a stair riser (consult the diagram above for reference). This is why Viewrail posts are drilled with holes 3 ⅛” center-to-center, to avoid any deflection exceeding 4 inches. The rule states that a 4” sphere should be unable to pass through any gap in a railing system. The 4 Inch Sphere Rule refers to naturally occurring gaps and spaces within a railing system. Additionally, if stairs are involved, you will hear the 6 inch Sphere Rule referenced.
In any guide to cable railing code, you’ll hear reference to the 4 inch Sphere Rule. Most often, horizontal railing systems are subject to the Sphere Rules, Handrail & Guardrail Height Requirements, and Load Requirements. We always recommend verifying your project details with a local code official before finalizing a project. While there are some standards for railing for both residential and commercial projects, local code presents minor differences that are important to consider. What are the Codes Affecting Cable Railing?Ī number of code stipulations will apply to your project given its environment: residential or commercial. Within this page, you’ll find helpful information about horizontal railing codes, and how Viewrail cable railing products are designed to exceed those code requirements without sacrificing on beautiful aesthetic and design. However, building code can be a challenge to navigate. When built to code, cable railing is a very safe option for railing.
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