What are the regulations for handrails in the UK?

Arc Metal always adheres to the latest industry regulations whilst fabricating and installing handrails. There are regulations surrounding handrails which must be adhered to in order to help keep people safe. Regulations advise handrails should be fitted between 900 mm-1000 mm from the floor or the pitch line of the stairs. A staircase must have a handrail wherever there's a drop of more than 600mm (typically, this is two steps on traditional staircases); staircases more than 1 metre in width require a handrail on either side. For wall-mounted handrails, the handrail must be installed 75mm from the wall so that users can grip it fully. Read our guide to regulations here.

What is the British Standard for Handrail Design?

UK Building Regulations specify handrails on stairs and landings should start 300mm before the first riser and extend beyond the top riser by 300mm. When fixed to a wall, they should be 50 to 75mm off the wall with a diameter between 32mm and 50mm.

What are the Design Guidelines for Handrails?

Handrails should be 34"-38" high, have a diameter of 1.25"-2", ensure a minimum clearance of 1.5" from walls, not project more than 4.5", and be placed within 30" of each other across the stair width.

How do you Layout Handrails?

Handrails should be mounted at a height between 900mm and 1000mm above the stair or ramp pitch line, with a minimum of 1100mm on landing areas and balconies. Circular handrails should have a diameter between 32mm and 50mm.

What Side of the Stairs Should a Handrail be on?

For staircases more than 1 metre wide, handrails are required on both sides. For staircases less than 1 metre wide, a handrail on one side is sufficient. Where the staircase is wider than 2m then the staircase should be split into flights that are a minimum of 1000mm wide with a handrail on both sides. For a staircase of 2m this would mean a handrail to the left side, right side and in the middle.

What is the Best Steel for an Outdoor Railing System?

There are an array of options when it comes to using steel for your outdoor railing system, the best options are covered in this article here.

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