Handrails
made simple

Q: 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.

Q: 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.

Q: 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.

Marry your balustrade, balcony, or staircase with a beautifully designed bespoke handrail.

Click here to view the gallery

Outdoor Bespoke Handrail Design to Installation

Arc Metal specialises in Bespoke Handrail Design, crafting custom solutions for every architectural need. From elegant balustrades to practical wall-mounted rails, our designs range from sleek flat to unique convex shapes, suitable for both indoor and outdoor settings.

Wall Mounted Handrails

Our wall-mounted handrails merge safety with style, tailored to fit any architectural design seamlessly.

Ground Fixed Handrails

Durable and reliable, our ground-fixed handrails are ideal for enhancing outdoor spaces with both function and form.

Flat Top Handrails

Designed for the modern aesthetic, our flat top handrails offer minimalist elegance, perfectly aligning with contemporary spaces.

Curved Handrail Systems

Our bespoke curved handrails provide a dynamic element to staircases and balconies, crafted to follow the natural flow of your space.

Convex Handrails

Unique in design, our convex handrails combine ergonomic comfort with visual appeal, making a statement in any setting.

Elevate Your Space with Our Bespoke Handrails & Staircases

Arc Metal’s handrails can be fabricated in accordance with your preferences, with several finishes available. Depending on the type of handrail selected, finishes include galvanised powder coated for industrial or external use, standard mirror polished metal finish, and plastic coated, typically used for commercial applications.

Our team can guide you through the design process, to ensure you receive a product which meets both design and performance requirements.

We offer a full turnkey service, meaning you don’t have to worry about a thing! Our team will take care of all stages - including design, fabrication and installation of your handrail. Whether you’re looking for a handrail, or the complete set including a staircase, balustrade and/ or balcony, Arc Metal takes on projects of all sizes across the UK.

We value the transparency of our services, upheld by constant communication with our customers, and always aim for total customer satisfaction in all that we do.

Start Your Bespoke Handrail Design Project Today

Unlock the door to bespoke elegance with Arc Metal Design.

Click here to be directed to our contact form. Simply fill it out, and one of our dedicated team members will be in touch shortly. We're here to ensure your vision is realised with precision and care, every step of the way.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bespoke Handrails

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.

What is the British Standard for Handrail Design?

What are the Design Guidelines for Handrails?

How do you Layout Handrails?

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.

The Gallery

Our latest projects

“ARC Metal Design provided excellent fabrication works I required for a property development. The works were complex and large. The ARC team were great, really good communication and project managed through from start to completion. ARC metal design really showed their value in overcoming problems that arose from an incomplete design provided to them this ensured my development remained on track with minimum fuss to me the client."

D Potter - Warwickshire

“We've had Juliet balcony installed and we are very happy with all the work Mark and Paul did for us. Mark and Paul are very friendly and knowledgeable. Good service and good contact from start to finish. Myself, my husband and our dog are three very happy customers. Highly recommended. Thank you."

“Brilliant job on new glass railings and double gates. Highly recommended."

C Pearce

“We had some balustrade and handrail work done in our garden. Great workmanship, good communication all the way through. Highly recommend this company."

N Chouhan

“Great company, these boys really know their stuff, Mike is a machine when it comes down to grafting, he really gets stuck in doing the work of 2 men. If you want reliability and quality work look no further."

Paul Ceney Barber Shop

“We struggled to find anyone to fit our balcony / balustrade for 4 years, as it was not a straightforward job. Paul and Mark took the time to find out what we needed / wanted and came over to look at the job. They were professional, friendly and not pushy. Their main concern was to ensure that they could do a quality job, that fitted within our budget and which complied with all the necessary regulations. What we now have is a fantastic new balustrade. Great job gents."

A Morton

“I used Arc Metal to supply and fit balustrades and handrails to my garden decking and stairs. I'm over the moon with the quality of workmanship, and their customer service is second to none. I'd highly recommend this company!"

C James

“Just wanted to say how pleased we are with the glass balustrade you have fitted for us on our raised terrace, it has really finished it off nicely. Thanks to you both for a lovey job done, very professional from start to finish. Would highly recommend."

J Stanley

“ARC Metal Design provided excellent fabrication works I required for a property development. The works were complex and large. The ARC team were great, really good communication and project managed through from start to completion.

ARC metal design really showed their value in overcoming problems that arose from an incomplete design provided to them this ensured my development remained on track with minimum fuss to me the client. Would definitely recommend."

D Potter

“Would like to say a massive thank you to Paul and Mark for a fantastic job they did replacing an old wooden picket fence with glass balustrade and handrail in our garden. This was not a straightforward job and they listened to our needs. They were professional and friendly and nothing was too much trouble. We are so pleased that we chose this company and cannot recommend them enough."

D Simpson

Handrails made simple