Stair Handrail Requirements Ada

Ada stair design specifications ada stair specifications for stair handrailing compliance with the americans with disabilities act.
Stair handrail requirements ada. Minimum 36 inch clear width for stairway. In the united states stair specifications for accessible stairways and safe climbable steps and handrailings are discussed by the americans with disabilities act section 4 9 stairs provided and illustrated here. Stair treads shall be no less than 11 in 280 mm wide measured from riser to riser. The 2010 standards provide more flexibility than the 1991 standards as follows.
This guide explains requirements in the ada standards for stairways. Stair and ramp handrail requirements for children ada ramp and handrails requirements are different for children or when children are the principle users in a building or facility such as an elementary school requiring all of the ada handrail specifications for adults and a second set of handrails at a lower height for children. Maximum 4 1 2 inch handrail projection into stairway width on either side. The 1991 standards at sections 4 8 5 4 9 4 and 4 26 and the 2010 standards at section 505 contain technical requirements for handrails.
Handrails are not required on walking surfaces with running slopes less than 1 20. Required compliance interior and exterior stairs that are part of a required means of egress must meet the standards. Stairs required to be accessible by 4 1 shall comply with 4 9. So this basically sums up the basic code requirements for residential stairs and their dimensions.
4 9 2 treads and risers. Therefore let us recap on the residential stair code requirements. They are required on both sides of stairs and ramps. If you choose to place a handrail in another area such as a corridor it must meet the handrail.
While the finer details will ultimately be influenced by your local government s building regulations the international building code the international residential code and the standards set by the americans with disabilities act of 1990 maintain that exterior stairs that are a required point of egress in other words stairs that must be crossed on your way in and out of the building. Open risers are not permitted. The department of justice published revised regulations for titles ii and iii of the americans with disabilities act of 1990 ada in the federal register on september 15 2010. Required compliance 210 stairways 504 handrails 504 6 505 common questions.
The requirements for stair and ramp handrails in this document are for adults. When children are the principal users in a building or facility e g elementary schools a second set of handrails at an appropriate height can assist them and aid in preventing accidents. A handrail is required on stairs with two or more risers and ada ramps with a rise of 6 inches. Summary of code requirements for residential stairs.