How To Look At A House
McGarry and Madsen's home inspection blog for buyers of
site-built, mobile/manufactured and modular homes
How long should a stair handrail be?
Saturday, March 28, 2020
A handrail must be continuous for the entire length of a stair, from directly above the top riser to directly above the bottom riser, and terminate (die into) the adjacent wall or a newel post, per International Residential Code (IRC 311.7.8.2). It can, of course, extend longer into the landings. Top of the handrail is required to be 34 to 38-inches above edge or nosing, it must be easily grippable, and a minimum 1-1/2-inches away from wall.
Also, see our blog posts What is the difference between a handrail and a guardrail? and What is a grippable handrail? and How many exterior steps require a handrail? and When is a handrail required on both sides of stairs?
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Here’s links to a collection of our other blog posts about STAIRS:
• What do home inspectors check when inspecting stairs?
• Is a landing always required at the top and bottom of stairs?
• When is a railing required at stairs?
• What is the building code for the minimum height of stair steps (risers)?
• When is a nosing required on a stair tread?
• What is the building code requirement for receptacle outlets at stairs and stair landings?
• Are open stair risers acceptable?
• What is the steepest residential stair allowed?
• Why is a single step dangerous in a house?
• Do I need stairs at all exit doors from a mobile home?
• The stairs feel too steep. What's the building code?
• What is the longest stair run allowed?
• What is the lighting requirement for stairs?
• A light is required over a stair after how many steps/risers?
• When is safety glass required for windows at stairs and stair landings?
Visit our STAIRS page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.
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