Guards and Handrails

1. • Guards & handrails are provided on one or both sides of the stairs to prevent falls over the open side.
• Means of egress that are more than 30 in above the floor or grade below shall be provided with guards
to prevent falls over the open side.
• Stair and ramps shall have handrails on both sides.
GUARD & HANDRAILS

2. Handrails:
 Handrails shall be provided within 30 in of all portions of the required egress width of stairs. The
required egress width shall be provided along the natural path of travel.
 According to BNBC, Where the width of the stair exceeds 2.2m, intermediate handrails shall be
provided so that no point on the stair is farther than 1 m from the handrails.
 Required handrails shall continue for the full length of each flight of stairs. At turns of new stairs, inside
handrails shall be continuous between flights and landings.
 Handrails shall be not less than 34 in. and not more than 38 in. above the surface of the tread
measured vertically to the top of the rail from the rail from the leading edge of the tread.
GUARD & HANDRAILS

3.  New handrails shall provide a clearance of not less than 1.5 in (3.8 cm) between the handrail and the
wall to which is fastened.
 Handrail shall have a circular cross section with an outside diameter of not less than 1.25 in (3.2 cm)
and not more than 2 in ( 5 cm).
GUARD & HANDRAILS

4. Guards:
 The height of guards shall be measured vertically to the top of the ground from the surface adjacent to.
 Guards height shall not be less than 42 in.( 3ft 6 in.)
 Existing guards within dwelling units shall be limited to not less than 36 in high.
GUARD & HANDRAILS