Q&A on accessible path of travel, stairs, handrails, guardrails

 

When do we need a interim rail on stairs – Monumental stairs (the main path of exit should have rails on both sides)

Where the required exit width is wide you need intermediate rails. Each hand rail can serve 30” of exit width, so you can have a single pair of handrails serve up to 60” of exit width. (60” = 300 people of exit width).

When do we need the tighter coverage (4” openings) and when we can just have an intermediate horizontal rail Where the fall distance on the other side of the rail is 30” or more.

At maintenance stairs / ramps (no public) the opening between rails cannot allow the passage of a 21” sphere in place of 4” sphere (typical requirement).

How long the level landing rail at the bottom of the stairs needs to be Extension of the handrail at the end of a stair run is 12” plus the length of the typical tread. (Ramp handrail extension is 12”)

What the clearance are for path of travel.

Sidewalk = 48” CLR, Cut Thru Islands = 48” CLR, inside building path of travel = 36” CLR,