graspable railing code

Graspable railings are an often misunderstood aspect of stair railing installations. Sometimes referred to as “grab rails”; graspable type railings must fall into certain specifications in order to qualify as such. They can be round or square as long as they fall into required dimension specifications. A variety of material types are acceptable. How to Determine When a Separate Grab Rail is a Must Can my top railing also be considered when a graspable railing is required? This is a great question and the answer is at times yes; however the top railing must fall into the diameter and height requirements that are required by each individual municipality. The most common dimension we encounter and provide is 1.5″x 1.5″ for square members or 1.5″ diameter for round members. A graspable rail should not be smaller than 1.25″ or greater than 1.875″ in diameter. (Always check local codes) Graspable rails can be constructed using a variety of wooden, steel, or stainless steel tubes or dowels. They can be attached with brackets or directly welded to railing members. In California, we have a standard 42″ height requirement for barrier rails, while grab rails need to fall between 34″ and 38″. This can be accomplished on some stairways by mounting a grab rail to a wall that opposes the railing section. It can also be done by attaching directly to the railing posts at the desired height. Do I need to install returns when a graspable railing is required? Once again the answer is yes; and there are some stipulations. A “return” creates a perpendicular attachment of the grab rail to prevent shirt sleeves from being caught on the graspable railing.  Most residential and light commercial railings can be returned directly in to walls or railing posts with a simple 90 degree member. ADA rails will often require the return to project a certain distance out in front of the railing post so it can be grabbed prior to accessing a ramp. San Diego Cable Railings fabricates wooden and steel grab railings to customers nationwide. For customers in California we offer installation services of stainless steel cable railings, glass railings and a variety of hybrid railing solutions. If you have questions about if and when a grab railing is required for your project; give us a call at 844-277-7327 or visit the quote request page.