What is a stair handrail?
A handrail is the rail along a staircase that you hold while going up or down. It is fixed to the wall with handrail brackets or runs along the open side on top of a balustrade. A handrail is not the same as a guarding (balustrade or barrier): the guarding stops you falling off the stair or landing, while the handrail gives support and grip.
Regulations
Requirements for handrails, such as height, whether rails are needed on one or both sides, and how far they must extend, are set by national building regulations. In England, for example, they are covered by Approved Document K; other countries and states have their own codes. The exact values depend on the building type and stair width, so check the current rules with your designer or building control before you build.
What makes a good handrail
- Easy to grip: a round or oval profile that your hand can wrap around gives far more support than a wide, flat board.
- Continuous: run the handrail along the whole flight, ideally extending beyond the bottom and top steps.
- Clearance: leave enough space between rail and wall for hand and knuckles, including at the brackets.
- Ends: return the ends to the wall or round them off so clothing and bags do not catch.
- Second rail: for older people or people with limited mobility, a handrail on both sides adds a lot of safety.
Installation tips
- Fix brackets into masonry with suitable plugs and screws. In plasterboard without timber behind it, a standard plug is not enough; use cavity fixings rated for the load, or add noggins.
- Follow the manufacturer’s bracket spacing so the rail does not sag.
- After fitting, test the rail by pulling hard on it and leaning on it.
Related terms
- Balustrade
- Baluster
- Handrail wreath
- Walking line on a stair
- Landing
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