What should be the height of the railing on the stairs according to GOST?

Almost every day, many of us have to use the stairs: go down the steps in high-rise buildings, go into offices or shops, go up the stairs at school or university, or go down the steps in the underpass. For all these structures, certain rules are provided that regulate not only the dimensions of the steps, but also the height of the railing.

Climbing or descending the stairs, many involuntarily begin to look for a handrail to hold on to it and feel completely safe. Many have not even thought about what should be the height of the railing, and in fact the safety of pedestrians walking up the steps depends on it. Railings are special fences that are vertical on the stairs and set them along the edge of the march to provide support for people ascending or descending.Residents of high-rise buildings know how difficult it is to climb the upper floors without additional support. Going down the stairs often requires additional support. This applies to older people, young children and residents who have health problems, because dizziness or other problems can often occur during the descent or ascent.

Moving up the stairs, the young man will quickly descend or ascend, and the elderly have to slowly climb the stairs, and the railing will serve them not only for convenience, but also for safety in case of a possible fall. In case of loss of balance, a person should be able to quickly grab onto the fence. The height of the railing is determined by special state standards, it should provide convenience and safety during movement.. In addition, the railing, in addition to the protective function, and perform decorative, many stairs are equipped with luxurious wrought or carved railing. Thanks to this finish, the designs sometimes look just gorgeous.

Railing stairs consist of elements such as:

• from the handrail. On the handrail lower hand while driving on the stairs.The handrails are installed both on the one side and on both sides of the march, they are fixed to the balusters or directly to the wall;
• from balusters. Balusters are called posts that serve as a support for handrails. They perform the carrier function, are a decorative element;
• fastener systems. Thanks to the fasteners system, the railing will be securely fastened;
• main supports.

For the manufacture of railings using various materials. Fencing can be made of the following materials:

• wood;
• metal;
• PVC;
• bricks;
• combined materials.

Quite often you can see designs made of wood or metal. With the help of openwork forms made of metal, you can give the design a very interesting look, and when choosing a wooden railing - home warmth and comfort. Therefore, when choosing a structure, it is necessary to take into account for what purposes and in what place it will be located. If we consider the metal stairs, for their manufacture most often use steel, it is often possible to see the construction of cast iron, iron, brass, aluminum. When choosing aluminum, it should be noted that it is not suitable for creating a solid structure.Although the advantage of this choice can be called the fact that aluminum products are not afraid of corrosion and are easy to install.

Usually aluminum railings are prefabricated, they are chosen for premises where gentle operating conditions are foreseen. If the choice fell on a product of stainless steel, you should know that you can use them both indoors and for outdoor stairs. Often you can see the combined type of stairs, which consist of wooden handrails and racks, made of stainless steel. An excellent option could be a fence, where the handrails will be made of stainless steel, and the filling will be of glass. Stainless steel railings look no less impressive for the stairs. Stylish and look elegant forged designs that are particularly decorative.

Wooden products remain the most popular, wood is used for the manufacture of railings. In the event that the fence is made of another material, it is worth to use wooden handrails or options made of PVC,which will mimic the tree. But many people choose wood products because they can be purchased at an affordable price. Thanks to the attractive appearance of the wood, you can make beautiful handrails that will be pleasant to the touch.

Along with the main advantages, it is worth mentioning the disadvantages of using wood for the manufacture of handrails. First of all, such products will not be durable, because this material is susceptible to temperature changes, to high humidity. When choosing valuable tree species for the railing should be paid quite expensive. To extend the life, you should choose the highest quality materials. It is possible to protect woodwork using surface treatment with special means.

In the design process and when creating a ladder design, the basic parameters are taken, with special attention being paid to the height of the railing. Dimensions for stair railings are specified in certain regulatory documents. If the ladder is being constructed for a private house, only basic regulatory documents are sufficient, namely:

• GOST 23120-78;
• SNiP IV – 14–84.

In that case, if the work is carried out to order, the dimensions of all elements must be coordinated both with the customer and with the authorities that give permission for the installation of stairs. According to the GOST and SNiP documents, stair railings should have certain dimensions and parameters. The minimum height of the railing according to GOST is 90 cm, so this should be the height when installing structures in offices, homes, shops or administrative institutions. According to the GOST documentation, structures that have more than three steps should be equipped with handrails.

If the width of the structure is less than 1.25 m, fences may be installed only on one side, and on the other, the structure may adjoin the wall. When the staircase has less than three steps, the railing can not be installed. If the width of the structure is larger, then the railing should be installed on both sides. In that case, if the staircase has a very large width, about 2.5 m, then the fences are installed on the sides and in the center.When studying the height of products, it should be noted that the height of the railing for the stairs in a private house may differ from the height of the fences in public institutions. This is explained by the fact that in a public building or in an educational institution the permeability of people is very large, therefore, special attention is paid to the safety of those passing. The height of the fence may be different, but it must fulfill its function - to serve the safety of movement of people on the march.

When the stairs are installed in a private house, it is necessary to take into account the growth of people living in the house. To determine the optimal height, take the length of the segment from the floor to the palm of the tallest person in the room, such parameters will be the most convenient. If we talk about preschool institutions, then the height of the railing in them according to the standards of SNiP and GOST should be about half a meter. Often, in kindergartens, railings are installed for both children and adults. Railings intended for children should have a height of 0.5 m, and the height of the fence for adults should be 90 cm.

Certain requirements also apply to ladders that are installed in primary schools.Children from the age of six are very active, and therefore finding them on the stairs should be the safest and most comfortable. For this reason, the height of the fence should be at least 1.2 meters. For schools and boarding schools, where children study with various pathologies, including mental pathologies, the height of the fences in relation to the marches should be 1.8 meters. In case a metal grid is taken for the construction, then the standard height is 1.5 meters.

You should also take into account the distance between the balusters. In rooms where there are children, it should be about 20 cm. The distance should not be large so that the child accidentally could not fall out. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that children may accidentally get stuck between balusters. There are also certain requirements for the width of the handrails. It should not be less than 3 cm, at the same time, the width of the handrail is not made more than 7 cm. The only exception is the front staircase, where deviation from the standard width is allowed. For front staircases, the width can be more than 7 cm. The distance between the balusters should be no more than 0.5 meters, since with a larger distance there can be a sagging of the handrail.

The width and height of the railing should be chosen according to the relevant regulatory documents. The numerical value of the dimensions of the stair railing must be in a strictly defined order. When designing the stairs in buildings, they choose not only the size value, but also consider the following:

• for what purposes the building or construction is provided;
• its functions - for what purposes the ladder is provided;
• the number of people who will use this design;
• installation of a special staircase for people with disabilities;
• material for the manufacture of structures.

When installing the ladder, it is necessary to take into account that it can be used by people with disabilities and people with disabilities, so this design should be adapted to their needs.

When determining the standard height of the railing, the following points should be considered:

• maximum height can be up to 1, 2 meters;
• Do not allow differences in the size of the railing in a residential building;
• no difference in height and depth of fencing in public buildings such as a kindergarten, school;
• for a spiral staircase the height of the fence should not be more than 1.2 meters.

In a private house, yard stairs are often constructed, which have the following varieties:

• ladder, which is constructed by giving the necessary slope on the ground;
• ladders for installation of which use side boards;
• construction of concrete, which is installed on the base of gravel;
• staircase with steps of brick.

Constructing these structures, follow the same dimensions and ratios stipulated in the documents that regulate the parameters of the stairs in a residential house.

When choosing the material and height for the railing should be guided by the feedback of experienced craftsmen. The material is chosen according to the chosen style. For example, if the room is made in the Baroque style, then for such a building it is better to choose forged products, due to which the construction will immediately become richer and transform the entire room. If the room is made in the style of high-tech or loft, you should choose a fence made of stainless steel or glass. The forged railing looks very nice, the novelty is vinyl fencing, which is made of PVC.There are ready-made fences for sale, which are immediately selected for the type of stairs.

When selecting finished products for fencing, it is considered that the size of the railing complies with the standards. PVC railings are fairly durable, since their internal frame consists of galvanized metal. The plastic layer protects the entire structure from the adverse effects of the environment, protects against corrosion and interaction with chemicals. The material does not fade in the sun, has a large variety of colors, has the ability to simulate any material.

Constructing the ladder and choosing the height of the fence, it is necessary to follow the established rules in accordance with GOST and SNiP, as this will ensure reliable protection and safety of people on it. In addition, when checked by regulatory authorities, the height of the railing for stairs, the design should not cause complaints. For residential premises it is important to properly maintain the distance between the fence and the risers. In addition, the parameters for the stairs should be as follows:

• for the stairs they usually take a slope of 80–85%;
• The recommended height of the first step and the riser is 14–17 cm; according to the standards, the height should be 12–20 cm;
• tread width according to the standards is 20–40 cm, usually it is 28–30 cm;
• one step and two risers in the sum are equal to the step of a person, that is, they are 60–65 cm in size.

If you follow all these basic rules, you can ensure that the stairs will be convenient and comfortable. The correct height of the fence will ensure durability, and last but not least, its safety.

You will learn more about the finer points of choosing the height of the railing in the following video.