Graphical Construction Glossary >> stairs. >> >> Stair Handrail Height

Stair Handrail Height

In stair building regulations the height of the handrails. In most jurisdictions not less than 865 measured from the nosing line.

Transition Zone

An exception to the landing and balcony rules to allow the sloping section of a handrail to merge freely with the horizontal section without the need for a vertical rise.

The sketches on this page refer to the Australian BCA for single use domestic dwellings, as of 2010 and I show it here only as an illustration of what to expect. Your regulations may differ slightly.

The height of the sloping handrail is measured vertically up from the nosing line to the top surface of the rail. It is a minimum height of 865 or 34". Some Regs also state a maximum height.

In the sketch above I show the height also of the level section of balustrade. (More on the next page) This is higher than sloping section and in previous regs we had to jump up from one height to the other at the edge of the landing. This created a vertical section which does not make for continuous hand railing so the legislators now allow us to continue the sloping section to the horizontal section. This is an exception to the handrail rules for landings and balconies etc and it is known as the transition zone.

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