Stairs & Handrail Inspection

According to the Ontario Building Code, the height of the handrail is required to be between 800 mm (2 ft 7 in) and 965 mm (3 ft 2 in) measured from the stair nosing.

9.8.8. Guards
9.8.8.1. Required Guards
1) Except as provided in Sentences (2) and (3), every surface to which access is provided for
other than maintenance purposes, including but not limited to flights of steps and ramps,
exterior landings, porches, balconies, mezzanines, galleries and raised walkways, shall be
protected by a guard on each side that is not protected by a wall for the length where
a) there is a difference in elevation of more than 600 mm between the walking surface and
the adjacent surface, or
b) the adjacent surface within 1.2 m of the walking surface has a slope of more than 1 in 2.
2) Guards are not required
a) at loading docks,
b) at floor pits in repair garages, or
c) where access is provided for maintenance purposes only.
3) Where an interior stair has more than 2 risers or an interior ramp rises more than 400 mm,
the sides of the stair or ramp and the landing or floor level around the stairwell or ramp shall
be protected by a guard on each side that is not protected by a wall.

Ontario Building Code requires that the handrail be graspable along its entire length with no obstruction on or above it to break a handhold.

The Ontario Building Code requires that openings in guards “be of a size which will prevent the passage of a spherical object having a diameter of more than 100 mm (4 in)

When building decks you will require a building permit and will have to follow local building code requirements. Each municipality has the authority to add specifications that they feel are required. Your local building department will usually have specific guides which will cover railings, glass railing panels, stairs, treads, handrails and foundations.

• Decks 24" to 5’10” above ground – minimum 36” guard railings are required
• Deck surface more than 5’10” – minimum 42” railings are required

• Deck surface is less than 30” (24” in Canada) above ground – no railings required
• Deck surface is 30” or more - minimum 36" railing is required (Commercial buildings require 42" rails)

• a concentrated horizontal point load of about 200 lbs (224 lbs in Canada) at any point along the rail
• a concentrated horizontal load of about 50 lbs (112 lbs in Canada) over a 1sft area at any part of the rail spindles or balusters
• a simultaneous vertical (uniform) load of about 50 lbf (103 lb/ft in Canada) and a horizontal (uniform) load of 50 lbf (34 lb/ft in Canada) along a rail