Guard Rail and Ramp Railings

Guard Rails and Handrails are needed in several locations in buildings - stairs, ramps. mezzanines, floor openings, etc. The building code and ADA accessibility regulations have an impact on placement, heights, and configuration. 

In most occupancies any openings in a guard rail must be small enough to prevent the passage of a 4" sphere. Vertical pickets are the simplest and least expensive way to accomplish this. Other methods are a low wall, grids, panels of expanded metal lath and glass panels.

Hand rails are limited in profile and circumference. A painted metal tube/pipe is cheapest but has the drawback of being easily scratched or worn by hand contact. Wood doesn't show this wear as easily, nor does an aluminum or stainless steel tube. Often these round shapes are fastened to a U-shaped channel by a fastener on the underside. Here wood is shaped to fit a flat surface for attachment.  See the Comment paragraph for download link.

C2010-E - Railings

COMMENTS:

• This detail is needed to specify the configuration, construction and materials required for the railings.
• This detail requires further details and specifications, or a detailed note, covering these conditions.
• Building Codes have an impact on aspects of the work shown here.
• You may want a specification covering the quality and installation aspects of these materials. The notes have specification reference numbers included to help make that connection.
• These details should be placed on the Stair Plans and Sections sheets, the A-400 series of sheets or the Interior Details sheets, the A-500 series of sheets per the National CAD Standards, contrary to the designation shown here.
• A PDF of the detail(s) can be downloaded here.
• See the Terms of Use for disclaimer.

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