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  1. #1
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    Mar 2007
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    Daniel Island, SC.
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    Default Railing on garage staircase

    Please see attached picture. Even though there is a handrail on the wall, shouldn't there be a handrail with pickets on the garage side. This seems like a safety issue. Especially for children.2015-07-19 01.45.44.jpg

    Thanks, Jim

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  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
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    Fletcher, NC
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    Default Re: Railing on garage staircase

    To change the terminology to the correct terminology - yes, there should be a guard rail on the open side when there is a total rise of more than 30" (and there sure looks to be a total rise of more than 30" at that stair).

    The top of the guard rail may be used as a handrail, but is not required to be meet handrail requirements when another handrail is installed.

    The ends of the handrail are not shown, they are required to be returned to the wall (or floor or newel post) - are the ends returned to the wall or left 'cut off and open'?

    The ends of the handrail are also required to be continuous from the lowest riser to the highest riser - the lower end of the handrail looks like it may not reach down to the bottom riser, but it could also be an optical illusion ... ?

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  3. #3
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    Dec 2008
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    Maryland
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    Default Re: Railing on garage staircase

    But they have all of that stuff to break the fall....


  4. #4
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    Mar 2007
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    Daniel Island, SC.
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    Default Re: Railing on garage staircase

    Thanks Jerry


  5. #5
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    Mar 2007
    Location
    Santa Rosa, CA
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    3,154

    Default Re: Railing on garage staircase

    Quote Originally Posted by Jerry Peck View Post

    The ends of the handrail are also required to be continuous from the lowest riser to the highest riser - the lower end of the handrail looks like it may not reach down to the bottom riser, but it could also be an optical illusion ... ?
    To continue Jerry's thought...

    The foundation wall does not line up with the wall above. As a result, there may not be enough room between the lower end of the handrail and the concrete foundation wall if the handrail does extend far enough.

    Department of Redundancy Department
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  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
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    Default Re: Railing on garage staircase

    Quote Originally Posted by Gunnar Alquist View Post
    To continue Jerry's thought...

    The foundation wall does not line up with the wall above. As a result, there may not be enough room between the lower end of the handrail and the concrete foundation wall if the handrail does extend far enough.
    To continue with Gunnar's thought ...

    That would mean the handrail would need to bump out and continue down at the foundation wall or the upper part of the handrail would need to be spaced out ... which then brings up another continuing thought ... what is the width of the stair at the lower, narrower, part by the foundation wall, which brings up another continuing thought (or we could just stop here and acknowledge that the entire stair, handrail, and guard rail needs to be addressed per the code ) ...

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

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