Metal Handrailing Length Issue
The first thing I'd like to point out is that this particular stair
handrail system, might not require a guard rail
, but would definitely
require a grippled handrail.
Since the stairway doesn't have more
than 30 inches of space in between any step and the soil that is
surrounding this particular set of stairs, it might not require
guard rail
.
For more information check out the handrail and guard rail
section of the building codes listed on this website.
Now for the
bad news, a gripable handrail needs to be accessible at the bottom of
the stairway, not one or two steps away. I'm guessing that this was a
prefabricated stairway handrail that was measured incorrectly, but
installed anyway and shouldn't have been.
Remember, some of our
current building codes today have been changed and something like this
might have been approved by a
building inspector years ago, even though
it might not pass a building inspection today. However, it wouldn't be a
bad idea to update stairways like these to current building codes as a
general safety precaution.
Last but not least, let's take a look
at the pointed handrailing that the white arrow is pointing to in the
picture above. I would sure hate to fall, while trying to reach for the
gripable handrailing from the bottom, because it isn't long enough and
hit my head on that particular part of the handrail system.