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Residential guardrail height for loft and stairs

Residential guardrail height for loft and stairs


  #1  
Old 08-13-18, 04:40 PM
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Residential guardrail height for loft and stairs

I'm trying to figure out how high I should make a guardrail that runs along a loft and a set of stairs in a residential house. Local code requires 36". The loft will be an area where children play so I want it to be safe. Commercial code is 42" and that seems safer but going that high requires me to put a grip bar at 36" for the stairs (which is fine). Will a 42" railing look OK in a residential house? Am I over thinking this?

What do you all think? 36" or 42"?
 
  #2  
Old 08-13-18, 04:53 PM
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Handrail on stairs is 34-38. Guardrail on a balcony is minimum 36. Make it 36-42 if you want. Depends how the handrail coming up the stairs hits the newel... having it just a bit higher doesn't look bad. Having it 6" higher might look goofy.
 
 

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