An Introduction to Handrail Regulations in the UK

Health & Safety regulations permeate almost every aspect of our lives in some form or another, so it’s not surprising to hear that handrails are also subject to stringent rules that ensure the safety of anyone using a publicly accessible flight of stairs. Handrails are covered under Section K of the Building Regulations, which relates to protection from falling collision and impact, and are covered more specifically by British Standards BS6180:2011 (guard rails/balustrades) and BS6399-1:1996 (loadings).

In this article we are taking a look at the basic requirements set out under these guidelines, and what you need to do to make sure you stay compliant.

Do I Need a Handrail on my Staircase?

The first thing to determine is whether you need handrails on your staircase, and this is pretty straight forward - in virtually all cases and applications some form of handrail is required on a staircase, however the rules do change slightly for stairs depending on whether the building is a single family domicile, or a commercial building. The differences to the stairs themselves will likely have an effect on the handrail you require, so it is worth checking the specification of the staircase first and foremost.

Where Should the Handrail be Positioned?

Again, this is very clearly set out by Section K of the building regulations, and in any staircase the height of the handrail should be between 900mm and 1000mm of the floor or pitch of the staircase. If it is being positioned away from the wall then it must sit 75mm away from the wall so a pedestrian is able to grip the rail.

How Many Handrails Do I Need?

On a staircase that is less than 1metre wide you only need to use 1 hand rail on either side of the stairs, on staircases more than 1metre wide you are required to put handrails at both sides of the staircase.

What Else Do I Need to Know?

As well as being aware of the position and quantity of handrails required, there are many other factors to take into consideration, such as the colour and shape of the handrail. The handrail must contrast with its surroundings without being highly reflective, and the shape must be round or oval (there are specifics concerning this outlined in Section K of the Building Regulations).

Other things to consider are that the hand rail should not protrude into an access route, and it should be finished in a way that reduces the risk of clothing being caught. This is often why you see a downturn in handrails at the top and bottom of a flight of stairs.

Section K1 of Building Regulations in Full (as seen SpecifiedBy.com)

For all buildings

1.34 Provide handrails in accordance with all of the following:

  1. Position the top of the handrail 900mm to 1000mm from the pitch line or floor.
  2. The handrail may form the top of a guarding if you can match the heights.
  3. If the stairs are 1000mm or wider: provide a handrail on both sides. For buildings other than dwellings and for common access areas in buildings that contain flats and do not have passenger lifts

1.35 Provide suitable continuous handrails, as dimensioned in Diagram 1.11 (for blocks of flats)

Handrail

And Diagram 1.12 (for buildings other than dwellings), in accordance with both of the following.

Handrail
  1. On each side of the flights.
  2. On each side of the landings.

For buildings other than dwellings

1.36 Provide handrails in accordance with all of the following (in addition to paragraph 1.34).

    1. Where there is full-height structural guarding, if you provide a second (lower) handrail, the vertical height from the pitch line of the steps (or the surface of the ramp) to the top of the second (lower) handrail should be 600mm.
    2. Use a continuous handrail along the flights and landings of a ramped or stepped flight.
    3. Ensure that handrails do not project into an access route.
    4. Ensure that the handrail will contrast visually with the background against which it is seen, without being highly reflective.
    5. Use a surface for the handrail that is slip-resistant and which, in locations subject to extremely cold or hot temperatures, does not become excessively cold or hot to touch. In areas where resistance to vandalism or low maintenance are key factors, use of metals with relatively low thermal conductivity may be appropriate.
    6. Finish the end of the handrail in a way that reduces the risk of clothing being caught.
    7. Use the handrail profile shown in Diagram 1.13:
Handrail

In Dwellings

1.37 In exceptional circumstances where severely sloping plots are involved, a stepped change of level within the entrance storey may be unavoidable. In those instances, if a flight comprises three or more risers, provide a suitable continuous handrail in accordance with both of the following.

    1. On each side of the flight.
    2. On each side of any intermediate landings.
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