Handrails must be ‘warm-to-touch’

There are lots of important considerations to make when you look at handrail designs and installations. The rails must be supportive and durable. In some cases you also need to think about the aesthetics. Plus, there are building regulations to keep in mind.

One regulation we want to look at today is 'warm-to-touch'. It is a requirement a lot of people may not know about. However, it is absolutely crucial to safety.

What is it?

The basic idea with 'warm-to-touch' is that handrails should not get excessively hot or cold. If they do, they can deter people from using them because they are not comfortable to hold. If that happens it can raise safety concerns. That is especially likely among people with mobility limitations who need the rails for support.

The crucial thing here is to think about the environment where you are installing the handrails. Are there conditions that could allow them to get excessively hot or cold? For example, will they be outdoors at the mercy of the cold? Is there a risk of direct sunlight making them overly hot?

The right materials

What you need to do is select the right material for the settings. A vital thing to look at is the thermal conductivity. It varies with materials. Some like timber and PVC don't conduct heat very well. As a result they are good options for handrails for a variety of settings. Metals tend to be more conductive. Therefore, you may not want to use something like mild steel where it can get very hot or cold.

However, there is a second thing to think about here. You must look at how durable the materials are. PVC and timber may be great for thermal performance, but they are not the best for high traffic external use. The heavy use and exposure to the elements could damage them very quickly. Metals are more durable so are generally better for these uses. Stainless steel in particular can be a really good choice because it has lower conductivity too. It can satisfy the warm-to-touch requirements.

Speak to us if you want to order a handrail

At Barrier Mart we set very high standards for all kinds of barriers, including handrails. We want them to be the best quality so people can rely on them. To this end, we manufacture them ourselves and do several rounds of checks to make sure everything is in order.

So, if you need a handrail and want a great product, contact us or order via our website. You can also get in touch if you need to ask about specific things like regulations.