(a)
Stairways shall have handrails or stair railings on each side, and every
stairway required to be more than 88 inches in width shall be provided with not
less than one intermediate stair railing for each 88 inches of required width.
Intermediate stair railings shall be spaced approximately equally within the
entire width of the stairway.
NOTE: Intermediate stair railings may be of single rail
construction.
EXCEPTIONS:
(1)
Stairways less than 44 inches in width may have one handrail or stair railing
except that such stairways open on one or both sides shall have stair railings
provided on the open side or sides.
(2) Stairways having less than four risers
need not have handrails or stair railings.
(3) Stairways giving access to portable work
stands less than 30 inches high.
(4) Stairs that follow the contour of tanks
or other cylindrical or spherical structures where the construction requires
the inside clearance between the inside stair stringer and wall or tank side to
be 8 inches or less, shall not be considered an "open side."
(5) Guardrails may be erected provided a
handrail is attached.
(b)
A stair railing shall be of construction similar to a guardrail (see Section
3209) but the vertical height shall
be in compliance with Section
3214(c). Stair
railings on open sides that are 30 inches or more above the surface below shall
be equipped with midrails approximately one half way between the steps and the
top rail.
NOTE: Local building standards may require 4-inch
spacing of intermediate vertical members.
(c) The top of stair railings, handrails and
handrail extensions installed on or after April 3, 1997, shall be at a vertical
height between 34 and 38 inches above the nosing of treads and landings. For
stairs installed before April 3, 1997, this height shall be between 30 and 38
inches. Stair railings and handrails shall be continuous the full length of the
stairs and, except for private stairways, at least one handrail or stair
railing shall extend in the direction of the stair run not less than 12 inches
beyond the top riser nor less than 12 inches beyond the bottom riser. Ends
shall be returned or shall terminate in newel posts or safety terminals, or
otherwise arranged so as not to constitute a projection hazard.
EXCEPTION: Handrails and stair railings on flights of
stairs serving basements or cellars that are covered by a trap door, removable
floor or grating when not in use, shall stop at the floor level or entrance
level so as not to interfere with the cover in the closed
position.
(d) A handrail
shall consist of a lengthwise member mounted directly on a wall or partition by
means of brackets attached to the lower side of the handrail so as to offer no
obstruction to a smooth surface along the top and both sides of the handrail.
The handrail shall be designed to provide a grasping surface to avoid the
person using it from falling. The spacing of brackets shall not exceed 8
feet.
(e) Handrails projecting from
a wall shall have a space of not less than 1 ½ inches between the wall
and the handrail.
(f) The mounting
of handrails shall be such that the completed structure is capable of
withstanding a load of at least 200 pounds applied in any direction at any
point on the rail.
Notes
Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 8, §
3214
1.
Repealer and new section filed 6-20-75; effective thirtieth day thereafter
(Register 75, No. 25). For history of former section, see Register 72, No.
34.
2. Amendment filed 7-16-76; effective thirtieth day thereafter
(Register 76, No. 29).
3. Amendment of subsections (b) and (d) filed
5-10-77; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 77, No.
20).
4. Amendment filed 5-25-83; effective thirtieth day thereafter
(Register 83, No. 22). Approved by State Building Standards Commission
1-24-83.
5. Amendment of section and NOTE filed 3-4-97; operative
4-3-97 (Register 97, No. 10).
6. Amendment filed 12-4-2007;
operative 1-3-2008 (Register 2007, No. 49).
Note: Authority cited: Section
142.3, Labor
Code. Reference: Section
142.3, Labor
Code; and Section
18943(b),
Health and Safety Code.
1. Repealer and
new section filed 6-20-75; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 75, No.
25). For history of former section, see Register 72, No. 34.
2.
Amendment filed 7-16-76; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 76, No.
29).
3. Amendment of subsections (b) and (d) filed 5-10-77;
effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 77, No. 20).
4.
Amendment filed 5-25-83; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 83, No.
22). Approved by State Building Standards Commission 1-24-83.
5.
Amendment of section and Note filed 3-4-97; operative 4-3-97 (Register 97, No.
10).
6. Amendment filed 12-4-2007; operative 1-3-2008 (Register
2007, No. 49).