Regulations > FAQ's
The following guidance aims to address the most common queries relating to handrails. For further information and support simply contact your regional Sapphire team.
Q. Is "contrasting material" visually contrasting material or a different type of material?
A. Contrasting material means material with a visual contrast.
Q. If you have continuous flights does the continuous handrail have to extend at least 300mm beyond the first and last nosing at the central well of the staircase, as it would for a single flight staircase?
A. An ambulant disabled person should be able to hold a handrail for support either before taking a first step up or down, or after reaching the landing from the last step in a flight. That should normally be possible where the handrail continues around the central well of a stair without further extension onto the landing, particularly if the handrail continues in an unbroken radius.
Q. The guidance on handrail dimensions in BS 8300 differs from that in AD M. Is the BS guidance an acceptable alternative?
A. The guidance that follows is based on consideration of Amendment 1:2005 to BS 8300:2001 (see BS 8300:2001)
A handrail should be:
1. of an oval or circular profile;
2. finished so as to provide visual contrast with the surroundings against which it is seen;
3. easy and comfortable to grip with no sharp edges, smooth and not cold to the touch.
A circular handrail should have a diameter of at least 40 mm but not greater than 50 mm.
A handrail with an oval profile should have dimensions of 50 mm wide and 38 mm deep. The profile should have rounded edges with a radius of at least 15 mm.
There should be a clearance of between 50 mm and 60 mm between a handrail and any adjacent wall surface and any handrail support should meet the handrail, centrally, on its underside. The clearance between the bottom of the rail and any cranked support, or continuous balustrade, should be at least 50 mm to minimize the risk of the handrail supports interrupting the smooth running of a person's hand along the rail.
Please Note
These details are given as guidance only, please refer to the Planning Portal website for further information. It is the clients responsibilty to both research and implement actions to ensure that current regulations are adhered to.
