A hand railing is absolutely critical for keeping a home staircase up to code both inside and outside of the home. An indoor hand railing is often simple in design but crucial for defining the boundaries of the staircase and providing support while traveling up or down the stairs. An outdoor hand railing often comes in a wider variety of styles and materials, and serves the same purpose.

Whether you are building a hand railing or simply installing a pre-purchased railing, it is important to be compliant with local building codes. Housing codes require a hand railing to be placed with each staircase because they provide an important safety tool for preventing accidents. As anyone who has ever injured a foot or knows somebody with limited mobility can say, a hand railing is often barely given a moment’s thought until it is needed most.

There are specific guidelines set up for how the hand railing needs to be designed in order to be compliant. These guidelines cover how tall and at what angle the railing needs to be, how far apart the spindles can be set, and other dimensions. While it may seem burdensome for them to be so specific, just remember that they are set that way for one’s own safety and one day that may be very important to get right.

An indoor hand railing should accommodate the space it is in. When there is a wall to both sides of the staircase, then the hand railing should be placed on at least one of the walls but it may not be necessary to add the spindles because it can be bracketed directly into the wall. This will provide the needed support for anyone walking up or down the stairs, especially those who have trouble walking. If there is only one wall, or even no walls, then the hand railing should be placed on the open side. Here there can be a variety of options for the hand railing. On the indoor stairs, they are usually built of wood and can have a variety of designs built into their spindles. Done right, they will improve the look of the stairs as well as provide a needed boundary between the staircase and the open space to one side or the other, giving the stairs a more finished look.

For the outdoor setting, the hand railing can become as much of a landscape feature as anything else. While wood is still a cheap and simple option, many homeowners wish for their hand railing to add a boost to the home’s appearance. A metal hand railing or metal and wood railing creates a number of different combinations appealing to the eye. A hand railing can also have a glass or plexi glass screen placed at the bottom around the banisters to keep children or small pets safe on a deck or down the stairs.

Following hand railing compliance is not optional and it will make the home safer. A hand railing is a great addition visually, and completes the stairways both indoors and out. They can be bought completed or hand built, depending on one’s time and skill.

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