If you’re installing a handrail at your business, it’s easy to become distracted by color and style options. However, handrails are crucial when it comes to making your business or public space accessible for individuals with disabilities. For that reason, it’s important to make sure you’re complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). So when are ADA handrails required? Read on for more information.
Getting a Grip on When Handrails Are Required
Can you imagine walking down a steep set of stairs or inching toward a balcony edge without handrails? We often take them for granted, but railings are a commonplace safety feature in most homes and office buildings. They provide architectural interest and security in a multitude of situations. This guide provides you with highlights of when handrails are required as derived from the United States Access Board. However, because communities often adopt and then adapt this code, you also need to check with your local permitting agency before installing railing or guards. Staircase railing and guard construction (new or remodel) may also adhere to permit requirements. Furthermore, railings that must comply with ADA requirements have additional codes to follow that dictate characteristics such as the handrail height and wall clearance. Before you get started, get a grip on when handrails are, in fact, required.
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ADA Handrail Requirements
If your building is not accessible to people with disabilities, you’ve got a problem on your hands. The standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) establish design and construction requirements that must be followed by public accommodations covered by the ADA. This includes all public and private businesses. Existing buildings must remove architectural barriers and new construction must be built to be accessible to individuals with disabilities. If your facility must comply with these standards, you will likely need to explore ADA handrail requirements.
Handrails play a crucial role in ADA-equipped facilities, after all, and are found above stairs, ramps, and some sloped walking surfaces. To better understand the purpose of ADA handrails and the demands they must meet, please scroll down.
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