Stairs and Railings

By Frank G. Ross

The Centers for Disease Control and Injury Prevention estimates that 40% of all unintentional deaths around the home are due to falls.  One in five injuries that require a visit to an emergency room is due to a fall.  Over 50% of these falls that happen at home and most of these are falls from stairs and steps.

          Railings and guards are designed to keep people from falling and injuring themselves.  There is no doubt that properly installed railings and guards could help to improve these statistics. 

          What’s the difference between a railing and a guard?  A railing is something to grip onto when you go up and down a staircase.  Railings are normally mounted onto a wall next to a staircase.  The railing should be securely attached to the wall.  If you stumble, you may have to grab onto this and it should support you. 

A guard is a barrier that keeps you from falling off a staircase, deck or balcony.  The guard should be solid and should support your weight. 

An open staircase requires a guard.  This guard can function as the railing as well as long as it is designed properly.  The guard must be shaped so it can be easily gripped.

Many homes have missing or inappropriate railings and guards.  One reason is that older homes did not have the same requirements as we do today.  Another reason may be because the previous owner removed it to make more room to move furniture up or down the stairs, for example.  Ideally there should be a railing on any staircase that has more than two or three risers.  The actual requirement depends on the local code and when the home was built.

In some cases, an older home will have very low guards on staircases or balconies.  This was the design at the time the home was built.  Ideally, a guard should be 36 inches high, unless it’s part of a staircase handrail in which case 34 inches would be ideal.  In many areas, if the drop is six feet or more, a guard of 42 inches is required.

Railings and guards may have vertical spindles (called balusters).  The reasoning is that these will keep people from falling through.  In some cases, the spacing between the balusters is so wide, a child could fall through.  The requirements have changed over the years, but most authorities believe that a maximum opening of four inches offers the best protection. Additionally, guards that incorporate climbable elements can be a safety hazard.  Examples are a bench built into a guard or horizontal slats between the balusters on the guard.  The concern is that children can climb them and fall over.

Home owners are not required to constantly upgrade their homes to keep up with updated safety standards.  I keep this in mind when I inspect a home.  Your railings and guards may be perfectly adequate for the time they were installed.  At the same time I am obligated to point out safety concerns.  The decision is then left up to the home owner or buyer to decide if they would like to address the issue as a discretionary upgrade.

Frank Ross is a Certified Utah Home Inspector for Pillar to Post Professional Home Inspection and a full member of the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors and a member in good standing with the Utah Better Business Bureau.  Readers may contact Mr. Ross at (435) 867-6400 or frank.ross@pillartopost.com or www.pillarposthomeinspection.com