Steps & Ramps : Handrails
General Guidance | Steps | Steps Key Design Principles | Ramps | Ramps Key Design Principles | Handrails | Design to Accommodate Cyclists, Pushchairs etc. | Design List | Evaluation Summary
In some situations, especially on urban and urban fringe sites, it may be appropriate to install handrails alongside steps or ramps. Handrails can provide assistance to disabled and elderly people and people with mobility difficulties, providing a structure to pull against, to help maintain balance, and to lean against for a rest. They can also provide security and protection, particularly for those who are unsteady on their feet, against path-side dangers such as steep slopes. The purpose of a handrail will influence its design and construction in that, for example, those providing security and safety from path side dangers will often need to be more robust than those that merely provide a balancing aid alongside a short run of steps. For safety and comfort, handrails should be 1000mm high. A second rail at a height of 750mm will assist children and, on ramps, will aid people in wheelchairs. The cross section of handrails should be such that the grip is between 40mm and 50mm in diameter.