We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
DIY

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is a Handrail?

By Felicia Dye
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 11,666
Share

A handrail is a long object commonly used to help people maintain stability and facilitate mobility. Examples of places that handrails may be found include in a stairwell, in a subway tunnel, and along a handicapped access ramp. People who benefit from them include children, elderly people, and handicapped individuals.

A handrail can serve several purposes. It can be used to help healthy people who are ascending or descending stairs or an incline to avoid injury. A handrail can also act as a mobility aid which provides assistance to people who are already injured or who are handicapped. It is also common to find these objects in the handicapped stalls in bathrooms where they can help people lower and raise themselves and help them maneuver within the stall.

Handrails are objects that people commonly encounter and use without much thought. There is a wide variety of designs and they can be made of a wide range of materials, such as steel, wood, and plastic. The model of handrail used is often based on the other interior design aspects of the place where they are. Public handrails, however, are subject to a great deal of regulation in some places.

Various aspects of handrails are commonly subject to regulatory codes. To begin with, there are certain dimension guidelines. These outline how wide a handrail can be and the placement of finger recesses on its sides.

Additionally, it must be considered how the handrail is positioned. They should never be flush against a wall because a person’s hand needs to be able to wrap around it. The purpose of these regulations is to help ensure that handrails are not deemed ineffective because they are ungraspable.

The height at which handrails are placed is commonly a regulatory issue. If they are not properly placed, there is also a risk they will be ineffective. Their height may be determined by a facility’s primary users. For example, in a daycare, where the primary occupants are children, the handrails are likely to be set to a height that accommodates them or there is likely to be an additional set of handrails to accommodate them.

When handrails are installed, it is also important to ensure they do not cause injury to the people who use them for assistance. They need to be sturdy and secure, meaning the brackets and mounting may be subject to safety regulations. A handrail also needs to be strong, so the amount of weight it is required to support is usually another regulatory issue.

Share
HomeQuestionsAnswered is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.homequestionsanswered.com/what-is-a-handrail.htm
Copy this link
HomeQuestionsAnswered, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

HomeQuestionsAnswered, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.