What is the building code for the distance between balisters on handrails on stairs and balconys?
Guard Rail Guard rails, as their name implies, guard people from falling or entering a dangerous area. Some obvious places where guard rails are required are the open edge of balconies and stairways. Most building codes require any drop of more than 30 inches to be protected by a guard rail. Guard rails are usually required to be a certain height above the floor, such as 42 inches (1.07 metres), and are designed so that a ball of a certain diameter can not be passed through the rail, usually four inches (10 cm). The space, if any, between the bottom member and the floor is often limited so that items on the floor such as a discarded bottle can not be accidentally kicked over the edge injuring people below; however this is sometimes not used in cold climates where it might cause an excessive accumulation of snow. Grip-rail Grip-rails are provided to allow a person to support their weight in places such as stairs or ramps where tripping could be a hazard. Nursing homes and hospitals ofte
