TECHNICAL GUIDANCE
HANDRAILS TO STEPS IN PATHS
9.2/10 – March 2013
(First issue)
QUESTION
When is it necessary to provide handrails to steps in paths in garden areas?
CONSIDERATIONS
NHBC Standards clause 9.2 - S7(a) says a handrail should be provided where the total rise of a
flight of steps exceeds 600mm.
NHBC Standards clause 9.2 - S7 (a) and Technical Guidance 9.2/06, requires both guarding and
handrails where there is a vertical drop next to a path of more than 600mm or the ground
slopes away at an angle more than 30 o from the horizontal and has a total vertical
drop of more than 600mm.
Requirements for handrails to steps in mobility access paths are given in Technical Guidance
9.2/07.
ANSWER
Handrails to steps in mobility access paths should be installed in accordance with Technical
Guidance 9.2/07.
Steps in paths within garden areas, which do not provide mobility access, should be provided
with a handrail where the total rise of a flight of steps exceeds 600mm.
Where the going on each consecutive step is 600mm or more the steps can be considered as
being a flight of landings. Handrails are not required to a flight of landings including those
where the total rise of the flight of landings exceeds 600mm.
Handrails and guarding will be required to a flight of landings where there is a vertical drop
next to the landings/path of more than 600mm or the ground slopes away at an angle more
than 30 o from the horizontal to form a total vertical drop of more than 600mm from the
landing/path to the bottom of the slope.
NHBC
NHBC House, Davy Avenue, Knowlhill, Milton Keynes, Bucks
Tel: 0844 633 1000 Fax: 0844 633 0022
www.nhbc.co.uk
MK5 8FP
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HB1674 06/11