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How high must a platform be to require a handrail? 1

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vwillet

vwillet

Mechanical
Jan 23, 2009
3
I have been searching for the maximum clearance above the finished floor which a platform may be before it requires handrails. I have found several references to a 30" maximum height, on various websites. Most of them purport to be reporting OSHA regulations. But I have been entirely unsuccessful in finding the actual code citation to justify the 30". Does anyone know where, in OSHA Code, that 30" appears?

 
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IBC Section 1013.1 - 30 inches

OSHA
1926.501(b)(1)
"Unprotected sides and edges." Each employee on a walking/working surface (horizontal and vertical surface) with an unprotected side or edge which is 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above a lower level shall be protected from falling by the use of guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems.

 
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thats odd, I thought OSHA required fall protection for anything over 4 ft???
 
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The diference in 4' and the 6' is between construction and industrial. Industrial is 6'.
 
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<pet peeve>
Sonoma County, CA rules for _stair_ handrails, in part:

Stairways shall have handrails on each side unless specifically exempted by one or more of the following exceptions.
EXCEPTIONS:
...
4.
Changes in room elevations of only one riser within dwelling units and sleeping units in group R-2 occupancies do not require handrails.

I read "changes in room elevation" as not substantially different from "platform", so two steps up would require a handrail, at least next to the steps.

I have seen people fall off stage risers, only one step up, and not be real happy about the results. I have fallen off "changes in room elevation" and into "conversation pits" in fashionable homes and not been real happy about it. Even if the only injury is spilled beer (horrors!) and a soiled carpet, somebody will curse the architect/engineer.
</pet peeve>

So it depends on where you are, and what type of building you're in, and how the local AHJ rules, but I'd want a written dispensation from the cognizant insurance carrier before doing without handrails anywhere, even for just one step up.


Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
 
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my information is that 30" is the maximum height without a handrail. I don't have a reference off the top of my head, but I'm sure it's in the building codes.
 
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spats - see my post - second from the top with the IBC reference.
 
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JAE - Oops, missed your reference. I recently dealt with this issue, but relied on the architect for my information... sometimes they're right!
 
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It's also 30" maximum without handrail for a drop off from an exterior sidewalk.
I can't find my references, but it might derive from ADA. Not sure about that, though. I don't think it's OSHA.
 
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While I don't really disagree with all said above - our company policy is that once you step off good old mother Earth you will be protected - either tied off or hand railed.

My question and I have NEVER seen a good answer to this - what about stages???

We have all read about famous stars or seen YouTube videos of people falling off of stages.

What about those?????
 
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Most of them are drunk at the time and don't feel a thing.
 
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What about stages? Thankfully common sense has prevailed so far. Who wants to watch a performance through a guard rail? Surely the danger of falling off the stage fits in the category of a fan getting hit by a foul ball at a baseball game: there is some inherent risk that you've accepted just by being there.

In case you're wondering about the permissibility of it, stages are specifically excluded from the requirement in the same IBC section JAE referred to.
 
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It still scares me to think that Eddie Vedder wasn't tied off when he did some of those famous stages dive from lighting racks back in the early 90's!
 
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JAE Thanks for the OSHA citation. That is just what I needed. We got cited last year, by a compassionate OSHA audiologist, for have an unprotected platform 42" above the floor. (Apparently there would appear to be no competency test for OSHA inspectors) Unfortunately I had just come onboard at that time and did not get involved until the mechanic tried to put up new platforms spanning the entire floor with 1 x 1 angle. Seemed like a bad idea. :)

Having an actual code citation makes the discussions far more fruitful. Thanks again.

If anyone has a citation for the 4' height, could you shoot that long as well? That would be mostly for interest rather than need, as my application is industrial. Thanks

Vernon
 
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Yes - I know you don't want to see a performance thru guardrails and sometimes I don't like pumping gas in a thunderstorm or lighting B-B-Q fires. But we all do it.

Life does have some risk and we acknowledge it and live with it.

I think if you read OSHA 1926.452 Part L - I think it is 10' - might be 8'

 
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Thanks, guys. This is an OSHA issue, not building code, not NFPA et cetera. Platforms not scaffold. And in general, I have the necessary answer from JAE (Thanks again, JAE). I was just curious about the construction rules citation at 48". Thanks everyone for all the help. VWillet Out.
 
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