Hardwood Railings:
Residential Building Codes
Canadian Requirements
Not complying with the Hardwood Railings, Residential Building
Codes can cost you alot of money....I know! Having sold hardwood
stairs & railings for 25 years, I have seen alot. Customers
that have repeatedly installed railings, torn them out and
started over again, all because they won't take the time to
find out what the regulations were BEFORE they started.
Regulations are there for a good reason.. accidents do happen.
If the spacing on spindles is too large, a child can fall.
Old installations where you had a bottom rail, offers a stepping
stool for the more aggressive child to climb your wood handrailing,
thus even the construction technique is now considered in
building code documents.
Off shore production of spindles and railing has introduced
extreme price pressure on the market and tempted a few manufactures
to introduce "extra skinny" railing and spindles...
thus the regulators have stepped up to the market with rules
about size.. ie. oak and maple spindles in Canada MUST have
no part of the spindle less then 3/4" and over all square
must be 1 5/16"... likewise with everyother part of the
system.. so scan this info below, and most important check
with your local building department FIRST!
Remember .....why wouldn't you want to make it safe for all
your kids, parents and grandchildren!!
... Check Locally Now!!
Spindle Spacing:
|
Code
Requirements
|
| Spindle Spacing: |
A 4" ball must not be able to pass
through the hole between the individual spindles. This
comes from crib regulations, where we want to be careful
that a child's head could not get caught. |
| Spindle
Sizes: (measured as
the smallest diameter anywhere down the length of the
spindle) |
| Oak and Maple Spindles: |
minimum 3/4" Turned Diameter |
| Yellow Poplar Spindles: |
minimum 7/8" Turned Diameter |
| White Pine & Hemlock Spindles |
minimum 31/32" Turned Diameter |
| Cantilievered Pickets: Fir, Spruce,
Pine, Hardwoods etc. |
minimum 1 9/32" Square |
| Newels: |
| Oak, Maple |
minimum 1 3/4"Turned Diameter
Base must be 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" |
Hemlock, White Pine &
Yellow Poplar |
minimum 2" Turned Diameter
Base must be 3 1/4" x 3 1/4"
Lumber must be clear, staight grain material |
| Post in a Volute: |
minimum 2" Turned Diameter
Base must be 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" |
| Attachment Method: |
Currently there are no drawings available
in the building code manual for attaching interior newel
posts, but the most accepted method is to cut a half lap
joint in the end of the newel..... drop it through the
floor and bolt it to the side of your floor joints. Generally,
metal plates and threaded rods are not highly recommended
by any of the building inspectors that we talk to. |
| Handrail: |
| Oak & Maple |
Minimum size: 1 5/8" x 2 5/8"
|
| Bottom
Rail: |
| Oak & Maple |
Minimum size: 1 5/8" x 2 5/8"
if NOT supported
3/4" x 2 5/8" if continuously supported
(ie. mounted on the down slope of a stringer) |
| General
Comments: |
| Where you know your home
is going to require a final inspection from the Building
Controls Department, a wise step, would be to get all
your products and installation methods preapproved by
this department. Due to a recent lawsuit involving the
office of the Ontario Building Code, inspectors today,
are particularly cautious when it comes to railings. It
costs less if you only have to do it once!
Any railing installations that are not standard (ie.
as per code), must have an engineer's stamp of approval
for the local building controls office to pass.
For those of you that are "only" rennovating,
you still need a building permit. If you decide to bypass
this obligation, remember the door you are leaving open,
if someone has an accident, involving a railing that
is NOT constructed to todays code. You will be liable!
We ALWAYS recommend that you build to current code.
MAKE it STRONG! MAKE it SAFE!
We are here to help answer all your questions, where
we are able.
|
| This information comes from
Table 3.1.2 Supplementary Guidelines to the Ontario Building
Code 1997 SG-7.... published June 24, 1999 (update) |
| <-- solid wood steps |
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4 Reasons why YOU should worry
about the Building Code:
1. Safety is #1
2. If you need an inspection to obtain an occupancy
permit, it must be to code.
3. Insurance companies have been known to force compliance
before issuing a new insurance policy.
4. Sale of your home can be blocked until conditions
of building code have been met.
We have had clients experience all of the above....
so do it right the first time.
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Stairs
