The Ontario Building Code | Design and Attachment of Handrails

9.8.7.7. design and Attachment of handrails

(1) handrails and any building element that could be used as a handrail shall be designed and attached in such a manner as to resist,

(a) a concentrated load at any point of not less than 0.9 kN, and

(b) for handrails other than those serving a single dwelling unit, a uniformly distributed load of 0.7 kN/m.

Note: On July 1, 2017, Clause 9.8.7.7.(1)(b) of Division B of the Regulation is amended by striking out "single dwelling unit" and substituting "houseor an individual dwelling unit". (See: O. Reg. 139/17, s. 83)

(2) Where a handrail serving a single dwelling unit is attached to wood studs or blocking, the attachment shall be deemed to comply with Sentence (1), where,

Note: On July 1, 2017, Sentence 9.8.7.7.(2) of Division B of the Regulation is amended by striking out "single dwelling unit" in the portion before Clause (a) and substituting "house or an individual dwelling unit". (See: O. Reg. 139/17, s. 83)

(a) the attachment points are spaced not more than 1.2 m apart,

(b) the first attachment point at either end is located not more than 300 mm from the end of the handrail, and

(c) the fasteners consist of no fewer than two wood screws at each point, penetrating not less than 32 mm into solid wood.

9.8.8. Guards