(A) General. Every exterior and interior flight of stairs having more than four risers shall have a handrail on one side of the stairs and every open portion of a stair, landing, balcony, porch, deck, ramp or other walking surface which is more than 30 inches (762 mm) above the floor or grade below shall have guards. Handrails shall not be less than 30 inches (762 mm) in height or more than 42 inches (1,067 mm) in height measured vertically above the nosing of the tread or above the finished floor of the landing or walking surfaces. Guards shall not be less than 30 inches (762 mm) in height above the floor of the landing, balcony, porch, deck, or ramp or other walking surface. Handrails shall be provided on at least one side of each continuous run of treads or flight with four or more risers. (IRC R311.7.8)
(B) Opening limitations. Required guards shall not have openings from the walking surface to the required guard height which allow passage of a sphere four inches (102 mm) in diameter. (IRC R312.1.3)
(C) Exception. Guards shall not be required where exempted by the adopted building code.
(Ord. 1806, passed 2-5-2018)