Stairs
Ramps handrails balustrades 
It is almost inevitable that
Approved Documents to Building Regulations and
related British Standards will have different review
cycles. This was the case in 2004 when it was
apparent that some aspects of the newly published
guidance in Approved Document M (Part M) on access
to and the use of non-domestic buildings differed
from recommendations in BS 8300 published in 2001.
Because of concerns this caused within the industry,
the Buildings Division of the Department for
Communities and Local Government (then the ODPM) and
the BSI set up a Task Group to consider how to
resolve the differences.
Two key issues for handrailing, balustrading and
door furniture were:
• Handrail dimensions and the concept of “not cold
to the touch”
• Visual contrast.
Due to the need for urgent clarification, revised
guidance was published in 2005 as an interim
amendment to BS 8300. Points of relevance were
clarified by FAQs on the ODPM website as a more
up-to-date way of complying with the fundamental
requirement of Part M.
Handrails
One area where the difference between the guidance
in Part M and the recommendations in BS 8300 remains
is handrail dimensions. However, in spite of the
differences, it is still possible to comply with
dimensional guidelines on the size of a circular
handrail and its spacing from the wall for both Part
M (2004) and BS 8300. As an example, you could
select a 40mm diameter circular handrail (the lower
end of the range for both Part M and BS 8300) and a
spacing of 60mm from the wall (the lower end of the
Part M range and the upper limit of the BS 8300
range). By selecting these dimensions, you can also
comply with the limit in Part B of a 100mm handrail
projection into an escape stair. Beyond this, it is
necessary to take the width of ‘escape to face’ of
the handrail, rather than to the enclosing wall of
the stair.
Not ‘cold to the touch’
Though at first glance it may not be clear why the
‘cold to touch’ issue warrants such attention, BS
8300 gives examples of circumstances where a very
cold handrail can cause real difficulties.
• With those needing to use a handrail not only for
support, but also to pull themselves up a stair or
ramp.
• Where a handrail is so uncomfortably cold, a
person’s reaction could be to let go rather than use
the handrail.
• In extreme cases, a person’s skin can adhere to a
very cold handrail, the shock from which could
trigger an attack of Reynaud’s disease among those
sensitive to it.
Companies such as Laidlaw Solutions have developed a
range of handrail finishes which meet ‘cold to
touch’ recommendations. The most effective for
external use is a steel handrail with a nylon sleeve
of 4mm thickness. Such an option provides low
thermal conductivity, but should not to be confused
with thinner nylon coatings offered by some handrail
manufacturers.
Visual contrast
The other concern was the apparent inflexibility of
the definition in Part M of visual contrast. This
indicated that a difference in light reflectance
value (LRV) between two surfaces of 30 points would
be acceptable (LRV values being defined as 0
(totally black to 100 - a pure white, perfectly
reflecting surface).
After a review by the specialist Task Group, it was
agreed that a single specific cut-off point was not
appropriate and that, in different circumstances
there was room for flexibility. Although a 30 point
difference in LRV was a good target, there was
anecdotal evidence suggesting that a difference of
around 20 points may still be acceptable where, for
example, two large surface areas, e.g. between a
wall and floor were involved.
As a result, an Annex was added to BS 8300 to
explain the relationship between LRVs and visual
contrast and to give an introduction to means of
measurement. However, since BS 8300’s amendment,
there has been further feedback from suppliers of
products for which visual contrast is an issue.
Handrails, door sets and door furniture are cases in
point where more work is needed on LRV measurement
with, for example, textured and non-matt surfaces.
In the meantime, those such as Laidlaw have a
palette of nylon coloured handrails, door furniture
and door finishes to meet more relaxed visual
contrast guidelines.
Given the diversity of situations in which handrails
and balustrades are used -schools, hospitals,
municipal buildings, and retail stores being just a
few examples, component based rather than site
fabricated systems have much in their favour. By
offering design guidance which extends to features
such as structural glazing, specifiers can gain
significant benefits while ensuring systems are
fully compliant with every element of legislation.
Projects such as the recently refurbished Trinity
All Saints College of Further Education in Leeds
utilised a nylon-sleeved handrail and balustrade,
the system’s coloured components being in blue to
provide visual contrast to the light coloured walls.
By contrast, Brighton’s Jubilee Library, short
listed in 2005 for the RIBA Stirling prize,
incorporated a mix of unique balustrade and glazing.
Different environments perhaps, but similar needs
where early design advice paid dividends.
Email:
handrail@laidlaw.net
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Editor's Note: Laidlaw Solutions provide:-
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Laidlaw Solutions Ltd - Specifying Handrails and Balustrades
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