How Stupid Can Handrails in Elevators Be?

In the ADAAG; Final Rule, written by the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board), published on July 23, 2004, with an effective date of September 21, 2004, there is Section 407 Elevators, with 14 pages of elevator requirements but nothing specifically on elevator car handrails.  In the ICC/ANSI A117.1-2003 Commentary, there are Sections 407, 408, and 409 on elevators with 23 pages of elevator requirements but nothing specifically on elevator car handrails.  In the ADAAG; Final Rule Section 505 or ICC/ANSI A117.1-2003 Section 505 Handrails, there is no requirement for handrails in the elevator car.  

In the IBC-2006, Section 1009 Stairways has a Section 1009.10 called Handrails; Section 1010 Ramps has a Section 1010.8 called Handrails; and there is also Section 1012 Handrails.  IBC-2006 has Section 1007 Accessible Means of Egress with Section 1007.4 Elevators; Section 1109.6 Elevators states that elevators must comply with 3001.3; 3001.3 states that elevators shall conform to ICC/A117.1.

So, we have no requirement for handrails to be in elevator cars in the opinion of ACCESS.  Now, if one chooses to put handrails in an elevator car and call it a “handrail,” is there a requirement?  In the opinion of ACCESS, the answer is yes, and the design criteria must be that of Section 505 from both ADAAG and ICC/ANSI A117.1-2003.

 

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Hank

The above are opinions of Hank Falstad, AIA, Managing Senior Associate of Access Technologies Services, Inc. (ACCESS).  See our web site for additional information:  www.accessts.net.