Handrail height and the two graspable profiles
A handrail is required on any flight with four or more risers, at 34″ to 38″ above the nosing line, held at least 1½″ off the wall. Only two profiles are graspable under the code, and a flat 2×4 is neither.
What this diagram shows
Left, a stair section with a shaded band between 34 and 38 inches above the sloped plane adjoining the tread nosings, showing the compliant handrail height range. Right, four handrail profiles drawn in section at one scale: a Type I circular rail of 1 1/4 to 2 inch outside diameter, a Type I non-circular rail with a 4 to 6 1/4 inch perimeter and cross-section no greater than 2 1/4 inches, a Type II profile with a finger recess on both sides, and a nominal 2 by 4 laid flat marked as failing because its perimeter and cross-section both exceed the limits and it has no recess.
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