A stairway with a handrail on one side only shall develop a minimum width of _______.

A stairway with a handrail on one side only shall develop a minimum width of _______.

• A. 31 1/2 inches
• B. 44 inches
• C. 27 inches
• D. 36 inches

Answer: (A)

Stair width is normally measured as the clear distance between finished surfaces. When a handrail is installed on one side only, it encroaches into that space, so the usable width is reduced from the standard 36 inches by about 4 1/2 inches. That leaves 31 1/2 inches as the minimum required width to maintain safe egress and handrail access. The other options don’t fit because 36 inches would be the width without a single-side handrail, 27 inches is too narrow for safe passage with a handrail, and 44 inches is wider than required.

Stair width is normally measured as the clear distance between finished surfaces. When a handrail is installed on one side only, it encroaches into that space, so the usable width is reduced from the standard 36 inches by about 4 1/2 inches. That leaves 31 1/2 inches as the minimum required width to maintain safe egress and handrail access. The other options don’t fit because 36 inches would be the width without a single-side handrail, 27 inches is too narrow for safe passage with a handrail, and 44 inches is wider than required.