What is the difference between the hand rail and a guard? Almost everyone calls both the hand rail.
The guard is that area between the actual hand rail you grip and the bottom and applies to stairs.
All stairs require a hand rail; the obvious reason is for safety.
The guard area prevents someone from falling or slipping off the edge of the stairs under the hand rail.
As stated above, all stairs require a hand rail, at least on one side.
However, all open sides shall have a guard.
If a stairway has a full wall on one side and is open on the other, the open side must be guarded to prevent someone falling off the edge, and at least one hand rail must be installed on either side.
Usually the hand rail is placed on the open side and spindles of some kind are installed under the hand rail to complete the guard.
The same concept applies along horizontal surfaces like decks, lofts, mezzanines or other elevated floors.
But in these cases the hand rail is not the issue; it’s all about the guard so nobody can step or fall off the edge.
In residential situations the minimum height for the top of the guard along horizontal surfaces is 36 inches of the floor.
The hand rail along stairs shall be a minimum of 34 to 38 inches measured vertically off the nosing of the stair.
In commercial buildings the guard height shall be 42 inches off the floor, or measured vertically off the nosing of the stair.
The next time you go into a commercial building, especially newer ones that were built under today’s codes, notice the stairway.
For open stairs, at least on one side, the guard area is behind the hand rail and extends up farther than the hand rail.
Usually the hand rail is attached to the stair side of the guard and is separate from the guard.
In residential the hand rail you grip is usually the top of the guard, and is 36 inches measured vertically off the nosing of the stair.
Although for residential it is possible to have the hand rail and the guard as separate components because the hand rail (along the stairs) could be installed at 34 inches vertically off the nosing and the guard must be at least 36 inches.
The guard area has specific requirements as well.
Take a 4 inch round ball, or sphere as the code says, it cannot pass through any area within the guard.
This can be a challenge for those elaborate adirondack stairs using twigs and natural materials, but the rule applies just the same.
The hand rail has a maximum and minimum size as well to make it easy to hang onto.
The typical size is about 1-3/4 inch diameter.
A flat 2X6 may not be easy to grip, may look good, but is not proper for a hand rail.
This is pretty basic code stuff. Hand rails and guards do save lives and help prevent injuries.
Too many times people want the guard along the deck much lower than 36 inches high, so it doesn’t block their view when sitting on the deck.
It is what it is; these standards have been around for a long, long time.
If you have questions go talk with your local code office.