NORMBAU Handrails offer support on staircases, protection from falling and are a welcome support in case of sudden tiredness. They are required on both sides of a staircase.They should continue uninterrupted around half landings to provide continued support for the elderly and ambulant disabled. This also provides safety and comfort for visually impaired and blind people by serving to guide them around the landing. Handrails should always extend at least 400mm from the top and bottom of a staircase to provide a ‘lead-in’ - which avoids infirm persons from having to overreach in order to grasp the rail, and ‘lead-off’ - which allows them to be supported by the rail beyond the last step.

The handrail should be fixed at a height of 850mm. If a higher rail is required - to prevent falls, for example - then a secondary rail should be available at the ergonomic height of 850mm. Handrails must also be suitable for use by people who are physically weak and have a poor grip. The best shape of handrail is circular in cross section, such that a hand can encircle it. The recommended diameter is 30 - 40mm. The elderly, in particular, suffer from a weak grip and a round profile is helpful. The handrail must be mounted at a sufficient distance from the wall such that a hand can travel along it without encountering the fixing brackets. The partially sighted will find the handrail more easily if it contrasts visually with its background i.e. the wall. Colour is an ideal way of helping to achieve such a contrast.

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