The 2010 ADA requires that stairs that are part of a means of egress be accessible.  This is true even when there is an elevator or ramp connecting the levels where the stairs are located. This newsletter will give you guidance on what those requirements are for stairs that are part of a means of egress on the interior of the building as well as the exterior.  The requirements are only for new construction.  There are some exceptions:  

1) Existing stairs that are altered are exempted from having to comply with the 2010 ADA Standards, except for the handrails should be brought up to compliance.

These steps are part of the means of egress to the exterior, but they are exempted because they are existing.

2) Stairs located at assembly areas, such as theaters, sporting event  etc. do not have to comply.  

Handrails are not required at assembly steps since they must not impede entry to seats

3) stairs that are located in a detention area that is not open to the public 

4) stairs that connect play components do not have to comply

This photo shows the handrails that are not extending.  Since these steps are part of a play component it will not have to comply with all the requirements including extension

5) And stairs that are not part of a means of egress, like at a lobby grand stair do not have to comply.

  

Where required, handrails shall be provided on both sides of stairs 

This egress stair did not have handrails on both sides

Handrails shall be continuous within the full length of each stair flight. Inside handrails on switchback or dogleg stairs shall be continuous between flights or runs.

These handrails are not continuous

Top of gripping surfaces of handrails shall be 34 inches minimum and 38 inches maximum vertically above stair nosings. Handrails shall be at a consistent height above stair nosings

Clearance between handrail gripping surfaces and adjacent surfaces shall be 1½ inches (38 mm) minimum.

Handrail gripping surfaces shall be continuous along their length and shall not be obstructed along their tops or sides.  But the bottoms of handrail gripping surfaces can be obstructed but no more than 20 percent of their length. 

The supports below the handrails cannot obstruct the continuation more than 20% of the length

Where provided, horizontal projections shall occur 1½ inches minimum below the bottom of the handrail gripping surface.

Handrail gripping surfaces with a circular cross section shall have an outside diameter of 1¼ inches minimum and 2 inches maximum

Handrail gripping surfaces with a non-circular cross section shall have a perimeter dimension of 4 inches minimum and 6¼ inches maximum, and a cross-section dimension of 2¼ inches maximum.

Handrail gripping surfaces and any surfaces adjacent to them shall be free of sharp or abrasive elements and shall have rounded edges.

There are sharp edges on the handrails

Handrails shall not rotate within their fittings.

Handrail gripping surfaces shall extend beyond and in the same direction of stair flights 

This stair plan shows the handrail wrapping the corner and not extending in the same direction of the flight of stair.

Only In alterations, full extensions of handrails shall not be required where such extensions would be hazardous due to plan configuration.  But in new construction this is not allowed.  It is assumed that during design, the amount of space would be thought through and ample space for handrail extension would be provided.

At the top of a stair flight, handrails shall extend horizontally above the landing for 12 inches (305 mm) minimum beginning directly above the first riser nosing

Extensions shall return to a wall, guard, or the landing surface, or shall be continuous to the handrail of an adjacent stair flight. 

The top handrail in this stair did not extend the full tread depth.  This was located at the top of a parking garage where accessible parking spaces were not provided.  But even though there was no accessible spaces, because this is a means of egress step, all flights must comply regardless of the location of the parking spaces.  Remember handrails at stairs are not used by person who use wheelchairs necessarily.

At the bottom of a stair flight, handrails shall extend at the slope of the stair flight for a horizontal distance at least equal to one tread depth beyond the last riser nosing. Extension shall return to a wall, guard, or the landing surface, or shall be continuous to the handrail of an adjacent stair flight.