Are hand rails required if the curb ramp exceeds 6 inches?

— Anonymous


ANSWER: Handrails are not required at Curb Ramps.  Curb Ramps are a different element than Ramps.  Curb Ramps are covered under section 406 while Ramps are covered under section 405 of the 2010 ADA Standards.  There are no requirements for handrails in section 406 Curb Ramps while Ramps are required to have a handrails when the rise is greater than 6” per section 405.8.

The definition of a curb ramp is a short ramp cutting through or built up to a curb.  There is no specification for what the height of the curb is.  However, one should use reason when determining what may or may not be a curb.

– Brad