ASTM E985-00(2006)
(Specification)Standard Specification for Permanent Metal Railing Systems and Rails for Buildings (Withdrawn 2015)
Standard Specification for Permanent Metal Railing Systems and Rails for Buildings (Withdrawn 2015)
ABSTRACT
This specification covers permanent metal railing systems (such as guard, stair, and ramp-rail systems) and rails (such as hand, wall, grab, and transfer rails) for use in agricultural, assembly, commercial, educational, industrial, institutional, recreational, and residential buildings. Also covered in this specification are basic design requirements and considerations, and minimum criteria for load and deflections; however, it does not cover design criteria for specific field conditions. Railing systems and rails shall be manufactured with major structural components made of metal and secondary components made of metal, wood, plastics, or glass, and shall withstand forces that may potentially be exerted by building users. Tests for static loading and deflection shall be performed and shall conform to the requirements specified.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers permanent metal railing systems (guard, stair, and ramp-rail systems) and rails (hand, wall, grab, and transfer rails) installed in and for agricultural, assembly, commercial, educational, industrial, institutional, recreational, and residential buildings.
1.2 This specification is intended to be applied to permanent metal railing systems for buildings and to such railing systems and rails having major structural components made of metal, with their secondary components made of metal or other materials such as wood, plastics, and glass.
1.3 This specification considers that today's and tomorrow's overall outlook is based on the health and safety of all potential users of buildings. The criteria incorporated in this specification provide for normal and anticipated building uses, but not for abuses for which the building and its components are not designed.
1.4 This specification establishes basic minimum requirements and criteria that lead to satisfactory products under normal use conditions and does not give consideration to design criteria for specific field conditions, the establishment of which is the prerogative and responsibility of the designer, specification writer, and code agencies.
1.5 Sources of supportive information are listed in the Reference section ().
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
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Designation:E985 −00(Reapproved2006)
Standard Specification for
Permanent Metal Railing Systems and Rails for Buildings
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E985; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
2 bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.1 This specification covers permanent metal railing sys-
tems (guard, stair, and ramp-rail systems) and rails (hand, wall,
2. Referenced Documents
grab, and transfer rails) installed in and for agricultural,
2.1 ASTM Standards:
assembly, commercial, educational, industrial, institutional,
E631 Terminology of Building Constructions
recreational, and residential buildings.
E894 Test Method for Anchorage of Permanent Metal Rail-
1.2 Thisspecificationisintendedtobeappliedtopermanent
ing Systems and Rails for Buildings
metal railing systems for buildings and to such railing systems
E935 Test Methods for Performance of Permanent Metal
and rails having major structural components made of metal,
Railing Systems and Rails for Buildings
with their secondary components made of metal or other
E1481 Terminology of Railing Systems and Rails for Build-
materials such as wood, plastics, and glass.
ings
1.3 Thisspecificationconsidersthattoday’sandtomorrow’s
3. Terminology
overalloutlookisbasedonthehealthandsafetyofallpotential
users of buildings. The criteria incorporated in this specifica- 3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms covering railing
tion provide for normal and anticipated building uses, but not systems and rails for buildings, see Terminology E631 and
for abuses for which the building and its components are not Terminology E1481.
designed.
4. Design Requirements
1.4 This specification establishes basic minimum require-
4.1 Railing Height:
ments and criteria that lead to satisfactory products under
4.1.1 Guardrail Systems:
normal use conditions and does not give consideration to
4.1.1.1 The fabricated height of a guardrail system, mea-
designcriteriaforspecificfieldconditions,theestablishmentof
sured from its top surface to the finished floor level, shall be a
which is the prerogative and responsibility of the designer,
minimum of 1.07 m (42 in.). When variations in the evenness
specification writer, and code agencies.
of the finished floor will result in individual height measure-
1.5 Sources of supportive information are listed in the
ments of the installed guardrail system to be less than 1.04 m
Reference section (1-28).
(41 in.), the fabricated height of the guardrail system shall be
increased accordingly.
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
4.1.1.2 Within an individual dwelling unit, the required
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
railing height is reduced.
only.
(a) Where the vertical distance between adjacent finished
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the
floor levels is less than 1.83 m (72 in.), the height shall be a
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
minimum of 0.81 m (32 in.). When variations in the evenness
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
of the finished floor will result in individual height measure-
ments of the installed guardrail system to be less than 0.79 m
(31 in.), the fabricated height of the guardrail system shall be
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E06 on
increased accordingly.
Performance of Buildings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.56
(b) Where the vertical distance between adjacent finished
on Performance of Railing Systems and Glass for Floors and Stairs.
floorlevelsisaminimumof1.83m(72in.),theheightshallbe
Current edition approved Nov. 15, 2006. Published November 2006. Originally
ε1
approved in 1984. Last previous edition approved in 2000 as E985 – 00 . DOI:
10.1520/E0985-00R06.
2 4
Supporting data have been filed at ASTM International Headquarters and may For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
be obtained by requesting Research Report RR:E06-1000. contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
The boldfaced numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
of this specification. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
E985−00(2006)
aminimumof0.86m(34in.).Whenvariationsintheevenness andthebottomnotmorethan13mm( ⁄2in.)abovetheaverage
of the finished floor will result in individual height measure- finished level at the line of the vertical supports of the railing
ments of the installed guardrail system to be less than 0.84 m system.
(33 in.), the fabricated height of the guardrail system shall be
4.3 Handrail Design:
increased accordingly.
4.3.1 Handrails shall be designed to permit continuous
4.1.1.3 Inpublicassembly,elementaryschool,andmultiple-
sliding of hands. The hardware chosen for attaching handrails
family occupanies where the vertical distance between stair
to balusters or walls shall be such that projecting lugs, devices,
and adjacent levels is more than 4.1 m (20 ft), the required
or other construction elements shall have no sharp edges or
railing height shall be increased beyond that given in 4.1.1.1.
dangerous protrusions.
4.1.1.4 For balconies in public-assembly occupancies, the
4.3.2 Handrail ends shall be returned to supporting walls or
required railing height in front of the first row of fixed seats
otherwisearrangedtoavoidprojectingrailends.Wallhandrails
shall be reduced to 0.66 m (26 in.) provided adequate safety is
at stairs and ramps and other handrails that are not continuous
established by the designer and approved by the authority
shallbeextendedhorizontallyforadistanceofatleast305mm
having jurisdiction; however, it shall be a minimum of 0.91 m
(12 in.) beyond the intersection of the finish line (plane of
(36 in.) at aisle ends and a minimum of 1.07 m (42 in.) where
thread nose lines) of the stair or ramp and the landings, unless
aisle steps occur.
interference limits such an extension.
4.1.2 Handrails and Stair-Rail Systems:
4.3.3 The clearance between the handrail and the mounting
4.1.2.1 In corridors, ramps, walkways, and enclosed stair-
surface or any protrusions from this surface shall be 38 mm
ways having a slope of at least 1 in 20, the height of the
1 1
(1 ⁄2 in.). The handrail shall project no more than 89 mm (3 ⁄2
handrail of the stair-rail systems, measured from its top surface
in.) into the required minimum egress width. The vertical
to the finished floor level or tread-nose line, shall be not less
clearance in a recess shall be in accordance with the provision
than 0.86 m (34 in.) nor more than 0.97 m (38 in.). When a
in 4.4.5.
stair-rail system is higher than 0.97 m (38 in.), a separate
4.3.4 The hand-grip portion of the handrail shall be not less
handrail shall be installed at a height of not less than 0.86 m
than 32 mm (1 ⁄4 in.) nor more than 51 mm (2 in.) in outside
(34 in.) nor more than 0.97 m (38 in.).
diameter.
4.1.2.2 Where required and in childcare and educational
4.4 Transfer Rail Design:
facilities serving children under the age of 12 years, a second
4.4.1 Transfer rails shall be designed to permit continuous
separate handrail shall be permitted to be installed at a
sliding of the arm and hand supporting the body weight during
mounting height of 24 to 28 in. (610 to 710 mm). The vertical
transfer. The hardware chosen for attaching the transfer rails
clearance between the handrails shall be at least 9 in. (230
shallbesuchthatprojectinglugs,devices,orotherconstruction
mm).
elements shall not interrupt the continuous sliding of arm or
4.1.3 Transfer Rail Systems—Where transfer rail systems
hand or catch loose clothing. The transfer rails, including their
are to be installed, such as in toilets and bathrooms, the
fasteners, shall have no sharp edges or dangerous protrusions.
required height, measured from its top surface to the finished
The transfer rail top surface shall not be abrasive.
floor level, shall not be less than 0.76 m (30 in.) nor more than
4.4.2 Transfer rails shall be returned to supporting walls or
0.86 m (34 in.).
otherwise arranged to avoid projecting rail ends.
4.2 Railing System Penetration:
4.4.3 The clearance between the face of the transfer rail and
4.2.1 The various members of the railing system shall be
that of the mounting surface or any protrusions from this
arranged such that a sphere, 140 mm (5 ⁄2 in.) in diameter,
surface shall be 38 mm (1 ⁄2 in.).
cannot be passed through any opening in the system except as
4.4.4 The hand-grip portion of the transfer rail shall have a
noted in 4.2.2. The members shall be arranged to discourage
perimeter of not less than 102 mm (4 in.) nor more than 165
climbing.
mm (6 ⁄2 in.), and a maximum to minimum cross-sectional
4.2.2 In areas protected by a railing system where children
dimension ratio of not more than two.
five years of age or less will be present or have access and
4.4.5 Transfer rails shall not be located in a wall recess
require protection from passing through the railing system, the
unless this recess is not more than 76 mm (3 in.) deep and
various members of the railing system, such as balusters,
extends at least 457 mm (18 in.) above the top of the transfer
screens, wire mesh, or scrolls, shall be arranged in such a way
rail,withtheextensionparallelwiththewallsurfaceorsloping
that a sphere, 102 mm (4 in.) in diameter cannot be passed
fromthedepthoftherecesstothewallsurfaceabovetherecess
through any opening in the system up to a height of 0.66 m (26
in such a way that grasping of the transfer rail and transfer of
in.) above the top surface of the adjacent finished floor.
the body weight are not impeded.
4.2.3 In industrial, commercial, and other nonresidential
4.5 Special Consideration Concerning Performance of
occupancies, where only adults normally will be present or
Structural System—In the event of lateral loading resulting
have access, and in areas where access by the users is
fromwindandseismicforces,thedesignerofthebuildingshall
infrequent, the diameter of the sphere may be increased to 533
evaluate the railing system for not adversely affecting the
mm(21in.)unlessotherconditionswarrantasmallerdiameter.
functioning of the structural system of the building.
4.2.4 Toe boards shall be provided in areas where tools and
other objects could be dislodged and fall on occupants below. 4.6 Permissible Dimensional Tolerances, except where in-
The top of the toe board shall not be less than 102 mm (4 in.) dicated otherwise:
E985−00(2006)
4.6.1 Fabrication tolerances of components shall be within 7.1.3 Where the railing system is installed in public assem-
1 1
61 ⁄2 mm ( ⁄16 in.). bly buildings with rooms and spaces designed for use by 50 or
4.6.2 Alignment tolerances of installed products shall be morepersonssimultaneously,theseminimumconcentratedand
within 66mm( ⁄4 in.) within a length of 6.1 m (20 ft). uniformly distributed test loads shall be 1330 N (300 lbf) and
730 N/m (50 lbf/ft), respectively.
5. Significance and Use
7.1.4 Where the railing system is installed in public assem-
bly buildings with the area protected by the railing system only
5.1 Metal railing systems and rails for buildings usually are
accessible, that is without any physical restrictions to mainte-
designed, manufactured, and installed to withstand forces
nance personnel, these minimum concentrated and uniformly
potentially exerted by the building users.
distributed test loads shall be 890 N (200 lbf) and 290 N/m (20
5.2 The metal railing systems and rails shall not be consid-
lbf/ft), respectively.
ered a part of the structural system of the building unless this
7.1.5 Where the railing system is installed in public assem-
is expressly provided for in the design.
bly buildings with the area protected by the railing system
directly accessible from a public assembly area and with the
6. Design Considerations
width or depth, or both, of this protected area exceeding 1.22
6.1 Purpose and Limitations:
m (4 ft), the minimum concentrated and uniformly distributed
6.1.1 The principal purpose of metal railing systems and
test loads in the horizontal direction shall be 1620 N (365 lbf)
rails is to provide protection for building users against acci-
and 880 N/m (60 lbf/ft), respectively.
dental falls within and beyond, and to prevent passage beyond,
7.1.6 The minimum concentrated test loads to be applied in
the accessible area defined by the system. Railing systems and
the horizontal and vertical downward directions non-
rails are usually not provided at the landing side of loading
concurrently to a transfer rail at any point shall be 1110 N (250
docks and where the vertical distance between adjacent levels
lbf).
is 0.60 m (24 in.) or less, or where there are less than three
7.1.7 The minimum horizontal test load to be applied to the
risers in a stair-flight run.
infillareaofabalusterorpanelrailingsystem(seeTestMethod
6.1.2 The principal purpose of rails is to provide a means of
C of Test Methods E935) shall be 220 N (50 lbf), distributed
assisting in the support of the building users, such as when
2 2
over any round or square area of 0.1 m (1 ft ) located
ascending and descending stairs and when transferring the
anywhere within the infill area.
body weight of physically handicapped persons. In different
7.1.8 The minimum horizontal test load to be applied by a
environments and for different applications, these building
penetration cone to the infill area of a baluster or panel railing
elements serve different purposes; therefore, the design and
system(seeTestMethodDofTestMethodsE935)shallbe220
performance requirements vary. Applicable building
N (50 lbf).
specifications, codes, standards, and other regulatory docu-
7.1.9 The concentrated test load shall be applied with a
ments shall be consulted.
loading bar of appropriate shape and a length of 150 mm (6
6.2 Special Consideration of Adverse Exposure
in.), to the top of the rail nonconcurrently at the line of vertical
Conditions—Provisions shall be made to protect railing sys-
support at the rail-end post and at the rail midspan between the
tems and rails as well as their anchorages against deterioration
three posts (see Fig. 1). If an end post is not included in the rail
resulting from adver
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