ISO/DIS 12055

Building construction - Guardrail systems and rails for buildings

Construction immobilière - Rampe, main courante et balustrade fixées à demeure dans les bâtiments

Standards Content (sample)

DRAFT INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/DIS 12055
ISO/TC 59/SC 3 Secretariat: BSI
Voting begins on Voting terminates on
2002-07-25 2002-12-25

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR STANDARDIZATION • МЕЖДУНАРОДНАЯ ОРГАНИЗАЦИЯ ПО СТАНДАРТИЗАЦИИ • ORGANISATION INTERNATIONALE DE NORMALISATION

Building construction — Guardrail systems and rails for
buildings

Construction immobilière — Rampe, main courante et balustrade fixées à demeure dans les bâtiments

ICS 91.060.30; 91.120.99

In accordance with the provisions of Council Resolution 15/1993 this document is circulated

in the English language only.

Conformément aux dispositions de la Résolution du Conseil 15/1993, ce document est

distribué en version anglaise seulement.

To expedite distribution, this document is circulated as received from the committee

secretariat. ISO Central Secretariat work of editing and text composition will be undertaken at

publication stage.

Pour accélérer la distribution, le présent document est distribué tel qu'il est parvenu du

secrétariat du comité. Le travail de rédaction et de composition de texte sera effectué au

Secrétariat central de l'ISO au stade de publication.

THIS DOCUMENT IS A DRAFT CIRCULATED FOR COMMENT AND APPROVAL. IT IS THEREFORE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND MAY NOT BE REFERRED TO

AS AN INTERNATIONAL STANDARD UNTIL PUBLISHED AS SUCH.

IN ADDITION TO THEIR EVALUATION AS BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL, TECHNOLOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND USER PURPOSES, DRAFT

INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS MAY ON OCCASION HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR POTENTIAL TO BECOME STANDARDS TO WHICH

REFERENCE MAY BE MADE IN NATIONAL REGULATIONS.
© International Organization for Standardization, 2002
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ISO/DIS 12055
Copyright notice

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While the reproduction of working drafts or committee drafts in any form for use by participants

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Violators may be prosecuted.
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ISO/DIS 12055
Contents

Foreword........................................................................................................................................ iv

1 Scope.................................................................................................................................. 1

2 Normative references.......................................................................................................1

3 Terms and definitions....................................................................................................... 2

4 Significance and use ........................................................................................................ 9

5 Design considerations......................................................................................................9

5.1 Purpose and limitations ................................................................................................... 9

6 Design requirements........................................................................................................9

6.1 General............................................................................................................................... 9

6.2 Height of guardrail systems, rails, and similar building elements .............................. 9

6.3 Guardrail system penetration ........................................................................................ 12

6.4 Handrail design............................................................................................................... 13

6.5 Transfer rail design......................................................................................................... 13

6.6 Special considerations...................................................................................................13

6.7 Permissible dimensional tolerances, except where indicated otherwise ................. 13

7 Minimum design criteria................................................................................................. 14

8 Fixings and anchorage...................................................................................................16

Annex A (normative) Test methods for performance ............................................................... 17

Annex B (normative) Test methods for anchorage................................................................... 27

Annex C (informative) Guardrails in crowded places ............................................................... 33

Annex D (informative) Bibliography ........................................................................................... 37

Annex E (informative) Relevant equivalent North American (U.S.) and British (U.K.) terms 39

iii
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ISO/DIS 12055
Foreword

The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) is a worldwide federation of national

standards bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally

carried out through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a

technical committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee.

International organisations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in

this work.

Draft International Standards adopted by the technical committee are circulated to the member bodies

for approval before their acceptance as International Standards by the ISO Council. They are

approved in accordance with ISO procedures requiring at least 75 % approval by the members voting.

International Standard ISO 12055 was prepared by the Technical Committee ISO/TC 59 on "Building

Construction", SC3 on Functional/User Requirements and Performance in Building Construction,

WG 8 on "Permanent Guardrail Systems and Rails for Buildings".

Users should note that all International Standards undergo revision from time to time and that any

reference made herein to any other International Standard implies its latest edition, unless otherwise

stated.

Attention is drawn to the fact that in certain countries additional/different requirements may be

applicable due to existing national regulations or the equivalent.
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DRAFT INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/DIS 12055
Building construction — Guardrail systems and rails for
buildings
1 Scope

This international standard specifies requirements for the design and construction of permanent

guardrail systems and rails to be provided in and around buildings and places of assembly, designed

and positioned to protect and assist building occupants and users.

This standard concerns the health and safety of all potential users of buildings and concerns

requirements and criteria that lead to satisfactory products under normal use conditions. This

standard does not give consideration to design criteria for such specific field conditions, the

establishment of which is the prerogative and responsibility of the designer, specification writer, and

code agencies involved.
The standard does not apply to:

a) temporary guarding related to building operations and works of engineering construction;

b) guarding related to the moving of vehicles.

This International Standard is written for use by both the technical expert and the non-expert. A

bibliography is provided in annex D to facilitate studies concerning the reasoning behind the

statements made in this standard.

The terms are listed in alphabetical sequence. Compound terms appear in the natural spoken order.

The order of sequence within each term is as follows: Preferred term, abbreviation in brackets, and

synonyms and their status (e.g. equivalent, deprecated). A listing of relevant equivalent North

American (U.S.) and British (U.K.) terms is provided in annex E.
2 Normative references

The following normative documents contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute

provisions of this standard. For undated references, the latest edition of the normative document

referred to applies. For dated references, subsequent amendments to, or revisions of, any of these

publications do not apply. However, parties to agreements based on this standard are encouraged to

investigate the possibility of applying the most recent editions of the normative documents indicated

below.

ISO 6707-1:1989, Building and Civil engineering — Vocabulary — Part 1: General terms and

Part 2: Contract terms
(under revision)

ISO/DIS 10493.1995, Building construction — Fasteners — Tests for determining stability

performance under load

ISO/FDIS 12944, Paints and varnishes — Corrosion protection of steel structures by protective paint

systems
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ISO/DIS 12055
3 Terms and definitions

For the purposes of this International Standard, the terms and definitions given in ISO 6707 and the

following apply.
3.1
baluster
baluster bar (picket)

one of series of closely spaced, upright and usually parallel infill members of a balustrade, located

between top rail or handrail and bottom rail or tread or floor beneath balustrade and providing support

to the top rail
3.2
baluster casting (picket casting)
(1) ornamental cast element attached to baluster
(2) cast element designed to attach baluster to top and bottom rails
3.3
balustrade
baluster guardrail system (picket railing system; baluster railing system)

protective barrier system consisting of posts and rows of balusters capped by top rail or hand rail or

both, and bottom rail if any
3.4
baluster guardrail system
see balustrade
3.5
barrier

element or structure, including parapet, fence, and guardrail, often, but not necessarily, incorporating

infilling, to prevent people from falling, to bar passage, to prevent access, and to retain, stop, guide, or

control the movement of people
3.6
bottom rail
lowest member of guardrail system, supporting balusters or panels where present
3.7
building

structure comprising partially or totally enclosed space, erected by means of planned process of

forming and combining materials. (In the context of this standard, building does not include such a

structure which is designed to accommodate motor vehicles and sports arenas, where special

relevant features must be provided)
3.8
cap
fitting or plug used to close end of pipe or tubular post, newel, or rail
3.9
cap rail (rail cap)

secondary railing element, often, but not necessarily a handrail, fastened to top rail

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ISO/DIS 12055
3.10
collar
cover flange
cover plate
cover ring
rosette
escutcheon

protective or ornamental cover located at termination of post, baluster, or rail against tread, floor, or

wall
3.11
datum

finished surface reference level or grade of floor, ramp, landing, platform, deck, balcony, hatch way,

man hole, floor opening, porch, accessible roof, or nosing line of stairway treads

3.12
design level

height at which horizontal and other forces are, for purposes of design, assumed to act on guardrail,

post or rail
3.13
drop cap

cover of guardrail post or newel, exposed to view, usually below stair stringer or floor

3.14
easement
wreath

compound curved section of rail and handrail, providing continuity and transition of two adjoining and

diverging vertical, horizontal, and inclined sections
3.15
escutcheon
see collar
3.16
expanded metal screen
see screen
3.17
finial

ornamental piece on top of post, newel, or guardrail; frequently in form of urn or pineapple, and so

named
3.18
flange

flat plate or formed piece at end of baluster or rail element for attachment to adjoining construction or

supporting member and to cover up any joint opening
3.19
grab bar
grab rail

short length of rail located for safety or convenience to assist person in movement at a specific

location
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ISO/DIS 12055
3.20
guardrail system
guardrail
guarding (railing system, railing)

system intended to retard, stop, or guide people and providing protection for building users against

accidental fall, located at or near outer edge of stair, ramp, landing, platform, deck, raked seating,

balcony, hatchway, man hole, floor opening, porch, or accessible roof; at perimeter of opening or

accessible area, such as stair opening; or at location at which operating condition requires access

limitation to designated area - see balustrade
3.21
guardrail-system penetration limitation

arrangement of guardrail elements designed to prevent passage of sphere or cone of specified

diameter through guardrail system
3.22
guardrail return

bend at end of handrail, turning toward wall or post to which handrail is attached

3.23
handgrip
part of handrail designed to provide secure grasp
3.24
handrail

horizontal, sloping, or vertical member, normally grasped by hand for guidance or support. (Handrail

may be part of guardrail system and is often, but not necessarily, top rail, or may be attached to

guardrail or mounted on wall or other building element. When part of a stair-rail system, handrail

parallels pitch of stair flight and is often, but not necessarily, the top member)

3.25
handrail bracket
device attached to wall, post, or other surface to support handrail
3.26
handrail height
vertical distance from top surface of top rail or handrail to datum
3.27
infilling (infill)

series of balusters or structural as well as decorative elements of baluster or panel guardrail system,

including panels, screens, mesh, or similar elements of panel guardrail system; located between top

and bottom rails and posts; to serve two-fold purpose of (a) protecting bodies from penetrating and

falling through infill areas and (b) providing specific resistance to horizontal forces as are potentially

encountered. (Infilling shall be designed in such a way as to deter climbing of guardrail system,

especially where the presence of children can be expected)
3.28
infill area

field of baluster and panel guardrail systems, bordered by top and bottom rails and posts

3.29
intermediate rail

horizontal or inclined rail, located between top and bottom rails or between top rail and floor in the

absence of a bottom rail
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ISO/DIS 12055
3.30
kick plate
toe plate
toe board

vertical element at bottom of guardrail system located at such open edges as those of stairwell

platform, ramp, or floor; forming low kerb to provide barrier to prevent objects from falling beyond it;

normally not used for stair guardrail systems
3.31
lamb's tongue

ornamental, curved or tapered fitting terminating handrail, usually tapered to tip end

3.32
lateral scroll

fitting that curves in horizontal plane, used to terminate handrail; often ending as round plate covering

top of post
3.33
low-density occupation

population equal to or less than one person per three square metres of floor or building area

3.34
mid rail

horizontal or inclined rail, located centrically between top and bottom rails or between top rail and floor

in the absence of a bottom rail
3.35
mitre ending (miter)

angular or dove-tailed member end, designed to fit adjacent matching members, thereby providing

continuity of profile at connection
3.36
newel

decorative or structural post member at start or end of stair run, often extending above handrail;

usually square or rectangular in cross section, supporting end of stair guardrail or serving as common

support for ends of two stair guardrails; often, but not necessarily, supporting stair stringer or platform

or both; also centre post of spiral stair
3.37
ogee

moulding (molding) with profile having double curve formed by convex line turning into concave line,

resulting in S-shape in cross-section
3.38
overcrowding

population density equal to or greater than three persons per one square metre of floor or building

area
3.39
panel
flat infilling between top rail, bottom rail, and posts
3.40
panel guardrail system (panel railing system)

system consisting of posts, top rail, bottom rail, and infilling panels with or without infill-panel frames

3.41
picket
see baluster
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ISO/DIS 12055
3.42
pillar (post)
singular vertical supporting member
3.43
queue-guardrail system
see queue-rail system
3.44
queue-rail system

rail system designed to direct movement of people, requiring special consideration for given use

conditions
3.45
rail

horizontal or inclined member of guardrail system, such as top, intermediate, mid or bottom member

connecting balusters or posts, or both, at specified intervals
3.46
rail cap
see cap rail
3.47
ramp-rail system
guardrail system located along open side(s) of ramp
3.48
rosette
see collar
3.49
screen
expanded metal screen
stamped metal screen
wire fabric
wire mesh

perforated sheet consisting of wire mesh, wire fabric, or solid or expanded flattened metal, serving as

infilling panel or integral part of panel guardrail system
3.50
scroll

ornamental, cast or forged, spirally or convolutely shaped element, serving as decorative panel or

infilling
3.51
side mount

guardrail-system support, anchoring post or baluster of guardrail system to vertical or inclined surface,

such as fascia or stair stringer
3.52
spindle

tapered baluster of circular cross section(s), having diameter(s) of central part larger or smaller than

end diameter
3.53
stair-guardrail system
guardrail system located along open side(s) of stair or landing
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ISO/DIS 12055
3.54
toe board
see kick plate
3.55
top rail
uppermost member of guardrail system directly below cap rail if any
3.56
transfer-guardrail system

guardrail system designed to support and permit transfer of body weight in such locations as toilets,

showers, and tub enclosures
3.57
tubular guardrail system
tubular barrier: guardrail fabricated from tubing or pipe
3.58
urn
ornamental vase used as finial
3.59
volute

ornamental spiral or scroll-shaped form serving, for example, as handrail termination

3.60
wall bracket
bracket used for anchoring intermediate supports of handrail to wall
3.61
wall clip
wall flange
bracket used for anchoring end of handrail to wall
3.62
wall handrail
wall rail

handrail attached to wall adjacent to stair and along landings, walkways, ramps, and corridors,

paralleling pitch of stair or slope of inclined floor surfaces
3.63
wall rail return
bend at end of wall handrail, turning toward wall to which handrail is fastened
3.64
wire fabric
wire mesh
see screen
3.65
wreath
see easement
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ISO/DIS 12055
Top rail
Barrier height
End post
Tubular guardrail system
(Pipe railing system)
Baluster guardrail system
(Picket railing system)
1 Top rail
Guardrail system with infill panel
2 End post
3 Barrier height
(Panel railing system)
Figure 1 — Schematic front views of three typical guardrail systems
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ISO/DIS 12055
4 Significance and use

4.1 Guardrail systems and rails for buildings are usually designed, manufactured, and installed to

withstand forces potentially exerted by the building users and, under given conditions, by adverse

environmental exposure.

4.2 Guardrail systems and rails shall not be considered a part of the structural system of the

building unless this is expressly provided for in the design.
5 Design considerations
5.1 Purpose and limitations

5.1.1 The principal purpose of guardrail systems and rails is to provide protection for building users

against accidental falls within, and to discourage passage beyond, the accessible public area

protected by the system. Permanent guardrail systems and rails are usually not provided at the

landing side of loading docks. In dwellings pedestrian guarding systems should be provided that are

capable of preventing people being injured by falling from a height of more than 600 mm. In other

buildings pedestrian guarding systems should be provided that are capable of preventing people from

falling more than the height of two risers (or 380 mm, if not part of a stair).

5.1.2 The principal purpose of rails and handrails is to provide a means of assisting in the support

of the building users, such as when ascending and descending stairs and ramps and when

transferring the body weight of physically handicapped persons. Building regulations, codes, and

standards, as well as other applicable regulatory documents shall be given full consideration.

5.2 Special provisions shall be made to protect guardrail systems and rails as well as their

anchorages against deterioration resulting from adverse environmental exposure conditions

(see ISO 12944). Regular inspection and maintenance shall be scheduled.
6 Design requirements
6.1 General

Applicable permissible stress or limit-state design procedures shall be used whenever required. When

using limit state design, the partial factors for loads and materials shall be those recommended in the

applicable standards.
6.2 Height of guardrail systems, rails, and similar building elements
6.2.1 Guardrail systems

6.2.1.1 The height of a guardrail system, measured from its uppermost surface to the finished

floor level or from above the pitch line of a stair, should be a minimum of 1.10 m in non-residential and

0.90 m in residential buildings. Under specified conditions, intermediate rails shall be installed to

provide for the safety and convenience of the building users.

6.2.1.2 Guardrail heights specified in 6.2.1.1 may in certain circumstances be lowered. Table I

provides additional guidance with regard to specific locations.
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ISO/DIS 12055

6.2.1.3 Where variations in the evenness of the finished floor result in individual height

measurements of the installed guardrail system, or handrail, that are less than the specified

requirement, the fabricated height of the guardrail system or handrail shall be increased accordingly.

Table 1 — Guardrail and handrail heights
Use Position Height
Single family dwelling a In front of windows 800
b Vertical distance between adjacent floor levels less than 800
1,8 m
c Vertical distance between adjacent floor levels equal to or 900
greater than 1,8 m
d External balconies or roof edges 1100
e Stairs, landings, ramps 900
All other uses, e.g. f In front of windows(see footnote 1) 800
multiple-family g Stairs(minimum) 900

occupancies, schools, h Balconies, stands, etc.(in assembly buildings having fixed 800

institutional buildings, seating within 530 mm of the barrier(see footnote 2)
assembly buildings
All other locations 1100

NOTE I This requirement shall not apply if the window and the window fixings are sufficient to

accommodate anticipated and potential forces.

NOTE 2 The relationship between the height and the width of guarding in public auditoria, sports

stadia, grandstands, theatre balconies, and similar locations can affect both sight lines and safety.

Lower and wider guarding may provide the same degree of protection as higher and narrower

guarding. The height of such guarding in front of seating and immediately adjacent to seating

described in Table I can be reduced to a minimum of 750 mm provided adequate safety is

established by the designer.
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ISO/DIS 12055
6.2.2 Stair guardrail systems and handrails
Figure 2 — Guardrail and handrail provision on stairs
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ISO/DIS 12055
Stair guardrail systems and handrails serve two different purposes:

a) Where stairways are situated next to or in the middle of, open wells or open spaces, guardrail

systems designed to prevent persons from falling shall be provided on all open sides. They shall

be not less than 1.1 m high as measured from the pitch line. Hand rails, to be provided at a

height not greater than 1.0 m, as measured from the pitch line, shall be provided on a stairway

and shall be provided on either side of a stairway if the effective width of the stairway exceeds

800 mm.

b) Upstanding hand rails that separate stairways into channels shall have a height of up to 1.0 m as

measured from the pitch line. If installed to a height greater than 1.0 m, appropriate separate

provisions are required for the installation of supplementary handrails Separate provision for

children shall be considered where necessary. A stair in a public building should be divided into

flights which are not wider than 1800 mm by the provision of handrails.

6.2.2.1 In corridors, ramps, walkways, and enclosed stairways having a slope of at least I in 20,

the height of the handrail, measured from its uppermost surface to the finished floor level or tread-

nose line, shall be not less than 0.85 m nor more than 1.00 m. When a stair-rail system is higher than

1.00 m, a separate handrail shall be installed at a height of not less than 0.85 m nor more than

1.00 m. Where children, in addition to adults, are to be the principal users of the building or facility, a

second separate handrail shall be installed ; the mounting height should be between 500 mm and

700 mm, with the vertical clearance between the handrails at least 230 mm in order to reduce the risk

of entrapment.
6.2.3 Transfer rail systems

Where transfer rail systems are to be installed, such as in toilets and bathrooms, the required height

measured from the top surface of the railing or gripping level to the finished floor surface shall be not

less than 750 mm nor more than 850 mm.
6.3 Guardrail system penetration

6.3.1 The design of the guardrail system adopted shall be such as to minimize the risk of persons

falling, rolling, sliding, or slipping through gaps in the barrier.

6.3.2 The various members of the guardrail system, such as rails, balusters, screens, wire mesh, or

scrolls shall be arranged in such a way that a sphere of 100 mm diameter cannot be passed through

any openings in the system or between the guardrail and the associated flooring.

6.3.3 In areas not generally accessible to the public, the diameter of the sphere that cannot be

passed through the guardrail system may be increased to 530 mm unless other conditions warrant a

smaller diameter.

6.3.4 The guardrail members shall be arranged to discourage climbing, that is in such a way that

they cannot serve as stepping elements or as a ladder. In spaces where children can be present the

risk of injury to persons due to climbing or crawling should be addressed in accordance with the use

of the space.

6.3.5 Toe boards shall be provided in any areas where objects are likely to be dislodged and fall on

persons below. The top of the toe board shall be not less than 100 mm and the bottom not more than

15 mm above the average finished level at the supporting area next to the guardrail system.

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ISO/DIS 12055
6.4 Handrail design

6.4.1 Handrails shall be continuous and designed without projecting or countersunk interruptions, to

permit continuous sliding of the user's hand. The hardware chosen for attaching handrails to balusters

or walls shall be such that any projecting lugs, devices, or other construction elements shall have no

dangerous sharp edges or protrusions.

6.4.2 Handrail ends shall be returned to supporting walls or otherwise arranged in such a way to

avoid projecting rail ends. Wall handrails at stairs and ramps and other handrails shall be extended

horizontally for a distance of at least 300 mm beyond the intersection of the finish line (plane of tread-

nose lines) of the stair or ramp and the landings, unless any interference limits such an extension.

6.4.3 The clearance between any handrail and the mounting surface shall recognise the nature of

use and the materials of construction. The clearance between the inner face of the handrail and the

mounting surface shall be not less than 38 mm. The clearance between the handrail and any surface

of a recess shall be sufficient not to impede the grasping of the handrail. The handrail should

wherever possible project no more than 100 mm into the required minimum egress width. If the

projection exceeds 100 mm the effective width of the stairway shall be measured between the

handrails.

6.4.4 The hand-grip portion of the handrail shall be not less than 32 mm nor more than 50 mm

measured outside to o
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