Handrails on stairways are a critical element of accessible design under AS 1428.1 (2021), providing continuous guidance, stability, and confidence for people with reduced mobility, balance impairments, or vision limitations. The Standard requires handrails to be continuous along both sides of a stair flight, with a consistent profile, appropriate clearance from adjacent surfaces, and a height typically between 865mm and 1000mm above the nosings. Equally important are the handrail extensions at the top and bottom of each flight, which are intended to provide a clear cue that a change in level is occurring and allow users to stabilise themselves before ascending or descending.
Clause 9 of AS 1428.1 (2021) requires handrails to extend horizontally beyond the first and last riser by not less than 300mm, with returned ends or a 180-degree turn-down to reduce the risk of clothing being caught. These extensions are not merely prescriptive—they serve a functional purpose in supporting safe, independent use of the stairway.
In practice, there are situations—particularly in constrained refurbishments or tight stair cores—where achieving the full 300mm extension on landings is not feasible. In these cases, strict compliance may not be achievable, and the design must consider how to maintain the intent of the Performance Requirements. Common responses include returning the handrail to a wall or newel post as early as practicable, minimising the reduction in extension length, and ensuring the handrail remains continuous and easily graspable at the transition.
From a performance perspective, the key consideration is whether users can still identify the start and end of the stair and maintain support during transition. Where full extensions cannot be achieved, a well-justified Performance Solution may demonstrate that the reduced extension, combined with clear visual cues and continuous handrail geometry, provides an equivalent level of safety and usability.