Stair balustrade height in Italy: regulations, dimensions and brass design

YDF has made bespoke metalwork in Carimate (CO) since 1972, producing railings, balustrades and handrails, including in brass, to architects' and interior designers' drawings. Here we organise the figures, measurements, NTC 2018 requirements and design choices for brass, identifying the relevant section of the decree for each value: differing guidance circulates on this subject.

Staircase balustrade height: what the regulations say

The Italian national reference is Ministerial Decree No. 236 of 14 June 1989, concerning the removal of architectural barriers. It addresses stairs in two sections: 4.1.10 under design criteria and 8.1.10 under functional and dimensional specifications.

Three points to consider before using these figures:

• These are national minimum values. Municipal building regulations may require greater heights or additional measures, for example concerning forms that make a balustrade easy to climb.
• They concern geometry, not strength. A 1-metre-high balustrade must also withstand the loads specified by NTC 2018 (see below).
• They apply in Italy. Other countries have different rules.

Balustrade or handrail: 90 or 100 cm?

Balustrades and handrails have different functions and therefore different values.

• The balustrade is the barrier at an open edge: it prevents falls from the flight or landing. It must be at least 1.00 m.
• The handrail provides support for the hand when going up or down stairs. It must be positioned between 0.90 and 1.00 m.

It follows that '90 cm' is not the height of a balustrade: it is the lower limit for a handrail. A balustrade 90 cm high does not meet the decree's minimum, even if it has a handrail on top. When the handrail forms the upper edge of a balustrade 1.00 m high, the two values coincide. If the balustrade is taller, whether by design choice or municipal regulations, a separate handrail is added between 0.90 and 1.00 m, with at least 4 cm clearance.

How to measure balustrade height

The decree gives the values but does not describe in detail which point on the step is used as the reference. Clarify this with the designer at the outset. The most common practical rules are:

• On landings and floors the height is measured vertically from the finished walking surface, meaning the installed floor, to the top edge of the balustrade.
• On a flight of stairs measure vertically from the step, normally at the tread nosing. Connecting the nosings gives the pitch line: the top of the balustrade runs parallel to it, keeping the height constant along the flight.
• Elements that can be stood on, such as plinths, upstands or low horizontal rails, may change the point from which the height is measured. Check the requirements of your local municipal regulations.
• The 10 cm sphere must be checked at every point: between posts, in perforated panels, between the balustrade and wall, and in the gap between the bottom of the balustrade and the steps.

NTC 2018: how much load a balustrade must withstand

The 2018 Italian Technical Standards for Construction, in §3.1.4 and Table 3.1.II, set variable loads according to the use category of the space: residential, offices, areas where people may gather, commercial premises and others. For each category, they also specify the horizontal load to consider for balustrades and handrails.

The same design may be suitable for a home but require different sections or fixings in a shop. We deliberately do not reproduce the values: they must be read in the current regulations. Verification is the structural designer's responsibility, covering profiles, posts, welds, fixings and the staircase structure to which the balustrade is anchored.

Designing a brass balustrade

The rules do not change with the material; construction, finish and installation do. Here are the choices, in the order we address them with designers for bespoke internal staircase balustrades.

Types: sheet metal, tubes, posts and glass

• Brass sheet panels, solid or laser-perforated: these provide a continuous surface and allow geometric patterns. Every opening must comply with the 10 cm rule.
• Tube and uprights: round, square or rectangular tubes. With 3D tube laser cutting we create holes, slots and interlocking joints. Upright spacing is determined by the 10 cm sphere.
• Glass with a brass handrail: the glass forms the balustrade, while the brass handrail remains the element people touch. The glass must also be sized by the designer.
• Curved or spiral: the profiles are made using sheet metal rolling and tube bending to fixed or variable radii. A highly accurate survey of the staircase is needed.

The structure: solid brass or a steel core?

Brass is ductile but less stiff than steel. There are two common approaches:

• Solid brass for handrails, profiles and lightly loaded parts, with sections sized through calculations.
• Steel core clad in brass for posts and load-bearing parts: the steel provides support, while the brass provides the appearance. Joints require care so the cladding shows no gaps or differences in tone.

Brass handrail finishes: polished, satin and burnished

• Polished: reflects light to striking effect, but shows fingerprints and signs of use.
• Satin: satin finishing and protective lacquer. It conceals marks better and is a practical choice for heavily used staircases.
• Burnished: burnishing, brushing and a protective coating. With use, the areas touched most become lighter, which many designers consider an attractive quality.

For maintenance, a soft cloth and neutral detergent are generally enough. Avoid abrasives and aggressive products, which damage the protective coating.

Other finishes, from bronze tones to antique brass, are shown on the page brass finishes.

Floor-mounted or side-mounted fixings

• Side mounting to the side of the staircase: this keeps the tread clear and gives the balustrade a lighter appearance.
• Floor mounting on the step or landing: simpler, but it remains visible on the tread.
• Anchors, plates and screws are selected according to the substrate (reinforced concrete, steel or wood) and concealed with caps or covers in the same finish.

The fixing method changes how horizontal loads are transferred to the staircase, so it is decided with the structural designer. A survey before production and, where needed, trial assembly in the workshop avoid on-site adjustments that would damage the finish. This is handled by our bespoke design development.

A YDF project: spiral brass balustrade

For the refurbishment of a high-fashion boutique in Paris (2012), YDF made a bespoke brass balustrade, with a spiral form, handling engineering, manufacture and installation on site.

Another example, in glass: the monumental Ermenegildo Zegna staircase in Rome (2012), with stone and polished stainless steel steps, glass balustrades and leather handrails. Other projects are shown on the page Projects.

Are you designing a staircase with a brass balustrade or handrail? We start from the designer's drawings and support you with engineering, finish samples and manufacturing. Request a quotation or samples.

This article is for information and does not replace a design specification. Before designing, check your municipality's building regulations and appoint a qualified designer to determine the dimensions and structural requirements.