Handrail question

[Renee Healion]

Thanks. I recall looking at a site which sold them and still could not fathom their use.
Americans are way too fat to egress those windows!

 

[Hermantribe]

Does FHA REALLY require a handrail at all steps and stairs, for safety reasons? I have one I conditioned for a front step (just one) because I personally tripped on it. But then, I'm a klutz anyway. I need to actual page or specific place in the 4000.1 hand book if anyone knows it. TIA

 

[CANative]

Does FHA REALLY require a handrail at all steps and stairs, for safety reasons? I have one I conditioned for a front step (just one) because I personally tripped on it. But then, I'm a klutz anyway. I need to actual page or specific place in the 4000.1 hand book if anyone knows it. TIA

There is no specific "handrail" MPR. It's lumped into "health and safety" which is opinion territory for the appraiser.

 

[andrew81]

ii. As-Is Condition and Cosmetic Repairs
The Appraiser may complete an as-is appraisal for existing Properties when minor
property deficiencies, which generally result from deferred maintenance and normal wear
and tear, do not affect the health and safety of the occupants or the security and
soundness of the Property. Cosmetic or minor repairs are not required, but the Appraiser
must report and consider them in the overall condition when rating and valuing the
Property. Cosmetic repairs include missing handrails that do not pose a threat to safety,
holes in window screens, cracked window glass, defective interior paint surfaces in
housing constructed after 1978, minor plumbing leaks that do not cause damage (such as
a dripping faucet), and other inoperable or damaged components that in the Appraiser’s
professional judgment do not pose a health and safety issue to the occupants of the house.

in your personal judgement, does it pose a thread to safety?

 

[CANative]

I almost posted the same paragraph Andrew before I saw your last post.

There is an 18" requirement but that is for default servicing. And for proposed or new construction (less than 12 months) MPS is followed and local building code applies.

 

[andrew81]

subject to house being torn down and rebuilt 8 feet from pool

 

[Tim The Enchanter]

subject to house being torn down and rebuilt 8 feet from pool

Plus, eliminate all stairs.

 

[CANative]

Is it okay to use hand-me-down handrails?

 

[The Bob]

I just had one (Conv) where I called for safety rails and the lender pushed back a little and asked "is this really a safety issue?"

Front stoop with 4 steps, over 30" above grade. I think that's a safety issue.
I've done hundred's of appraisals for NPDC and I've seen contractors putting rails up for as few as 2 steps.
In my search for a definitive answer, I found this.

 

[Don Clark]

As some have pointed out, there is more of a safety issue than just with handrails. Might be a good idea to put a railing around the top of the concrete wall. The photo does not show enough to say for sure if that is a good idea.

It's a VA Appraisal. Go by what VA requires.