You may see guardrails and handrails everyday and everywhere you go. These devices are everywhere. You can find them in between the opposite lanes of a busy highway, alongside busy walkways, stairways, beside escalators, and many more. These contraptions are ubiquitous, but aren't noticed at first. In other words, many people take these devices for granted. They are, however, very important. Just imagine going up a flight of stairs without support, or imagine a long stretch of road without guardrails: in both instances, without the aforementioned safety devices, these would actually be dangerous places to be in. Rails, by definition, whether they are guardrails or a stainless steel handrail, are safety systems designed to protect people and vehicles from dangerous places. For example, a guardrail in between two opposite lanes of a highway are put there so that if a collision were to occur, cars wouldn't go over the central island and into the opposite lane, in which case an even bigger collision would occur. Handrails, on the other hand, are placed on stairs or corridors, usually where large numbers of people pass through and where there is an immediate danger to these people. For instance, a stainless steel handrail is particularly effective (and required) on staircases. If there was no handrail there, people wouldn't have something to hold onto while they made their way up and there would be no barrier there to prevent them from falling down the sides of the stairs. As there are many locations and situations that call for the use of guardrails and handrails, there are just as many different types of these devices being used around the world. As an example, according to the Engineering Policy Guide, there is a Type A guardrail, which is actually a single W beam rail that has a 6 foot 3 inch post spacing. A Type B guardrail, on the other hand, has a double W beam rail, with the same 6 foot 3 inch post spacing. A guardrail is also a complicated system made out of different components, all designed to provide maximum protection if the unfortunate were to happen. There are also different types of handrails used today. One is a stainless steel handrail that is usually found on stairs and other elevated walkways. It is made out of stainless steel to provide maximum reliability and durability. Another type of handrail is an American colonial deck railing. This is usually used on the elevated patios or decks of houses, and is both decorative and functional. This suits old-style houses because of its colonial-type design, and is used with spindles and newel posts. Being that these systems are used primarily as safety devices, there are organizations and bodies around the world that lay out standards, codes, and guidelines for their construction and installation. As an example, the Australian Standards and the Building Code of Australia lay out the specifications and exact guidelines as to how handrails should be made and installed. All the codes and standards are done and implemented so that you can walk up and down staircases safely and drive through busy roads with added protection and peace of mind.
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