ASTM E985-24

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: E985 − 24
Standard Specification for
1
Permanent Metal Railing Systems and Rails for Buildings
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E985; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
2
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
1.1 This specification covers permanent metal railing sys-
only.
tems (guard, stair, and ramp-rail systems) and rails (hand, wall,
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the
grab, and transfer rails) installed in and for agricultural,
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
assembly, commercial, educational, industrial, institutional,
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
recreational, and residential buildings. However, this standard
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
does not cover metal railing systems installed in and for
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
industrial, commercial, and other non-residential workplace
1.8 This international standard was developed in accor-
occupancies where normally only adults will be present or have
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
access, and for which guardrail or handrail requirements are
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
specified by occupational safety and health safety regulations
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
and standards. This standard does not cover ballasted railing
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
systems.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
1.2 This specification is intended to be applied to permanent
metal railing systems for buildings and to such railing systems
2. Referenced Documents
and rails having major structural components made of metal,
4
2.1 ASTM Standards:
with their secondary components made of metal or other
E631 Terminology of Building Constructions
materials such as wood, plastics, and glass.
E894 Test Method for Anchorage of Permanent Metal Rail-
1.3 This specification considers that today’s and tomorrow’s
ing Systems and Rails for Buildings
overall outlook is based on the health and safety of all potential
E935 Test Methods for Performance of Permanent Metal
users of buildings. The criteria incorporated in this specifica-
Railing Systems and Rails for Buildings
tion provide for normal and anticipated building uses, but not
E1481 Terminology of Railing Systems and Rails for Build-
for abuses for which the building and its components are not
ings
designed.
1.4 This specification establishes basic minimum require-
3. Terminology
ments and criteria that lead to satisfactory products under
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms covering railing
normal use conditions and does not give consideration to
systems and rails for buildings, see Terminology E631 and
design criteria for specific field conditions, the establishment of
Terminology E1481.
which is the prerogative and responsibility of the designer,
specification writer, and code agencies.
4. Design Requirements
1.5 Sources of supportive information are listed in the
4.1 Railing Height:
3
Reference section (1-28).
4.1.1 Guardrail Systems:
4.1.1.1 The fabricated height of a guardrail system, mea-
sured from its top surface to the finished floor level, shall be a
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E06 on
minimum of 1.07 m (42 in.). When variations in the evenness
Performance of Buildings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.56
on Performance of Railing Systems and Glass for Floors and Stairs. of the finished floor will result in individual height measure-
Current edition approved April 15, 2024. Published April 2024. Originally
ments of the installed guardrail system to be less than 1.04 m
approved in 1984. Last previous edition approved in 2006 as E985 – 00 (2006)
which was withdrawn January 2015 and reinstated in April 2024. DOI: 10.1520/
E0985-24.
2 4
Supporting data have been filed at ASTM International Headquarters and may For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
be obtained by requesting Research Report RR:E06-1000. contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
3
The boldfaced numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end Standards volume information, refer to
...