Handrails shall return to a wall, guard or the walking surface or shall be continuous to the handrail of an adjacent stairflight or ramp run. Where handrails are not continuous between flights, the handrails shall extend horizontally at least 12 inches (305 mm) beyond the top riser and continue to slope for the depth of one tread beyond the bottom riser. At ramps where handrails are not continuous between runs, the handrails shall extend horizontally above the landing 12 inches (305 mm) minimum beyond the top and bottom of ramp runs. The extensions of handrails shall be in the same direction of the stairflights at stairways and the ramp runs at ramps.
Exceptions:
780 CMR, 1012.6