Fire Stair Handrails & Balustrades – Product Overview

Bright Balustrading designs, fabricates, and installs a full range of fire stair handrail and balustrade systems that support safe egress and meet the structural and accessibility demands of today’s compliance-driven environments. These systems are engineered to assist with Fire Safety Upgrade Orders and are ideal for strata-managed buildings, real estate portfolios, commercial facilities, and multi-storey developments.

Our fire stair solutions are fabricated from pre-galvanised steel & hot dip galvanised mild steel, stainless steel, or galvanised steel, with finishes suitable for internal and external use. Each system is built to comply with the National Construction Code (NCC) and Australian Standards, including the latest accessibility standards for fire stairs that form part of the accessible path of travel.

Fire Stair System Types Offered

• Posts with 3 Rail System
  A widely used handrail design featuring a top handrail and two intermediate rails. It ensures adequate support and fall protection in fire stairwells and complies with BCA minimum barrier height requirements.
• 4 Rail System Handrail with Posts
  Offers additional safety and visual delineation. Ideal for fire stairs in high-rise and public-use buildings where higher guardrail containment is necessary.
• Fire Stair Balustrades with Vertical Baluster Infills
  Provides robust fall protection with vertical balusters spaced to meet non-climbable zone requirements. Common in child-access areas, schools, or where horizontal elements are not permitted.

Compliance & Standards

All Bright Balustrading fire stair systems are manufactured and installed in full compliance with:

• NCC/BCA 2022
  • Section D2.17–D2.22 – Stairway, landing, handrail, and barrier requirements
  • B1D4 – Structural provisions for safety and performance
  • Fire Safety Schedules and Upgrade Orders – As issued by local councils or certifiers
• AS 1428.1-2021 – Design for Access and Mobility
  • Applies where fire stairs are designated as part of the accessible path of travel
  • Ensures continuous handrails with 270° gripping surface, returns to wall or floor, non-slip finishes, and compliant height and clearance
• AS1657 – Fixed platforms, walkways, stairways, and ladders
• AS/NZS 1170.0, 1170.1, 1170.2 – Structural Design Actions
• AS/NZS 2312.2 – Durability of protective coatings on aluminium and steel
• AS/NZS 4801 / ISO 45001 – OH&S in construction and installation (where applicable)

Performance

Bright Balustrading’s fire stair handrail systems are engineered to deliver safe, long-term performance across diverse environments:

• Minimum handrail height: 865–1000mm above stair nosings (NCC compliant)
• Minimum barrier height: 1000mm from finished floor level
• Compliant infill spacing: Gaps under 125mm between balusters or rails
• Line load capacity:
  • 0.5–0.6kN/m for handrails
  • 1.5kN/m for balustrades in commercial or public stairs
• Fire-resistant, non-combustible materials suitable for essential safety provisions
• Accessibility compliance to AS 1428.1-2021 where handrails are required to be part of the accessible egress path
• Durable, low-maintenance finishes for high-use and high-exposure stairwells

For Strata Managers, Property Agents & Fire Orders

Bright Balustrading partners with strata committees, real estate managers, and building consultants to deliver fully compliant, cost-effective fire stair upgrades in response to:

• Fire Safety Upgrade Orders (FSUOs)
• Annual Fire Safety Statement (AFSS) non-compliance rectifications
• Safety risk reports or WHS audits
• Strata capital works planning and remedial upgrades

We provide complete service from assessment and design through to certification, ensuring your fire stair systems are compliant, accessible, and durable.

Whether you’re upgrading a compliant exit path in a strata building or replacing a non-conforming stair barrier, Bright Balustrading delivers certified, code-compliant fire stair solutions tailored to meet both regulatory and architectural requirements.

The key difference between fire stair handrails and general access stair handrails lies in their regulatory purpose, required performance, and applicable compliance standards. Here’s a breakdown of the distinctions:

🔥 Fire Stair Handrails (used in fire exits / egress stairs)

Purpose

To provide safe, continuous support for occupants during emergency evacuations via fire-isolated stairs or fire exits, as required by the National Construction Code (NCC).

Key Features & Requirements

• Mandatory for exit stairways forming part of the required exit path under the NCC (BCA Section D).
• Must be non-combustible, structurally robust, and compliant with emergency egress design.
• Often paired with balustrades or guards that meet 1.5kN/m line load requirements (for public-use stairs).
• Handrails must be continuous and extend past the top and bottom risers for ease of use during emergencies.
• Where part of an accessible path of travel, must comply with AS 1428.1-2021, including:
  • 270° gripping surface
  • Compliant height: 865–1000mm
  • Ends returned to wall or post
  • No sharp edges or obstructions

Applicable Standards

• NCC 2022, Section D2.17–D2.22
• AS 1657 – Where industrial-style stairs are used
• AS 1428.1:2021 – If the stair also forms part of an accessible path
• AS/NZS 1170 series – Structural performance
• AS/NZS 2312.2 – Durability (coatings and materials)

Common Applications

• Apartment fire exits
• Commercial egress stairs
• Multi-storey fire-isolated stairwells
• Strata building fire upgrades

🚶 General Access Stair Handrails (used in public, private, or commercial stairs not related to emergency egress)

Purpose

To provide hand support for regular day-to-day use of stairs in non-emergency, general circulation areas.

Key Features & Requirements

• Used in lobbies, foyers, entry stairs, open balconies, and atriums.
• Less stringent structural demands than fire stairs — typically 0.5–0.6kN/m line load is sufficient (unless otherwise classified as public access).
• Aesthetics, finishes, and form may take precedence, especially in residential or design-focused projects.
• Accessibility compliance (AS 1428.1) may apply where the stair is used by the public or is part of an accessible path.
• Can be frameless or stylised (e.g. with decorative balustrades or minimal handrails), depending on the project.

Applicable Standards

• NCC 2022, Section D2.17–D2.18 (still applies, but not under fire-isolated requirements)
• AS 1428.1:2021 – If forming part of an accessible route
• AS/NZS 1170 series – For structural loading
• AS 1288 – If combined with glass balustrades

Common Applications

• Lobby staircases
• Entry stairs in residential buildings
• Internal public staircases not designated for fire egress
• Pool or garden access stairs

🔍 Summary Table