Frequently Asked Questions
IN STOCK - PROMPT SHIPMENT
Julius Blum & Co., Inc. is unique in the industry. While most
companies choose to maintain minimal stock, we have always had substantial
quantities on hand of every item we show in our catalog. We take pride in
prompt service and we generally ship within a few days of receiving an
order.
SHIPPING & PACKAGING
All components are produced and handled with great care and protected
for shipment by wrapping and/or crating to assure a product well suited
for architectural work.
Aluminum bars, angles, channels and tubing, except for structural
shapes, are stocked in bundles of approximately 100 pounds. These bundles
are mill wrapped with paper interleaving to protect the surface during
storage and shipment.
Small package shipments are made via UPS. All other shipments are by
common carrier, FOB Carlstadt, New Jersey.
FABRICATION
Julius Blum & Co., Inc. supplies stock materials only and does not
offer custom design, fabricating or installing services. It has always
been our philosophy to never compete with our customers!
If you need some help finding a fabricator, we are always happy to
recommend firms in your area which are familiar with our products.
BUILDING CODE REQUIREMENTS
Building code requirements and safety rules vary from one locality and
from one type of structure to another, and are subject to periodic
revision. Therefore it is incumbent upon designers to acquaint themselves
and comply with the codes and regulations governing each project.
HANDRAIL & GUARDRAIL
Julius Blum & Co., Inc. has always stocked a wide range of handrail
mouldings to suit many needs and conditions, but not all Blum handrails
are suitable for all applications. Accessibility standards and code
authorities often have dimensional limitations on handrail size which
eliminate larger handrail mouldings from consideration. Confirm whether
size limitations apply to your installation before specifying.
Most building codes differentiate between handrail and
guardrail. Handrails are generally defined as being used for
guidance and support while the purpose of guardrails is to
resist accidental falls. Handrail heights are commonly between
34" and 38", while guardrails are 42" in height.
There is often a requirement that a guardrail have a handrail included
as well.
STRUCTURAL STRENGTH AND TESTING
In recent years, load requirements for handrails and guardrails have
increased significantly. It is important to perform the appropriate
calculations to determine the suitability of your chosen handrail and
support system.
For example: many of our ornamental handrail sections, while well
suited for mounting above a picket rail, would tend to exhibit too much
vertical deflection when wall mounted at a standard bracket spacing of
4'-0". Bracket spacing would have to be reduced dramatically, or a
structural support bar added underneath the handrail to allow for better
bracket spacing.
Blum railing systems have been developed to meet industry standards and
code safety requirements when railings are designed in accordance with
engineering data and instructions provided in this catalog. Handrail
brackets and facia mountings have been tested thoroughly. Copies of test
reports are available upon request.
ACCESSIBLE RAILINGS
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) went into effect
January 26, 1992. The ADA . . . requires that all new
places of public accommodation and commercial facilities be designed and
constructed so as to be readily accessible to and usable by persons with
disabilities . . .
In regards to handrail size, the Americans with Disabilities Act
Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) state that: . . . the diameter or
width of the gripping surfaces of a handrail . . . shall be 1-1/4 in to
1-1/2 in . . . or the shape shall provide an equivalent gripping surface.
ADAAG does not define equivalent gripping surface.
This section of ADAAG was taken directly from the
American National Standards Institute (ANSI) document ANSI
A117.1-1980: Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities. The
Council of American Building Officials (CABO) has since published two
revisions of ANSI A117.1. The latest revision,
CABO/ANSI A117.1-1992 is very specific regarding accessible
railings. It states:
4.3.10.7 Handrails shall have a circular
cross-section with an outside diameter of 1-1/4 in (32 mm) minimum and 2
in (51 mm) maximum, or shall provide equivalent graspability in
accordance with the following requirement. Handrails with other shapes
shall be permitted provided they have a perimeter dimension of 4 in (100
mm) minimum and 6-1/4 in (160 mm) maximum, and provided their largest
cross-section dimension is 2-1/4 in (57 mm) maximum.
At the present time, we at least have a written clarification from the
Architecture and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (the Access
Board) - the agency which created and interprets the ADAAG - regarding
handrail size. The Access Board has confirmed that 1-1/4" to 1-1/2" pipe
sizes (1.66" O.D. and 1.9" O.D., respectively) are acceptable for use as
handrails within the ADAAG. Their letter of October 16, 1992 states:
This is to confirm that the Access Board has been informing persons
who request technical assistance regarding the requirements for handrail
size in section 4.26.2 of the Americans with Disabilities Act
Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) that standard pipe sizes
designated by the industry as 1-1/4 inch to 1-1/2 inch are acceptable
for purposes of that section.
You should be aware that although the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA) authorizes the Access Board to provide technical assistance with
respect to ADAAG, the Department of Justice is responsible
for enforcement of certain titles of the Act. This letter provides
informal guidance only. It is not a determination of your legal rights
or responsibilities under the ADA and is not binding on the Access Board
or the Department of Justice.
The letter is signed by James J. Raggio, General Counsel, Access
Board.
Even though the Access Board has clarified that 1-1/4" to 1-1/2" pipe
sizes are acceptable for accessible railings, many local inspectors are
not aware of this clarification and still reject pipe railings. Consult
your local authorities regarding their position. Copies of the letter from
the Access Board are available upon request.
More information on the ADA is available on the web http://www.access-board.gov/.
Additional Information
This FAQ is meant to answer the most common questions about Julius Blum
& Co., Inc.
More information is available on the web through the Sweet's Group.
The NOMMA website has a selection of articles taken from
their periodical Fabricator.
The Council of American Building Officials also has a site (CABO) with information
that may be of interest.
If you have further questions, we are only a phone call or an email away. We look forward to
hearing from you.
.gif){kind=small}
