200 lbs. Design Load for Guardrails and Handrails

[SKJ25POL]

Hello fellow engineers/designers:
May I ask if anybody can help me to find out on When did the OSHA’s requirement for designing handrails/guardrails for 200 lbs. point load or 50 lbs./ft. came to effect in U.S.?

Thank you,
Skj

 

[topsisu]

I believe OSHA took effect in the 1970's. A quick look thru our library, I see a 1978 BOCA building code that lists both the 200 lb and 50 plf rules. Our UBC from back then is missing. I think the 200 lb rule was in the original OSHA rules, but our hard copy is long gone. A quick Google search for ANSI A58 (the early version of ASCE-7) comes up with a 1945 PDF copy that list the 50 plf load, but I don't see the 200 lb load mentioned. Hope the info helps.

 

[JStephen]

Just checked, 1971 was the year of OSHA.
It might help to know why you need that (assuming it's not just trivia).
In the past, there have been discussions as to whether that mean 200 lbs without failing or 200 lbs without exceeding allowable stresses or what.
Also, in the past, OSHA specified design loads, but also specified maximum post spacing and minimum member size, and it was not clear if satisfying those requirements was taken to automatically satisfy the loading requirement.
So if you have a handrail designed/built in Year X, and want to know if it was designed/adequate for that load, the answer is "maybe".

 

[SKJ25POL]

Gentlemen,
Thank you so very much for your assistance and information.

Skj