Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles. Sherman Oaks is a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California, founded in 1927 with boundary changes afterward. The neighborhood includes a portion of the Santa Monica Mountains, which gives Sherman Oaks a lower population density than some other areas in Los Angeles.
Building codes and research findings do not completely agree over how to place handrails so they might serve the above functions. Research done by Maki and Fernie (1988) indicates a handrail height of 36 to 40 inches is most effective in preventing falls when descending stairs.
Bottom Line. Install stair handrails at the height suggested by national and state building codes, which is 30 to 34 inches. If no codes regulate stair handrail height in your area, you have the freedom to install the rails at a different height, but as suggested, 36 to 40 inches is the best for preventing falls.