How to Create Railings

The Railings tool is one of the most frustrating tools within Revit as most often workarounds are required to achieve the dimensionally accurate set out and heights required for the real world construction.

Use this command to create Fences, Balustrades, Handrails and Railings.

This article will take you through the various steps to create the parts required to build a complete Railing System. It will explain what is possible along with the limitations.

Hosting

Railings can be freestanding or hosted to other elements including:

Levels (free-standing Railings)
Floors (re-hosting afterwards)
Walls (re-hosting afterwards)
Ramps (automatically during Ramp creation or re-hosting afterwards)
Stairs (automatically during Stair creation or re-hosting afterwards)
Toposurface/Toposolids (re-hosting afterwards)

Understanding the components of a Railing

In order to create a Railing you need to understand all of its components and their function within the system.

The components that make up a Railing System

Railing Types and their components

A Railing Type is structured from the following components:

Rails

Any horizontal rail other than the Top Rail and the Handrail is created as a Rail. They can be used to constrain the baluster bottom or top constraints and consist of a 2D profile, height and material.

Profile Family & Type for each Rail

Balusters / Posts

The vertical elements of the Railing system. Their shape and parameters are defined within a Baluster Family and traverse between Rails. If the Post property is checked, the Baluster can have a fixed height and ignore the Rails. The spacing can be controlled in the Edit Baluster Placement dialog.

Baluster Family & Types for each baluster in the pattern

Top Rail

The Top Rail is the highest horizontal element of the Railing. It is defined by selecting a 2D profile height and material. Top Rails have additional functionality from a Rail as they can have Extensions and Terminations assigned.

Profile Family & Type for the Rail
- Termination Family & Type for the Beginning/End or Bottom/Top of the Rail (if applicable)

Handrail 1 (Adult Handrail)

A handrail is typically an intermediate rail that is fixed to a wall or balusters using supports. Handrails differ from Top Rails with the ability to set a Support Type and spacing.

Profile Family & Type for the Rail
- Support Family & Type for the Rail (if applicable)
- Termination Family & Type for the Beginning/End or Bottom/Top of the Rail (if applicable)

Handrail 2 (Child Handrail - if applicable)

A handrail is typically an intermediate rail that is fixed to a wall or balusters using supports. Handrails differ from Top Rails with the ability to set a Support Type and spacing.

Profile Family & Type for the Rail
- Support Family & Type for the Rail (if applicable)
- Termination Family & Type for the Beginning/End or Bottom/Top of the Rail (if applicable)

Rail 2D Profile

A Rail in Revit is a sweep of a 2D profile family. You can create any 2D profile easily, just ensure you set it out correctly in the family so the top of the rail matches the Rail Top reference plane and its centred on the Centreline.

Extension

These allow you to extend the Rail in different ways, including None, Wall, Floor, Post and assign how far to extend the Rail and whether to include a Tread Depth (for stairs).

None: Straight extension continuing the path
Wall: Sets a 90° bend in plan towards the wall
Floor: Sets a 90° bend in elevation towards the floor
Post: Does 2x 90° bends in elevation back to the start/end post.

Supports

A loadable family which can be applied to Handrails and positioned at equal spacings (wall fixings) or aligned with Posts (post fixings). These can have their positioned adjusted afterwards by unpinning them and dragging them to the desired locations.

Termination

A loadable family allowing you to model custom end conditions to the Handrail typically to comply with codes such as adding 180° returns.

Baluster Family

The Baluster families make up all the balusters, whether they are a post or a baluster. They allow you to create any custom geometry you require and can be made parametric based upon the slope of the host as well as control heights and any other desired functionality.

Slopes are the only available Instance parameters that can be used. All other parameters must be Type parameters.

Railing System Type Properties

Below outlines the Type Parameters that control the appearance of a Railing System.

Name	Description

Name	Description
Construction
Railing Height (read only)	The height of the top-most rail in the railing system.
Rail Structure (Non-Continuous)	Opens a separate dialog where you set the number of rails, height, offset, material, and profile family (shape) for each rail.
Baluster Placement	Opens a separate dialog where you define baluster patterns.
Baluster Offset	Offsets the balusters from the rail sketch path Handrails & Top Rails with their associated Terminations/Supports will also offset with the Balusters. Only the Rail Structure will operate independently as defined in the Rail Structure dialog in relation to the rail sketch path.
Use Landing Height Adjustment	Controls the height of railings at landings. No. Railings and landings use the same height as they do over stair runs. Yes. The railing height is adjusted up or down by the amount set for Landing Height Adjustment. To get smooth railing connections, set the Tangent Joins parameter to Extend Rails to Meet.
Landing Height Adjustment	Raises or lowers the height of the railing from the value indicated in the Railing Height parameter at intermediate or top landings. Note: When using Landing Height Adjustment Revit adjusts the height of all Rails including Top Rails & Handrails. This is undesired as typically Bottom Rails and Midrails should remain at the same height. Revit requires a Landing Height Adjustment parameter for Top Rail’s and Handrails that works independently to the main Landing Height Adjustment. Refer to this Feature Request to add your support.
Angled Joins	If 2 railing segments meet at an angle in plan but do not connect vertically, you can select from the following options: Add Vertical/Horizontal segments. Creates a join. Add No Connector. Leaves a gap. This property can be used to create a continuous railing where the start of a stair run leading up from a landing cannot be displaced by one tread width. Join methods can be overridden on a connection-by-connection basis.
Tangent Joins	If 2 tangent railing segments are collinear or tangent in plan but do not connect vertically, you can select from the following options: Add Vertical/Horizontal segments. Creates a join. Add No Connector. Leaves a gap. Extend Rails to Meet. Creates a smooth connection. This property can be used to create a smooth junction when the railing height is modified at a landing or the railing turns out at the bottom of a stair. Join methods can be overridden on a connection-by-connection basis.
Rail Connections	If Revit cannot create mitre joins when connections are made between railing segments, you can select one of the following options: Trim. Segments are cut with a vertical plane. Weld. Segments are joined in a manner as close to a mitre as possible. Welded connections work best for circular rail profiles.
Top Rail
Height	The height of the top rail in the railing system.
Type	Specifies the type of top rail. (pick form the dropdown selector)
Handrail 1
Lateral Offset (read only)	Reports the Baluster Offset value described above.
Height (read only)	The height of the handrail specified in the handrail type properties.
Position	Specifies the position for the handrail in relation to the railing system: Left Right Left and Right
Type	Specifies the type of handrail. (pick form the dropdown selector)
Handrail 2
See property definitions for Handrail 1

Railing System Instance Properties

Below outlines the instance parameters that control the appearance of a Railing System.

Name	Description

Name	Description
Constraints
Base Level	Specifies the base level for the railing system when it is not hosted on a stair or ramp. If the railing was automatically placed when the stair was created, this value is determined by the stair's base level.
Base Offset	For a railing system not hosted on a stair or ramp, this value is the distance from the floor or level to the bottom of the railing system.
Offset from Path	Specifies the railing offset from the edge of treads, stringers, or paths on other hosts. When the railing is automatically placed during stair creation, you select to place the railing on the treads or stringers.

Top Rail & Handrail Type Properties

A Railing System can have embedded Top Rail and Handrail Types. Below outlines the parameters that control the appearance of the Top Rails and Handrails.

Name	Description

Name	Description
Construction
Default Join	Specifies the type of join for the handrail or top rail as either Mitre or Fillet.
Default Join = Fillet Fillet Radius	If a fillet join is specified, this value sets the fillet radius. Note: Ensure there is adequate space for the fillet join with the desired radius to be created. For example if you have 2x 90° bends in close proximity, IE: 100mm or less then Revit will be unable to create the fillet and will revert to a mitred join.
Hand Clearance	Specifies the distance from the outside edge of the handrail to the wall, post, or column that the handrail is attached to.
Height (Handrail only)	Specifies the height of the top of the handrail from the floor, tread, stringer, ramp, or other host surface.
Profile	The profile family and type specifying the shape for the continuous rail.
Projection	Specifies the distance from the inside edge of the handrail to the wall, post, or column that the handrail is attached to.
Transitions	Specifies the type of transition used in the handrail or top rail. None In a stair system that includes a landing, the inside rail will end at the nosing of the first or last tread on the landing. Gooseneck Used where there are tight transitions and complex rail profiles. Simple Used where there are tight transitions with a circular rail profile.
Materials and Finishes
Material	Specifies the material for the handrail or top rail. Click the value and then click the browse button to open the Materials dialog.
Supports (Handrail only)
Family	Specifies the handrail support family and type. Tip: Build in rotation parameters to your support family based upon a Riser Height and Tread Depth value. Then enter the Tread Depth and Riser Height value into your instance properties of the Support family and it will rotate to keep perpendicular to the rail. You may also need to add a flip check box to allow it to invert the rotation based upon the direction of the slope.
Layout	Specifies the positioning of the handrail supports: None No Supports are required (you may have built brackets into the posts themselves) Fixed Distance Specify the distance using the Spacing property and justification property defined below. Align with Posts Supports are automatically placed and centred horizontally on each post in the railing system. However, only Start, End and Corner posts are considered posts. Posts that are positioned through the baluster pattern are not considered, even if the family has the “post” option ticked. Fixed Number Specify the number of supports using the Number property defined below. Maximum Spacing Places the maximum number of supports along the railing system without exceeding the Spacing value. Minimum Spacing Places the maximum number of supports that will fit along the rail path without going below the Spacing value. Note: Additional supports can be added by simply copying an existing one on the Handrail. It will automatically adjust the height and orientation based upon its position along the rail. Supports can easily be repositioned by using the Tab key to cycle through and left click to select the individual support, then unpinning the support and dragging it to the new location. This also allows you to apply a different support family and type for this location or delete a support that is not required.
Spacing	Specifies the spacing value used with the associated Layout preference.
Justification	Specifies the justification option for supports placement: Begin Lower end of the rail if it was placed automatically on the stair, or the position of the first click if the rail was placed manually. Centre Centred along the entire handrail path. End Upper end of the rail if it was placed automatically on the stair, or the position of the last click if the rail was placed manually.
Number	If the Layout is set to Fixed Number, this value specifies the number of supports used.
Extension (Beginning/Bottom)
Extension Style	Specifies the attachment preference for the rail extension (if any). None Wall Floor Post Note: The Post extension style does not provide any control over the vertical height of the return. The Post extension style returns to the closest extent of the Post family, so if you have a base plate that extends beyond the vertical post element, the rail will stop short.
Length	Specifies the length of the extension.
Plus Tread Depth	Select this option to add one tread depth to the length of the extension. Note: This option is used to meet required Railing codes such as AS1428.1
Extension (End/Top)
Extension Style	Specifies the attachment preference for the rail extension (if any). None Wall Floor Post
Length	Specifies the length of the extension.
Terminations
Beginning/Bottom Termination	Specifies the family & type of termination for the beginning/bottom of the top rail or handrail. 180° Scroll Termination
End/Top Termination	Specifies the family & type of termination for the end/top of the top rail or handrail.