A stair balustrade is the complete structure designed to protect against falls from the open side of a staircase. A handrail is the part intended to provide a handhold, while a top rail is the upper finishing element of a balustrade. Depending on the design, a top rail may also serve as a handrail.
A handrail can be fitted to the balustrade or mounted separately on a wall. Different terms are sometimes used for this gripping element. On certain balustrades, the top rail can also serve as a handhold. A stair balustrade on the open side of a staircase can be combined with a wall-mounted handrail on the other side, while some frameless glass balustrades can be designed without a top rail.
