How do you prevent people from sliding down handrails?

One way to deter people from sliding down handrails is to put "buttons" on the rails. These are similar to the fixings used to deter skateboarders on outside seats, rails and planters: domes or lumps fixed to the upper surface of the rail that break up the smooth surface.

There are issues with these:

* check the regulations on what is permitted, because buttons are used as an indicator to the sight-impaired of a break in the stair flight, so you may be creating as hazard for some people, * they can look awful. Newel posts and breaks in the rail with vertical posts can also deter sliders, but again check the regulations on what is permitted, and make sure the handrail can still be grabbed if someone trips, and that a person who needs to use the rail for assistance has a continuous support.

If vertical elements like extended balusters are fixed beyond but clear of the rail, there will be no room for a slider to centre themselves over the rail. These will not be needed all the way up a flight, just often enough to break a flight from being a clear slide, and can comply with accessibility requirements as the rail can be continuous and smooth for the full length. With a little planning they can be a decorative feature as well.