Lamb's tongue

[mtCDCcb]

Does a handrail that ends in an lamb's tongue meet the continuity requirements for a residential handrail? See following pictures as examples.
http://ironanvil.net/wp-content/gallery ... -14710.jpg
http://www.artisticrail.com/details/jpegs/ET-03.jpg

[Jerry Peck - Codeman]

[Jerry Peck - Codeman]

I thought it might be good to expand my answer above:

Handrail ends need to be returned to help prevent (help reduce the risk of) loose clothing and other items (such as straps) from catching on the handrail end and causing or leading to a fall on a stair.

When the handrail is returned to the wall, the loose clothing and other items are not caught on the handrail end, the loose clothing and other items can slide around and off the returned-to-the-wall end.

With a turnout, starting easing or volute, the risk of loose clothing and other items getting caught is also reduced versus just the end of the handrail as there is a post below the starting easing, turnout or volute - whereas the end of a non-returned handrail just continues and projects straight out, and around which many things can easy get caught.

Returning the handrail to the newel post as shown in your second photo is not the same as returning to a wall, nor is it the same terminating into a newel post where the post is at the end of the handrail.

I am including the section from the 2012 IBC which addresses the returning of handrails as it more fully describes it and includes the returning the handrail to a wall, guard, or walking surface (floor): (bold and underlining are mine)
- 1012.6 Handrail extensions.
- - Handrails shall return to a wall, guard or the walking surface or shall be continuous to the handrail of an adjacent stair flight or ramp run. Where handrails are not continuous between flights, the handrails shall extend horizontally at least 12 inches (305 mm) beyond the top riser and continue to slope for the depth of one tread beyond the bottom riser. At ramps where handrails are not continuous between runs, the handrails shall extend horizontally above the landing 12 inches (305 mm) minimum beyond the top and bottom of ramp runs. The extensions of handrails shall be in the same direction of the stair flights at stairways and the ramp runs at ramps.
- - - Exceptions:
- - - - 1. Handrails within a dwelling unit that is not required to be accessible need extend only from the top riser to the bottom riser.
- - - - 2. Aisle handrails in rooms or spaces used for assembly purposes in accordance with Section 1028.13.
- - - - 3. Handrails for alternating tread devices and ship ladders are permitted to terminate at a location vertically above the top and bottom risers. Handrails for alternating tread devices and ship ladders are not required to be continuous between flights or to extend beyond the top or bottom risers.

Is the handrail in your second photo considered as being 'returned to the guard' - in my opinion, not in a way which would reduce the risk of loose clothing being caught on it, but the code (the IBC) only says 'returned to the guard' and the IRC only says 'returned', I might consider the one in the second photo as being returned if it did not turn upward and back in, if it returned to the end newel post (end of the guard) and then terminated into it.