STAIRS
Brick & Stonelaying
Phase 6
BUILDING REGULATIONS
Part K of the Building Regulations 1997, states:
K1 Stairways, ladders & ramps shall be such as to afford safe passage for the users of the building.
213 November 2009
BUILDING REGULATIONS
K2 In a building the sides of every floor and balcony and every part of a roof to which people normally have access shall be guarded to protect users from the risk of falling therefrom.
313 November 2009
BUILDING REGULATIONS
K3 In a building the sides of every
vehicle ramp and every floor and
roof vehicles have access shall be
guarded against the risk of falling
vehicles therefrom.
413 November 2009
BUILDING REGULATIONS
K4 The requirements of this Part apply to
stairways, ladders and ramps which
form part of the structure of a
building.
513 November 2009
TERMS USED IN STAIRWAYS
Flight the part of a stairway between
landings
Going the horizontal distance between
the nosing of the tread or
landing next above it
Pitch the angle between the pitch line
and the horizontal
613 November 2009
TERMS USED IN STAIRWAYS
Rise the vertical distance between the
top of a tread and the top of the
tread or landing next above it or
below it
Stairs a succession of steps and
landings that make it possible to
pass on foot to other levels.
713 November 2009
TERMS USED IN STAIRWAYS
Tapered step a step, the nosing of which
is not parallel to the nosing
of the step or landing next
above it.
Tread the upper surface of a step.
String the parallel beams that
carry the treads and risers,
also forms the pitch
813 November 2009
TERMS USED IN STAIRWAYS
Balustrade the railing, screen or
walling
Landing the platform between flights
of stairway
Nosing the front edge or lip of the
tread
Ramp a sloped surface acting as
a passageway – for
wheelchair access. 913 November 2009
TERMS USED IN STAIRWAYS
PRIVATE STAIRS
means stairs used by a limited number of people who are generally very familiar with the stairs e.g. Internal stairs in a dwelling.
1013 November 2009
TERMS USED IN STAIRWAYS
SEMI-PUBLIC STAIRS
means stairs used by larger numbers of people , some of whom may be unfamiliar with the stairs e.g. Factories, offices shops, common stairs serving more the one dwelling.
1113 November 2009
TERMS USED IN STAIRWAYS
PUBLIC STAIRS
means stairs used by large numbers
of people at one time e.g. places of
public assembly
In stairs which are intended to satisfy
the needs of ambulant disabled people
the rise should not be greater than
175mm and the going should be not less
than 250mm
1213 November 2009
PRIMARY FUNCTIONS
Provide a means of circulation between
floor levels
Establish a safe means of travel between
floor levels
Provide an easy means of travel
between floor levels
Provide a means of conveying fittings &
furniture between floor levels
1313 November 2009
CONSTRUCTION OF STEPS
In any stairs
All of the steps should be of appropriate
dimensions and be of suitable
construction .
All steps should have the same rise
All parallel steps should have the same
going
All tapered steps should have the same
going
1413 November 2009
CONSTRUCTION OF STEPS
For tapered treads the
going should
conform to the same
measurements when
measured as follows:
If the flight is < 900mm
wide measure in the
middle
1513 November 2009
CONSTRUCTION OF STEPS
If the flight is 900mm
wide or more
measure in 270mm
from each side. The
going should
measure at least
75mm at the narrow
end.
1613 November 2009
CONSTRUCTION OF STEPS
1713 November 2009
CONSTRUCTION OF STEPS
• Treads should be level • Steps may have open risers however the
nosing of any tread should overlap the back edge of the one below by at least 16mm
1813 November 2009
CONSTRUCTION OF STEPS
If an open riser stairway is to be used by
children under five years of age it should
be constructed so that a 100mm
diameter sphere cannot pass through the
opening between the treads.
1913 November 2009
CONSTRUCTION OF STEPS
Headroom over the whole width of any stairs should not be less than 2m
2013 November 2009
CONSTRUCTION OF STEPS
In a loft conversion where space is limited,
headroom measured at the centre of the
stairs should be not less than 1.9m but
may reduce to not less than 1.8m at the
side of the stairway if there is a minor
projection.
2113 November 2009
CONSTRUCTION OF STEPS
Width of Stairs
Private stairs should have a clear width
of at least 800mm. For public and semi-
public stairways according to Fire Safety
Document.
Length of Flights
There should be no more than 16 risers
in any one flight.
2213 November 2009
CONSTRUCTION OF STEPS
In places with large numbers of people there should be no more than two consecutive flights consisting of max 12 risers without a change of direction
2313 November 2009
CONSTRUCTION OF STEPS
A level landing should be provided at the
top and bottom of every flight. The
landing may include part of the floor. The
width and going of the landing should be
at least the width of the smallest width of
the flight.
2413 November 2009
CONSTRUCTION OF STEPS
Landings should be level except where
they are formed by the ground. Then
they may slope up to 1:50 provided the
ground is paved and textured.
Landings should be clear of permanent
obstruction.
2513 November 2009
CONSTRUCTION OF STEPS
Handrails
A stairway should have a handrail on at
least one side if it is less than 1000mm
wide. It should have a handrail on both
sides if it is wider.
Handrails may not be necessary beside
the two bottom steps of a stairway.
2613 November 2009
CONSTRUCTION OF STEPS
Handrails should be at a height of between
840mm and 1000mm measured
vertically above the pitch line. They must
give firm support. A handrail may form
the top of the guarding if the height is
suitable.
2713 November 2009
CONSTRUCTION OF STEPS
Stairways which will regularly be used by
elderly or physically disabled people
should ideally have handrails on both
sides of the stairs. These should be no
more than 900mm apart so that both
handrails can be gripped at the same
time.
2813 November 2009
CONSTRUCTION OF STEPS
Guarding
Stairways should be guarded at the
sides except where the total rise is no
more than 600mm.
Suitable guarding would include:
A wall
Screen
Railing or balustrade
2913 November 2009
CONSTRUCTION OF STEPS
The minimum height of guarding on private
stairs is 840mm on flights and 900mm on
landings. For common (public) stairs
they are 900mm on flights and 1100mm
on landings.
A guarding should be capable of
withstanding considerable horizontal
force.
3013 November 2009
CONSTRUCTION OF STEPS
The maximum pitch for a stairway should
not exceed the following:
Private stairway 42˚
Public stairway 33˚
3113 November 2009
FIXED LADDERS
A fixed ladder should have fixed handrails
on both sides. It should not be used as
primary access to a habitable room.
3213 November 2009
CONCRETE STAIRS
Cast In-Situ Stairs
A reinforced concrete stairs can be
described as an inclined slab spanning
from either
Floor to floor
or
Floor to landing.
3313 November 2009
CONCRETE STAIRS
As the slab is spanning
from floor to floor or
floor to landing the
main reinforcing bars
run in this direction
with the distribution
bars at right angles
to these
3413 November 2009
CONCRETE STAIRS
The depth of the slab is the distance from the angle of tread and
riser to the bottom of the slab.
3513 November 2009
CONCRETE STAIRS
This is known as the waist of the stairs and
is minimum 100mm deep. The depth can
vary depending on the design of the
stairs.
3613 November 2009
COMMON FAULTS IN STAIRS
The most common faults in stairs are:
RISERS OF UNEQUAL HEIGHTS.
UNEQUAL GOINGS TO TREADS.
TOO STEEP A PITCH TO THE
STAIRWAY.
INSUFFICIENT OR NO HANDRAILS.
POOR LIGHTING
3713 November 2009