Supplementary Guidance On The Design Of Stairs To Help .

Supplementary guidance onthe design of stairs to helpachieve compliance with theBuilding RegulationsPrinted on recycled paper containinga minimum of 75% post-consumer waste

Supplementary guidance on the design of stairs to helpachieve compliance with the Building Regulations1.0Introduction2.0Stairs serve many different functions ina building e.g. a mean of escape, ameans of access for ambulant disabledpeople or an effective and simplemeans of vertical circulation, orsometimes a combination of these.Functional requirements and guidanceon compliance for stairs are given invarious Parts of the BuildingRegulations namely:Purpose of this guidanceThe choice of stairs is cruciallydependent on the designersunderstanding of the function of thestairs under consideration i.e.approach, access, circulation, egress orany combination of these. Thissupplementary guidance document wasdeveloped as a tool to assist buildingprofessionals readily determine some ofthe key criteria of stairs design andexpresses the individuality of some ofthe key stairs design criteria. Part K (Stairways, Ladders, Rampsand Guards) for stairs in general,The Technical Guidance Documentsgive guidance on minimum standards.Those involved in the design andconstruction of buildings should havealso have regard to the principles ofUniversal Design and consider makingadditional provisions where practicaland appropriate. Part B (Fire Safety) for escape, and Part M (Access and Use) for stairssuitable for ambulant disabledpeople.Designers should refer to the relevantPart and accompanying TGD whendesigning stairs.3.0 Technical Guidance Document K(Stairways, Ladders, Ramps andGuards) contains the primaryguidance document on stairs designin an overall sense when the stairs islocated within (or immediatelyoutside) a building.How to use the supplementaryguidanceThe guide is presented in 3 tables. Table 1 deals with external stairsoutside a building other than adwelling. Technical Guidance Document B(Fire Safety) considers, inter alia thestairs design criteria that need to beaddressed with respect to safeegress and is very much dependenton the building purpose group,building occupancy level, etc. Table 2 deals with internal stairs in abuilding other than a dwelling. Table 3 deals with both internal andexternal stairs in an about dwellings.Compliance with this supplementaryguidance does not confer immunityfrom compliance with the BuildingRegulations (or any other Regulations). Technical Guidance Document M(Access and Use) in the context ofstairs has an objective to provideindependently accessible approachto the main entrance(s) of a buildingand means of circulation around abuilding4.0Further readingC722 Safer stairs in public places assessment of existing stairs - CIRIA(2013)Where works are carried out inaccordance with the TGDs, this will,prima facie, indicate compliance withthe relevant parts of the SecondSchedule to the Building Regulations(as amended).Refurbishing stairs in dwellings toreduce the risk of falls and injuries –BRE TRUST (2013)1

Table 1 External stairs outside buildings (other than dwellings)Part KStairways,Ladders, Rampsand GuardsPart MPart BAccess and UseFire SafetyBuildingRegulationsRequirementsK1 Stairways,ladders and rampsshall be such as toafford safe passagefor the users of abuilding.M1 Adequate provision shall bemade for people to access anduse a building, its facilities and itsenvirons.Application ofBuildingRegulationsrelating to theprovision ofexternalsteps/ stairsoutside abuilding:Requirement K1DOES NOT apply tosteps or accessroutes outside abuilding other thanwhere steps areimmediately outsidethe external door ofa building.Applies to:1. the approach route(s) to theaccessible entrance(s) (Refer to1.1.2 of TGD M 2010 for thedefined approach routes);2. the circulation routes around abuilding (Refer to 1.1.2 for thedefined circulation routes)Criteria1. Stairs width(For landingwidth seeNote hbelow)2. Max rise offlightbetweenlevellandings3. Rise (R)4. Going (G)5. Gait (2R G)6. Open risers7. TaperedtreadsTGD K 2014As required by TGDB or TGD M.See across 16 rises or 18 risesbwhere going 350B1 Means of escapein case of fireB5 Access andfacilities for the fireservice.Where stairs areprovided: Design for verticalescape; Make provision forpeople withdisabilities; Provision forpersonnel access tobuildings forfirefighting.Refer to Section 1.2.6‘External EscapeRoutes’ of TGD B forprovision of externalgescape stairways.TGD M 2010TGD B 2006New buildingsSection 1ExistingbuildingscSection 21200 (min)between walls,upstands, stringsand 1000 (min)betweenhandrailsAs wide aspossible but notless than 1000mm betweenhandrails.1500 mm (max) rise or 18 risesbwhere going 350Refer to 1.3.4 and1.3.5 for determiningwidths of stairways(but not less than 800amm).No additionalrequirementsDesigner decisionrequired below onfunction of stairsunder consideration. Stairs designedfor:EgressApproach/ Access/CirculationEgress any of aboveEgressApproach/ Access/CirculationReference/relevantTGDB (See across)M (See across)The wider of Band MK (See across)M (See across)Egress any of ublicPublicMin300250300Opt280Max550600700150 (min)to180 (max)150 (min)to180 (max)No additionalrequirements300 (min)to450 (max)As large aspossible but notless than 280No additionalrequirementsNo additional requirementsAllowed subject to16mm (min) overlapof nosing & 100mm(max) gap cNo allowed8. Headroom 2000 3risers 10009. Handrailprovision 1000wideProvidehandrailsBothsidesNot allowedNo additionalrequirementsNo additionalrequirementsEgressApproach/ Access/CirculationEgress any of aboveEgressApproach/ AccessCirculationEgress any of aboveEgressApproach/ Access/CirculationEgress any of aboveEgressApproach/ AccessCirculationK (See across)150 (min)to180 (max)K (See across)M (See across)K (See across)AllowedNot allowedEgress any of aboveNot allowedNo additionalrequirements 2100 2000 3 risers 1000Both sides of all stairs flightdregardless of number of risers. 1000Onesideonly 18002Providehandrailsone sideonlybothsidesprovide acentralehandrailEgressApproach/ Access/CirculationEgress any of aboveEgressApproach/ Access/CirculationEgress any of aboveEgressK (See across)Not allowed 2000 2100B (See across)Approach/ Access/CirculationBoth sidesEgress any of abovede

10. Handrailheight11. Guarding12. Tactilehazardwarningsurfaces13. VisibilityNewbuildPitch900 1000lineExistingMin MaxbuildingPitch100 Pitch900840 1000lineNo additional0linerequirementsIntermIntermeInterme110 ediated-iate900900 1100 diate840 11000landinlandinglandinggStairs should beNo additional requirementsNo additionalguarded at the sidesrequirementswhere the total rise is 600 mm. (See 1.1.18)Above:Min MaxNo requirementsNo requirementsMin MaxTop & bottom landingsNo requirementsAdequate artificialAll step nosing to incorporate permantlylighting should becontrasting material on the tread.provided to allIlluminance at tread level to be at leastexternal escape100 luxroutes (See 1.4.8)EgressK (See across)Approach/ Access/CirculationM (See across)Egress any of aboveApproach/ Access/Circulation/ EgressK (see across)EgressNorequirementsApproach/ Access/CirculationEgress any of aboveM (Seeacross)EgressNorequirementsApproach/ Access/CirculationEgress any of aboveM (Seeacross)Notes:aMethod of measurement as per Para B1.0.10 Methods of Measurement – Width “(iii) a stairway is the clear widthbetween walls or balustrades, (strings and handrails intruding not more than 30 mm and 100 mm respectively may beignored.”bIn places of assembly to which large numbers of people have resort, there should be no more than two consecutiveflights each having a maximum of twelve risers, without a change in direction of at least 30 between flights;cSection 2 provides additional guidance on the minimum provisions for certain elements and features of existing buildingswhere it is not practicable to achieve the provisions set out in Section 1.dIf width between handrails 2000 mm then divide stairs into channels not less than 1000 mm and not 2000 mm.eIn such a case the stairway width on each side of the handrail needs to be considered separately for the purpose ofassessing stairway capacity.gExternal escape stairways should be sufficiently protected from the weather and is adequately protected from a fire in thebuilding (see 1.3.9 TGD B).hTop and bottom landings should be level and at least as great as the smallest width of the flight determined by Criteria 1.3

Table 2Internal stairs in buildings (other than dwellings)Part KStairways,Ladders,Ramps n ofBuildingRegulationsrelating to theprovision ofinternal stairs.K1 Stairways,ladders and rampsshall be such as toafford safepassage for theusers of a building.ALL internal stairs(as required) mustcomply with Part K.Part BFire SafetyPart MAccess and UseM1 Adequate provision shall bemade for people to access anduse a building, its facilities and itsenvirons.At least one set of stairs suitable forambulant disabled people should beprovided to access all floors aboveor below entrance level.B1 Means of escape incase of fireB5 Access and facilitiesfor the fire service.Where stairs areprovided: Design for verticalescape; Make provision forpeople withdisabilities; Make provision forpersonnel access tobuildings forfirefighting.Designer decisionrequired below onfunction of stairsunder consideration. Technical Guidance DocumentsCriteria1. Stairs width(For landingwidth seeNote f below)TGD K 2014As required byTGD B or TGD M(if stairs suitable forambulant disabledpeople)16 risers1800 (max)bSemiPublicPublicStairs designed for:Refer to 1.3.4 and 1.3.5for determining widthsof stairways (but notaless than 800 mm ).Circulation/ Egress/ BothB (See across)Ambulant disabled onlyM (See across)aThe wider of Band MNo lic300250Public300280MinOptMax150 (min) to 180 (max)Any combination of aboveAmbulant disabled onlyNo additionalrequirementsNo additionalrequirements16 risesb1800 (max)bK (See across)Ambulant disabled only150 (min) to 180(max)Circulation/ Egress/ BothAs large aspossible but notless than 250aCirculation/ Egress/ BothAny combination of above300 (min)to450 (max)Reference/relevant TGDTGD B 2006Any combination of aboveOpt4. Going (G)ExistingbuildingscSection 21200 (min)As wide asbetween walls,possible but notupstands, stringsless than 1000and 1000 (min)mm betweenbetween handrails. handrails.New buildingsSection 1Circulation/ Egress/ Both2. Max rise offlightbetween levellandings3. Rise (R)TGD M 2010K (See across)Ambulant disabled onlyM (See across)Any combination of aboveCirculation/ Egress/ Both5. Gait (2R G)5506. Open risers7. Taperedtreads600No additional requirementsNo additionalrequirements700Allowed subject to16mm (min)overlap of nosing &100mm (max) gapbetween owedAmbulant disabled onlyAny combination of aboveCirculation/ Egress/ BothNot allowedNo additionalrequirementsAmbulant disabled only 2000K (See across)Not allowedAny combination of aboveCirculation/ Egress/ BothNot allowedNo additionalrequirementsK (See across)Ambulant disabled onlyNot allowedAny combination of aboveCirculation/ Egress/ Both8. HeadroomK (See across) 2100 2000Ambulant disabled only 2100Any combination of above4 2000