Staircase / Handrail regulations

Staircase / Handrail regulations

Author
Discussion

Vron

Original Poster:

2,528 posts

208 months

Thursday 2nd July 2015
quotequote all
Hi,

Can anyone advise. I want to revamp an existing staircase. I plan on removing the existing handrail - its 60's style two planks which wouldn't meet current regs anyway. I see all these fancy staircases on Grand Designs and the like and they have the staircases open at the side. How do they get the building signed off by the building inspector??

I'm thinking of a stainless steel pole bannister rail at the wall side but would like the hall side open.

Thanks


227bhp

10,203 posts

127 months

Thursday 2nd July 2015
quotequote all
Are you expecting a visit from the Building Inspector?

Vroom101

828 posts

132 months

Thursday 2nd July 2015
quotequote all
Vron said:
I see all these fancy staircases on Grand Designs and the like and they have the staircases open at the side. How do they get the building signed off by the building inspector??
Airbags in the floor below.


Seriously, if you're only revamping the staircase then don't invite the building inspector round if you're worried he'll disapprove. I used to live in a 70's house from the age of 14-18. We had an open staircase and not once did I manage to fall off.

The cat on the other hand......

Vron

Original Poster:

2,528 posts

208 months

Thursday 2nd July 2015
quotequote all
There has been a lot of other work which will need signing off by the building inspector.

papercup

2,490 posts

218 months

Thursday 2nd July 2015
quotequote all
No gap greater than 95mm (a baby's head) anywhere. That means between treads, balustrades, etc.

Handrail should be metre from treads I think. Can't remember that one.

All those fancy stairs with no sides did not pass building regs like that. You could always take the side off after he leaves, like I might have done with a fire door. Ahem.

SAB888

3,231 posts

206 months

Thursday 2nd July 2015
quotequote all
Vron said:
Hi,

Can anyone advise. I want to revamp an existing staircase. I plan on removing the existing handrail - its 60's style two planks which wouldn't meet current regs anyway. I see all these fancy staircases on Grand Designs and the like and they have the staircases open at the side. How do they get the building signed off by the building inspector??

I'm thinking of a stainless steel pole bannister rail at the wall side but would like the hall side open.

Thanks
I've always thought they are put up after filming. You may have to put them up to get Building Control approval, but once it's been signed off, there's nothing to stop you removing them. Obviously you have to be careful with children.

Vroom101

828 posts

132 months

Thursday 2nd July 2015
quotequote all
From the building regs themselves:

Handrails for stairs
For all buildings
1.34 Provide handrails in accordance with all of the following.
a. Position the top of the handrail 900mm to 1000mm from the pitch line or floor.
b. The handrail may form the top of a guarding if you can match the heights.
c. If the stairs are 1000mm or wider: provide a handrail on both sides.

In other words, take them off once the building inspector's left wink

Snoggledog

6,948 posts

216 months

Thursday 2nd July 2015
quotequote all
IIRC from many many years ago..

900 - 1000 mm vertically above line of risers on stairs. Must have no space greater than 100 mm for kids to run through. Must be able to take a load of at least 360nm (for domestic use).

1100 mm high on level surfaces. Same rules apply regarding space between rails and loading.

TeeRev

1,637 posts

150 months

Friday 3rd July 2015
quotequote all
We did this one last year, the 17.5mm toughened and laminated glass stair balustrade was 900mm above the pitch line and the treads were solid oak 95mm thick so with a 190mm rise 95mm gaps were within regs.

The wall handrails were set at 900mm above pitch line and we had agreement from building control that they did not have to be continuous.

Mezzanine balustrading was set at 1100mm high which is the requirement for public stairs but for domestic it can be at 900mm high, we’re just doing a similar staircase right now and the landing balustrade will be at around 950mm high.


Pheo

3,324 posts

201 months

Friday 3rd July 2015
quotequote all
Just did ours

From this:

What shall one do with these lovely 60s stairs! by Joseph Foster, on Flickr

To this:

New Stairs by Joseph Foster, on Flickr

Thought about glass/oak - but its a smallish 1970s 3 bed ex council terrace. not worth it. Parts were ~£500 from Howdens. Only complexity was fitting new newel posts - the existing ones didn't sit over the stringer, they were offset, which doesn't work for this kind of ballustrade. Also had to "create" a 1.5 width newel on the landing for similar reasons.

Relatively easy to do though as long as you pay attention. I had to drop the ceiling below to get the newel posts out btw. You might be able to do it from above though just depends on the floorboards.

morrisk1

630 posts

242 months

Friday 3rd July 2015
quotequote all


Very similar to what TeeRev posted.

Supplied and fitted by us in Oxford.
Engineered oak treads, stainless steel point fixings, 21.5mm toughened laminated structural balustrade.

This one is under construction in N London;


Suggest downloading Part K regulations from the Planning Portal.

Edited by morrisk1 on Friday 3rd July 19:30