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Stairs Going up in the world
When you first walk into any building, the stunning visual impression made by a well crafted timber staircase is undeniable. In addition to the familiar standard ‘straight flight’ design there are many other design options to add character and style and to suit every building type, from heritage homes to the most contemporary masterpiece. The staircase often provides the big wow factor.
However, stairs also remain one of the most common areas for accidents with over 800 recorded deaths attributed to slips, trips and falls on staircases every year in the UK. As well as providing access to the next floor, they are often the main escape route in the event of a fire. This responsibility requires them to be installed correctly and to be manufactured to a high standard. Too often, a contrac- tor’s need to do a bit of ‘value engineering’ on the project is overriding the original specification, and the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) Stair Scheme is warning of the risks this may pose.
The Stair Scheme aims to raise standards and awareness of stair safety. The scheme, which is now estimated to cover over 60% of the timber stairs market, requires manufacturers to ensure all stairs comply with current building regulations and meet relevant performance require- ments such as load carrying capacity and fire resistance.
There are many issues to consider when designing a stair. The technical require- ments are complex and therefore are prone to being ignored. To assist with this the new Approved Document K; Protection from falling, collision and impact, has now come into play. This document provides thorough guidance on issues such as the rise and going and construction of steps, headroom, width and length of a flight of stairs, landing areas, handrails and guarding. It is imperative that both designers and builders become very familiar with this guidance to ensure the successful design and installation of stairs.
It is essential that the builder consults with the staircase manufacturer throughout the design process to ensure any potential mishaps are avoided. Dimensions must be accurate and changes to the building or stair must be discussed immediately as this could hinder the installation of the staircase. Once designed and manufac- tured, careful delivery of the stair should be arranged and once on site, the staircase should be installed straight away or suitable storage organised to ensure damage limitation.
Before fitting the first step, the builder should be fully aware of the assembly and installation instructions. Once construction of the staircase has begun there’s no room for manoeuvre as the smallest change could have huge consequences on the function and safety of the stair.
Once installed, building control professionals will need to see that the stair has been designed, manufactured and fitted correctly. Unfortu- nately, the lack of official guidance for stair manufac- turing and installation makes this process difficult. To assist, the BWF Stair Scheme requires its members to employ controls on their design and manufacturing processes making regular checks on the quality and suitability of the staircase being produced. This ensures the stair’s performance and when the requirements are met the stair will be accred- ited with one of three badges. This makes the role of inspecting a staircase easier.
The Stair Scheme has produced several resources to assist in the staircase process including a fact card, a 10 step installation guide and a training video.
www.bwf.org.uk Reader Enquiry: 34 0844 209 2610 19
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