through the space in between each balustrade. To comply, you will need two or three balustrades per tread. There is a huge amount of choice in balustrade styles and combinations, making it easy to achieve the feel you want for your staircase. In some cases, having three balusters per
tread could make the staircase feel too heavy. Instead, infill panels can be used to replace two of the three balusters on the tread. They are a wider type of baluster that come in a variety of styles to suit the look you are trying to achieve. Another increasingly popular alternative to balustrades is to use glass infill panels. While these do not offer the same places to grab as balustrades, they are a great way to close off the sides of a spiral staircase without stopping the light from getting through. Handrail: The handrail is the most obvious
safety feature on a staircase. Regulation states that the handrail height on a spiral staircase should start 900 mm above the stair tread. This is to ensure that it is at an easily accessible height along the entire length of the staircase. The handrail itself should be sturdy and allow for whole hand grip, to offer more protection from falling and to enhance the tactile experience of using the staircase. The handrail on any landing balustrade that
is needed also needs to be at least 900 mm high in a residential application. Landing plates: Landing plates should be
used on the upper floor to create a safe and smooth exit and entrance to the staircase by
keeping the staircase and floor at a constant level. A landing plate of some kind is required to connect the centre pole of the staircase to the finished floor level. These tend to be in the same design as the staircase but can be built in by others as a continuation of the floor if preferred. If your staircase is particularly high, they also can be incorporated as a rest stop part way up the staircase, which will be useful for elderly people or children. If you have your heart set on a spiral design but still feel uneasy, don’t be afraid to ask
manufacturers if you can go and try out some of their designs to see the quality of the materials and construction for yourself. While being safe on the stairs eventually comes down to common sense (we are all guilty of sometimes piling the bottom stairs with stuff we need to remember), having a design that’s safe for you and your family, and right for your home, can make all the difference.
Antonia Harding is director at British Spirals & Castings
Enq. 201
www.kwikstairs.co.uk
Call today 07999 579729 Enq. 202 selfbuilder & homemaker
www.sbhonline.co.uk 53
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