INTERIORS 77 ONE STEP AT A TIME
Kevin Underwood of the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) discusses the key components of safe staircases.
F
or many homes, a staircase not only provides a functional role, but it’s also a central feature of a property. While staircases are an important functional and aesthetic feature, they pose a major safety risk. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) found that every year there are over 700 fatalities and more than 300,000 A&E attendances due to falls on stairs in the home. In fact, 84% of injuries on stairs occur in the home.
Here we’ll explore the key
considerations of a safe staircase design, how building regulations are evolving to help reduce accidents in the home, and what this means for housebuilders and developers in meeting new standards.
SAFE STAIRCASE DESIGN
There are many factors that impact the safety of a staircase, revolving around two key areas: the rise and going. A general rule is that the dimensions of the rise and going should allow a natural stride – helping ensure that the user does not need to overstretch or take unnecessary small steps. The best way to do this is to keep the going over 250 mm, and the rise of the stairs as consistent as possible. The nosing of each stair should also be visible so the user can easily identify each step. For patterned or tiled stairs, using a separate colour or material can help the nosing stand out. In addition, the nosing should not extend too far over the step beneath it, as this can produce a trip hazard. The fi nish and slip resistance of the staircase should also be considered. If the going of the stair is 300 mm or more, the slipperiness of the surface is less of a safety factor, but for stairs with smaller treads, the slip resistance should be considered. The nosing is where fi rst contact is made when descending the stairs and a slip resistant material can help prevent falls. To help prevent accidents, handrails and guarding should also be incorporated into the staircase design. In addition to being an attractive design feature, handrails offer extra safety support and should be installed where there is a rise of over 600 mm. If the stair width is more than 1,000 mm then a handrail should be
fi tted on both sides. The handrail should be within easy reach at all points on the staircase and positioned 900-1,000 mm above the pitch line of the stair or fl oor. The handrail can also form the top of
the stair guarding. Guarding helps prevent falling over the side of a stair and is required for staircases at any height over 600 mm, or where there are two or more risers. The guarding could be a screen or balustrade, but it must be high enough to stop people falling over it and strong
enough to withstand someone falling into it. For buildings where the stair is used by children, the gaps in the guarding should be less than 100 mm to reduce the risk of children falling through or becoming trapped in the guarding. Following these practices will help ensure a staircase is as safe as possible. In fact, research has shown that stairs produced in line with the British Standard code of practice for the design of stairs (BS 5395-1:2010) could result in 60%
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