INTERIORS


The next step in your project


Richard Harding from British Spirals and Castings discusses the different regulations you need to consider when choosing a staircase for your project


By giving your staircase some proper thought early on in your own project, you can create a beautiful feature that enhances your whole property


S


taircases can be a home’s key fea- ture, helping to communicate the style and feel of your property. For


best results, take a step back and think careully aout how the staircase will fit within the ow o your home Before looking at the different staircase options, it’s worth laying out some of the key Building Regulations relating to stair- cases as these may impact which designs work within your space.


COMPLYING WITH REGS


In almost all cases, you’ll need to ensure there is at least 2 metres of headroom above every tread on your staircase. This can be particularly crucial if you’re look- ing to fit a staircase eneath a pitched roof as headroom may be more limited at the room’s edge, in these situations you are permitted to have 1900 mm on the stairs providing you are walking into 2 metres headroom when walking into a pitched roof area. To ensure a spiral stair isn’t too steep, the Building Regulations include mini- mum and maximum lengths for the tread depth (going) and the step-up between treads (rise). For comfort, it’s generally recommended that the total measure-


mar/apr 2022


ment of two rises plus 1 going is be- tween 550 and 700 mm. The rise and going also need to be identical all the way up the staircase. For straight stairs, the maximum pitch is 42 degrees. Spiral stairs will need to have a clear width of at least 800 mm if they serve more than one room or a kitchen or living room (900 mm in Scotland). If you are only serving one habitable room, this will reduce to 600 mm.


All landings will need to be at least as deep as your staircase is wide. This means if a staircase is 800 mm wide then you’ll need to account for an extra 800 mm at the top and bottom of your staircase. Finally, any gaps between balusters


or treads will need to be designed to prevent a 100 mm diameter sphere from passing through them. You’ll typically need two or three balusters per tread depending on diameter or going.


UNDERSTANDING YOUR SPACE Your choice o staircase design will define how large the footprint of the staircase is on the lower oor, and the sie o the opening needed on the upper oor Straight staircases are by far the most


common design. They have a long, linear footprint which works well in a typical hall. Keep in mind that in addition to the length of the staircase, you’ll need to ac- count for the extra landing space at the top and bottom.


If the length of your space is a little limited, then a kited or combination staircase can be a good alternative. These feature a quarter turn either at the top, bottom or both. This L shaped footprint can be useful beneath a pitched roof as it allows the staircase to follow the direction of the roof pitch (leading up into the area with the most headroom). Where space is at an absolute


premium, or you simply want to retain as much ground oor space as possile, spiral staircases are often the best solution. With their winding design, these staircases are both an attractive and practical option for loft conversions or access from external balconies. Finally, if you want to make an


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