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NI-wide·Technical Booklet H Stairs Ramps Guarding and Protection from Impact

Visual contrast is the perception of a difference visually between one element of a building and another by reference to their light reflectance values. Light reflectance value (LRV) is the total qua

NI-wide·Technical Booklet H Stairs Ramps Guarding and Protection from Impact

Section 2 gives guidance on appropriate levels of safety and convenience for all users where a ramp or a ramp and complementary steps are to be provided as an access route or part of an access route t

NI-wide·Technical Booklet H Stairs Ramps Guarding and Protection from Impact

This Section is presented as follows – Ramps and complementary steps on access routes to buildings other than dwellings; and Ramps and steps on access routes to dwellings.

NI-wide·Technical Booklet H Stairs Ramps Guarding and Protection from Impact

Visually impaired people risk tripping or losing their balance if there is no warning that there is a change in level. Tripping is most hazardous at the head of a flight of steps when a person is desc

NI-wide·Technical Booklet H Stairs Ramps Guarding and Protection from Impact

People who wear callipers or who have stiffness in hip or knee joints are particularly at risk of tripping or catching their feet beneath nosings. People with a weakness on one side or with a sight im

NI-wide·Technical Booklet H Stairs Ramps Guarding and Protection from Impact

Where complementary steps and a ramp share a surface containing their respective notional landings, it is preferred that the tactile warning surface be located clear of the ramp landing.

NI-wide·Technical Booklet H Stairs Ramps Guarding and Protection from Impact

To assist a person who is weaker on one side and a visually impaired person, steps should have a suitable continuous handrail on each side complying with the provisions of paragraphs 3.37 to 3.43.

NI-wide·Technical Booklet H Stairs Ramps Guarding and Protection from Impact

To give advance warning of the change in level, a tactile corduroy surface should be provided on the top and bottom landings of complementary steps. See Diagram 2.2. The size of this surface should be

NI-wide·Technical Booklet H Stairs Ramps Guarding and Protection from Impact

Where there is access onto any intermediate landing from other than the complementary steps, a tactile corduroy surface 400 mm deep should be provided in accordance with Diagram 2.3 (b) or (c).

NI-wide·Technical Booklet H Stairs Ramps Guarding and Protection from Impact

Corduroy tactile warning surface tiles: 20 mm tile depth, 6 mm rib profile, 20 mm rib, 30 mm gap

NI-wide·Technical Booklet H Stairs Ramps Guarding and Protection from Impact

Diagram 2.3 Complementary steps - tactile warnings (b) external steps showing side access onto intermediate landing and having not less than 800 mm from the access to the top and bottom of flights -

NI-wide·Technical Booklet H Stairs Ramps Guarding and Protection from Impact

So a visually impaired person can appreciate the extent of the stair and identify individual treads, steps should have step nosings which are distinguishable through suitable permanent visual contrast

NI-wide·Technical Booklet H Stairs Ramps Guarding and Protection from Impact

A handrail should be at a height measured vertically of – (a) not less than 900 mm and not more than 1000 mm, above the pitch of a flight; and (b) not less than 900 mm and not more than 1100 mm, above

NI-wide·Technical Booklet H Stairs Ramps Guarding and Protection from Impact

The surface of a handrail should be distinguishable through suitable visual contrast from the background against which it is seen.

NI-wide·Technical Booklet H Stairs Ramps Guarding and Protection from Impact

Handrails should allow users to make a power grip around the whole handrail. A non-circular handrail with a broad horizontal face is as easy to grip as a circular handrail and gives better hand and fo

NI-wide·Technical Booklet H Stairs Ramps Guarding and Protection from Impact

A ramp should have a gradient not steeper than 1 in 12 and should be uniform throughout its length. See Diagram 4.1.

NI-wide·Technical Booklet H Stairs Ramps Guarding and Protection from Impact

The minimum width for a ramp should be the same as that for a flight in a private stair, see paragraph 3.13 and Table 3.2.

NI-wide·Technical Booklet H Stairs Ramps Guarding and Protection from Impact

The length of a ramp measured on plan, should not exceed 10 m. See Diagram 4.1.

NI-wide·Technical Booklet H Stairs Ramps Guarding and Protection from Impact

Landings should be level and be provided at the top and bottom of a ramp. See Diagram 4.1. The width and length of a landing should be not less than the width of the ramp. Part of a floor may be consi

NI-wide·Technical Booklet H Stairs Ramps Guarding and Protection from Impact

Ramps should be clear of obstructions and landings should be clear of obstructions other than those described in paragraph 3.18.

NI-wide·Technical Booklet H Stairs Ramps Guarding and Protection from Impact

Ramps and associated landings should have a clear headroom of not less than 2000 mm over the length and width of the ramp. Headroom is measured vertically from the slope of the ramp and the level of t

NI-wide·Technical Booklet H Stairs Ramps Guarding and Protection from Impact

A ramp or ramps and landings should have a surface width of not less than 1500 mm. Where a handrail protrudes into the surface width of a ramp by more than 100 mm the surface width should be increased

NI-wide·Technical Booklet H Stairs Ramps Guarding and Protection from Impact

Wheelchair users need adequate space to stop on landings, to open and pass through doors without having to reverse into circulation routes and to avoid the risk of rolling back down slopes. A landing

NI-wide·Technical Booklet H Stairs Ramps Guarding and Protection from Impact

Where the ramped access or circulation route consists of three or more ramps, the intermediate landings between each ramp should have an unobstructed length of not less than 1800 mm and a surface widt

NI-wide·Technical Booklet H Stairs Ramps Guarding and Protection from Impact

Where a ramp does not have a clear line of sight between its top and bottom landings, it should be divided into two ramps such that there is a clear line of sight between the intermediate landing and

NI-wide·Technical Booklet H Stairs Ramps Guarding and Protection from Impact

Ramps and associated landings should have a clear headroom of not less than 2000 mm over the length and width of the ramp. Headroom is measured vertically from the slope of the ramp and the level of

NI-wide·Technical Booklet H Stairs Ramps Guarding and Protection from Impact

A ramp or ramps and landings should have a suitable continuous handrail on each side complying with the provisions of paragraphs 3.39 to 3.43.

NI-wide·Technical Booklet H Stairs Ramps Guarding and Protection from Impact

A handrail should be at a height measured vertically of – (a) not less than 900 mm and not more than 1000 mm above the surface of a ramp; and (b) not less than 900 mm and not more than 1100 mm above t

NI-wide·Technical Booklet H Stairs Ramps Guarding and Protection from Impact

To give warning of a change in level i.e. the start or finish of a ramp, a handrail should extend horizontally for a distance of not less than 300 mm along the top and bottom landings of a ramp except