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

The Building Regulations are made for specific purposes, primarily securing the health, safety, welfare and convenience of people and for the conservation of fuel and power. Standards and technical ap

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

Where this Technical Booklet makes reference to a named standard, the relevant version of the standard is the one listed in the Appendix. However, if this version has been replaced or updated by the i

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

The diagrams in this Technical Booklet supplement the text. They do not show all the details of construction and are not intended to illustrate compliance with any other requirement of the Building Re

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

District councils have a duty to take account of the desirability to preserve the character of protected buildings when carrying out their functions under Building Regulations. Therefore, where work i

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

The provisions of this Technical Booklet relate to the requirements of Building Regulations and do not include measures which may be necessary to meet the requirements of other legislation. Such other

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

The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993 (the Workplace Regulations) contain some requirements which affect building design. The main requirements are now covered

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

Subject to paragraphs (2) to (6), this Part shall apply to any building or part of a building.

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

The requirements of regulation 57(1) shall not apply— (a) to the extent that compliance therewith would unreasonably obstruct normal movement to, into, out of or within any building; (b) in relation t

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

Insofar as they relate to a dwelling, the requirements of regulation 60 shall only apply to a window, skylight or ventilator which opens over a public route of travel.

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

A stair, ladder, ramp, floor, balcony, landing, platform and any roof or other place to which people normally have access (including access for the purpose of maintenance) and a sunken area next to a

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

Any part of a building which is a vehicle ramp, floor or roof to which vehicles have access shall, where it is necessary to protect people, be adequately guarded with a barrier which does not present

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

59.—(1) In any building a door or gate which— (a) is across a main route of travel; or (b) can be pushed open from either side, shall have a means to ensure that people approaching it have a clear vie

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

60. Reasonable provision shall be made to minimise the risk of people colliding with an open window, skylight or ventilator when moving in or about a building.

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

It is the view of the Department that the requirements of regulation 57 in Part H will be met if, in order to reduce the risk to the safety of people in or about buildings – (a) pedestrian guarding is

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

The guidance in Section 5 is concerned with reducing the risk of people falling from a height. This includes provisions for guarding flights, ramps, landings and raised floors. This Section also conta

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

It is the view of the Department that the requirements of regulation 58 in Part H will be met if, in order to reduce the risk to the safety of people in or about buildings, loading bays are provided w

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

In this Technical Booklet the following definitions apply – Dwelling – has the meaning assigned to it by regulation 2 in Part A of the Building Regulations. Entrance storey – means the storey which

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

Surface width – the width of a stair or ramp, measured at the tread of a step or the surface of a ramp, between any enclosing walls, strings, upstands, kerbs or guarding.

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

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

A stepped approach should have a suitable handrail which – (a) is at a height measured vertically of – (i) 900 mm above the pitch line of a flight of steps; and (ii) 1000 mm above the surface of a lan

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

External step profiles: minimum 60° angle; tread and riser dimensions 15–25 mm. See para 2.14.

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

A private stair may have steps with open rises, but the treads should then overlap each other by at least 16 mm. See Diagram 1.1. A private stair which has open rises, should be constructed so that a

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

A common stair in a block of dwellings should have steps with rises that are not open, step nosings which are distinguishable, through permanent contrasting brightness and have a suitable profile such

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 flight, the handrail to a common stair in a block of dwellings, should extend horizontally for a distance of not less than 300 mm, al

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

Anything fixed or fitted to a tread or riser should not create a trip hazard.

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

Steps should have rises that are not open and have a suitable profile such that the risk of tripping or people catching their feet beneath the nosing, is reduced (see Diagram 3.9).

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

Diagram 3.9 Details of stairs: not more than 12 rises in any flight; rise not less than 150 mm and not more than 170 mm; going not less than 250 mm; not less than 300 mm; not less than 900 mm and not

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

A suitably designed handrail can help prevent people losing their balance when on the stair and can also assist users to ascend by pulling themselves up the stairs. Handrails may form the top of guard

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

Examples of suitable handrails: - non-circular handrail: 50 mm wide with rounded edges, not less than 50 mm clearance, not less than 50 mm depth, 15 mm min. radius, not more than 50 mm projection into

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

A ramp should have a suitable continuous handrail on each side if the horizontal length of the ramp is more than 2000 mm. Handrails should be at a height between 900 mm and 1000 mm measured vertically

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

A ramp should have a raised kerb on any open side (except where it would obstruct normal use). The raised kerb should – (a) be not less than 100 mm high; and (b) be distinguishable, through suitable v

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

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

The design of guarding should be such as to minimise the risk of people falling, and of rolling, sliding or slipping through gaps in a barrier. A wall, glazing, parapet, balustrade or similar construc

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

Guarding which is provided at the locations given in Table 5.1 column (1) should be – (a) of a height not less than that given in column (2); and (b) capable of resisting the horizontal force given in

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

Where infill panels are provided they should be designed and constructed in accordance with the relevant clauses of BS 6180.

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

Where a building or part of a building is likely to be used by children under 5 years of age the guarding should be constructed so that a 100 mm diameter sphere cannot pass through any opening in it o

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

Table 5.1 Minimum height and strength of guarding Location of guarding | Minimum height+ (mm) | Minimum horizontal force/metre run (kN/m) Dwellings: (a) guarding a flight, ramp, landing or floor wit

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

In a dwelling, guarding to a spiral or helical stair should be designed and constructed in accordance with BS 5395: 2.

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

Guarding to a stair or a fixed ladder in a building other than a dwelling providing access solely for the purpose of maintenance should be designed and constructed in accordance with either BS 5395: 3

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

In a building where vehicles have access to a floor, roof or circulation ramp, guarding should be provided to any edge of such area that is above the level of any adjacent floor, ground or route for v

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

A loading bay should be provided with at least one exit point from the lower level (preferably near the centre of the rear wall).

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

A wide loading bay (with space for 3 or more vehicles) should be provided with at least – (a) two exit points, one at each side; or (b) an exit point and a refuge, which people can use to avoid being

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

A door or gate – (a) across a main route of travel; or (b) which can be pushed open from either side, should have, towards the leading edge of the door leaf, zones of visibility as shown in Diagram 7.