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

This Technical Booklet, which takes effect on 31st October 2012, is one of a series that has been prepared by the Department of Finance and Personnel (the Department) for the purpose of providing prac

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

The guidance contained in this Technical Booklet relates only to the requirements of regulations 56, 57, 58, 59 and 60. The work will also have to comply with all other relevant requirements of the Bu

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

The Workplace Regulations apply to the common parts of flats and similar buildings if people such as cleaners, wardens and caretakers are employed to work in these common parts. Where the requirements

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 56 shall only apply where a stair, ladder or a ramp and landings— (a) forms part of the building; (b) that does not form part of the building, is provided to comply with

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

In a building or within the boundary of a building a stair, ladder and a ramp and its landings, shall offer reasonable safety to people using them.

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

Provisions for accessibility to and within a building are given in Part R. Provisions for fire safety are given in Part E. A stair or a ramp and its landings provided – (a) so that people may move to,

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

It is the view of the Department that the requirements of regulation 56 in Part H will be met when a stair, ladder, ramp and its landings afford reasonable safety to people who use them. As there is a

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

This Section of the guidance deals specifically with various aspects of the geometry and safety features for – (a) ramps and complementary steps on access routes to buildings other than dwellings; and

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

Provisions are also given for spiral and helical stairs in a dwelling and stairs and ladders used solely for the purpose of providing access for maintenance in buildings other than dwellings. The guid

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

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

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

Ramps on access routes should comply with the provisions given in paragraphs 4.14 to 4.25. See Diagram 2.1. However, where an external ramp has a crossfall, that crossfall should have a maximum gradie

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

A ramped approach should have – (a) a surface which is firm and even; (b) an unobstructed width not less than 900 mm; (c) a ramp or ramps not exceeding – (i) 10 m in length where the slope of the ramp

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

This Section gives guidance on appropriate levels of safety and convenience for all users where a ramp is to be provided as a means of circulation within a building.

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 a series of ramps with a total rise of more than 600 mm should have a continuous handrail that gives firm support and a firm grip – (a) on at least one side where the ramp is 1000 mm wide or

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

A ramp should be not more than – (a) 10 m in length where the gradient of the ramp does not exceed 1 in 15; or (b) 5 m in length where the gradient of the ramp does not exceed 1 in 12.

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

A ramp should have a surface width of not less than 1200 mm. Where a handrail is provided, the width at handrail level may be reduced to not less than 1000 mm.

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

Diagram 4.1 shows ramp design with the following annotations: 10 m maximum length, maximum slope 1 in 12, clear headroom 2000 mm minimum, landing, for guarding see Section 5, height of guarding as for

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

Landings should be level with an unobstructed length of not less than 1200 mm.

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 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

Gradients of ramps should be as shallow as practicable as steep gradients may not be safe or convenient for all people. The following provisions apply to a ramp which is not in a dwelling or in a bloc

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

The maximum length of a ramp is dependent upon its gradient. Table 4.1 gives the maximum length of a ramp for a given gradient. There may be exceptional circumstances where a different gradient of ram

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

Gradient of ramp | Maximum length of ramp (m) | Maximum rise of ramp (mm) 1:20 | 10 | 500 1:19 | 9 | 474 1:18 | 8 | 444 1:17 | 7 | 412 1:16 | 6 | 375 1:15 | 5 | 333 1:14 | 4 | 286 1:13 | 3 | 231 1:12

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

The surface of a ramp should – (a) be firm; (b) reduce the risk of slipping; and (c) be distinguishable, through suitable visual contrast, from that of its landings. A ramp and its landings should hav

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

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