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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

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

Within every dwelling of more than one storey there shall be provided between such storeys access by means of a stair complying with the relevant provisions in this Part: Provided that nothing in this

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

The guidance in Section 3 is concerned with various aspects of the geometry and safety of stairs and certain ladders. This includes common provisions for all stairs and additional provisions for – (a)

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

Tapered tread – a tread which has a greater width at one side than at the other and a going which changes at a constant rate throughout its length.

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

Diagram 1.1 Measuring rise and going - showing going measured from nosing to nosing, with details of treads, risers, nosings, and open/closed rise configurations. See paragraphs 1.1, 3.4 and 3.14.

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

Steps should have a uniform – (a) rise of not less than 150 mm and not more than 170 mm; and (b) going of not less than 280 mm and not more than 425 mm.

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

A flight of steps should have not less than 2 rises or more than – (a) 12 rises where the going of each step is less than 350 mm; or (b) 18 rises where the going of each step is 350 mm or more.

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

A flight should have a surface width of not less than that given in paragraph 3.32.

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

Steps should also comply with the guidance given in paragraphs 3.33 to 3.35.

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) a flight or flights with an unobstructed width of not less than 900 mm; (b) a rise of not more than 1800 mm in each flight of steps; (c) steps with a uniform rise

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

This Section gives guidance on appropriate levels of safety and convenience for all users where a stair is to be provided so that people can move between levels or storeys in a building. Provisions ar

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

A private stair or a common stair in a block of dwellings, should comply with the provisions of paragraphs 3.4 to 3.28.

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

A stair, other than a private stair or a common stair in a block of dwellings, should comply with the provisions of paragraphs 3.4 to 3.11 and 3.29 to 3.43.

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

The pitch of a flight is controlled by limiting the rise and the going. Diagram 3.1 shows how to measure the pitch and what is meant by the pitch line. Diagram 1.1 shows how to measure the rise and go

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

Subject to paragraph 3.12 the relationship between the dimensions of the rise and going is that twice the rise (R) plus the going (G) i.e. (2R + G) should be between 550 mm and 700 mm. The rise and th

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

In a flight, the steps should all have the same rise and they should all have the same going.

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

Where the landing of a stair is formed by the ground and slopes across the width of the flight, then the rise of the step should be measured at the mid-point of the width of the flight. See paragraph

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

Steps should have level treads which extend for the full width of the flight.

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

A stair should have a clear headroom of not less than 2000 mm over its full length and width. Headroom is measured vertically from the pitch line of the flight and the level of the landing. See Diagra

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

Table 3.1 Rise and going Category | Rise minimum (mm) | Rise maximum (mm) | Going minimum (mm) | Going maximum (mm) Private stair | 75 | 220* | 220 | — A common stair in a block of dwellings | 75 | 1