Every rule your project must meet, found for you.
Search Northern Ireland’s planning and building-control guidance, ask a question in plain English, or generate a project compliance checklist — every answer cited to the source.
Working to a specific project? Generate a compliance checklist →
Answers, with citations
Ask in plain English and get an answer that links to the exact source clause — never an unsourced guess.
Scoped to your council
Overlay a council's local development plan on the Northern Ireland-wide regulations and policy.
Project compliance checklist
Characterise a project and get the requirements that apply, grouped by work area. Try it →
The library
Search the source guidance
29 results · filtered
Other Legislation: Workplace Health, Safety and Welfare
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
stairsrampsguardingprotection-from-fallingnon-domesticcommercialWorkplace Regulations applicability to common parts of flats
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
flatsnon-domesticcommon-partsVehicle loading bay design
58NI-wide·Technical Booklet H Stairs Ramps Guarding and Protection from Impact
A vehicle loading bay shall be designed and constructed to minimise the risk of people in it from being struck by a vehicle.
non-domesticprotection-from-fallingProtection against impact from and trapping by doors
59NI-wide·Technical Booklet H Stairs Ramps Guarding and Protection from Impact
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 view of the
protection-from-fallingnon-domesticdwellingpublic-buildingProtection from collision with open windows, skylights or ventilators
60NI-wide·Technical Booklet H Stairs Ramps Guarding and Protection from Impact
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.
protection-from-fallingglazingdwellingnon-domesticpublic-buildingScope of Section 2 guidance
0.3NI-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
rampsdwellingnon-domesticScope of Sections 3 and 4 guidance
0.4NI-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)
stairsdwellingflatsnon-domesticScope of Guidance on Spiral and Helical Stairs and Maintenance Access
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.
dwellingnon-domesticstairsprotection-from-fallingSection 2: Subsection organization
2.2NI-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.
rampsaccessdwellingnon-domesticRamps on access routes to non-dwelling buildings
2.3NI-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
non-domesticrampsaccessDesign considerations for ramped approaches with complementary steps
2.4-2.5NI-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
non-domesticrampsstairsaccessaccessibilityCommon Provisions for Other Stairs
3.3NI-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.
stairsnon-domesticaccessRise and Going Dimensions by Stair Category
Table 3.1NI-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* | 220* A common stair in a block of dwellings | 75
stairsflatsdwellingnon-domesticAdditional provisions for stairs in non-domestic buildings
3.29NI-wide·Technical Booklet H Stairs Ramps Guarding and Protection from Impact
Paragraphs 3.4 to 3.11 and 3.30 to 3.43 apply to a stair other than a private stair or a common stair in a block of dwellings.
non-domesticstairsPitch of stairs - rise and going
3.30NI-wide·Technical Booklet H Stairs Ramps Guarding and Protection from Impact
The rise and the going are given in Table 3.1.
non-domesticstairsNumber of rises per flight
3.31NI-wide·Technical Booklet H Stairs Ramps Guarding and Protection from Impact
There should be not less than 2 rises and not more than 12 rises in each flight. There may be exceptional circumstances where a different rise or greater number of rises in a flight is more appropriat
non-domesticstairsWidth of flights
3.32NI-wide·Technical Booklet H Stairs Ramps Guarding and Protection from Impact
A flight should have a surface width of not less than 1200 mm. Where a handrail protrudes into the surface width of a flight by more than 100 mm, the surface width should be increased accordingly. In
non-domesticstairsStep nosing visual contrast
3.33NI-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
non-domesticstairsaccessibilityTrip hazards on treads and risers
3.34NI-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.
non-domesticstairsStairs and fixed ladders providing access for maintenance
3.45NI-wide·Technical Booklet H Stairs Ramps Guarding and Protection from Impact
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 or BS 4211
non-domesticstairsRamp gradients in non-dwelling buildings
4.14NI-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
rampsnon-domesticaccessaccessibilityMaximum length and gradient of ramps in non-dwelling buildings
4.15NI-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
rampsnon-domesticaccessTable 4.1 - Maximum length and rise of ramps
Table 4.1NI-wide·Technical Booklet H Stairs Ramps Guarding and Protection from Impact
Table 4.1 Maximum length and rise of ramps 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 |
rampsnon-domesticaccessExceptions to guarding requirements
5.1NI-wide·Technical Booklet H Stairs Ramps Guarding and Protection from Impact
Paragraphs 5.2 to 5.4 do not apply to – (a) guarding to a spiral or helical stair in a dwelling; (b) guarding to a stair or a fixed ladder, in a building other than a dwelling, providing access solely
guardingdwellingnon-domesticstairsMinimum height and strength of guarding
Table 5.1NI-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 with
protection-from-fallingguardingdwellingcommercialnon-domesticpublic-buildingStair or fixed ladders in non-dwelling buildings
5.8NI-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
non-domesticstairsprotection-from-fallingVehicle barriers
5.9NI-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
non-domesticprotection-from-fallingLoading bay exit requirements
6.1, 6.2NI-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). A wide loading bay (with space for 3 or more vehicles) should be prov
non-domesticexternal-spacemeans-of-escapeprotection-from-fallingProtection from collision with open windows in maintenance spaces
8.2NI-wide·Technical Booklet H Stairs Ramps Guarding and Protection from Impact
In rooms or spaces used solely for maintenance of the building and access to those rooms or spaces is infrequent, it may be appropriate only to highlight any projecting part of a window, skylight or v
protection-from-fallingglazingnon-domestic