Manual of Purpose-Made Woodworking Joinery

Stair regulations guide 101

The height of the guarding (balustrade) is given in

Figure 6.25 for single- family dwellings in Category 1.

External balconies should have a guarding/balustrade

of 1100mm (1.1m).

Staircase

Although the term staircase is often used instead

of the term stair, to be technically correct, staircase

refers to the complete structure and includes the

stair, balustrades, additional newel posts, if any, apron

linings (that cover the faces of trimmer and trimming

joists forming the stairwell opening) and any spandrel

framing, etc.

Spandrel

The triangular panelling, studded wall or cupboard

framing under a flight of steps (stair), usually posi-

tioned directly under the outer string.

Figure 6.26 As inferred in part 1.29b of AD K1, Ranch-

style balustrades as above – or similar constructions that

might be readily climbable by children – are not permit-

ted.

Meeting the various regulations

Figure 6.27: This illustration shows a 1:10 scaled

working drawing of a half- turn stair for a loft-

conversion. And although winding steps – as previ-

ously mentioned – are not ideal at the head of a stair,

six tapered treads are used because of the restricted

total going. The stair was designed by me and taken

on by Hastings College as an exercise. Two of my

Regulatory handrail heights

Figure 6.25: In all buildings, handrail heights should
be between 900mm and 1000mm (1m), measured to
the top of the handrail from the notional pitch line
or floor. Handrails can form the top of a guarding, if
the heights can be matched; (the matching is usually
effected at the transitional point of the upper- flight
newel post – where the inclined handrail can be
seen to be lower than the level/landing handrail –
Figures 6.25 and 6.26.

NLT 900 mm
and NMT 1 m

NLT 900 mm

and NMT 1 m

Figure 6.25 Regulatory handrail heights and guarding of
Stairs.

Guarding of stairs

Figures 6.5, 6.24, 6.25 and 6.26: As illustrated in these
stair notes, flights and landings should be guarded at
the sides:

● In dwellings when there is a drop of more than

600mm;

● In other buildings when there are two or more

risers.

The guarding to a flight should prevent children being
held fast by the guarding, except on stairs in a build-
ing which is not likely to be used by children under 5
years. In the first case, the construction should be such
that:

● A 100mm diameter notional sphere cannot pass

through any openings in the guarding (Figure 6.5);

● Children will not readily be able to climb the guard-

ing (this in effect outlaws the horizontal ranch- style

balustrades of the 1970s (Figure 6.26). However,

amended Building Regulations are not applied ret-

rospectively – although changing such balustrades is

a fairly straightforward carpentry operation.