The upper and lower risers may be modified to allow the installation of the floor coverings referred to in the specifications. This variant is intended to ensure a uniform and consistent rise height throughout the staircase after the installation of the designated flooring. This also applies to the first and last risers of concrete stairs. This tolerance should not be applied to account for poor construction practices. Tread width Once you have sorted the height, it is important not to neglect the width of the treads. Treads must be at least 240 mm in size to comply with building regulations. Most serious injuries caused by slips, trips and falls can be associated with steps and stairs. As an employer or person responsible for the management and control of your business, you have a legal responsibility to pay special attention to your stairwell and keep it as safe as possible and free from health risks. Some of the steps to ensure your staircase is safe are to identify potential hazards, eliminate or reduce those risks, and comply with specific requirements for the construction of stairs, platforms and landings. When building your place of business, your steps and stairs must comply with the Australian Building Code (BCA). Make sure the ramp meets the requirements.
The upper rail shall be parallel to the ground or the inclination of a gangway at a vertical height of at least 900 mm above the standing level of a gangway or platform. In Australia, climb heights must be uniform throughout the flight, ranging from 150 mm to 180 mm. If you are in the process of having new stairs designed for your home, we hope that the information above has given you a much better idea of determining the right heights and climbs. Since there are so many areas to navigate, it`s important that you`ve hired an expert. The Gowling Stairs team is well positioned to manage your design. The purpose of the NCC`s stair ascent and descent dimensions is to achieve consistent stair profile dimensions that are safe to go up and down. This minimizes the risk of people crossing uneven stairs (due to deficiency symptoms) when descending and tripping when climbing (due to climbing). If stairs cannot be avoided, appropriate precautions should be taken. A smaller climb height is recommended if possible.
This ensures that the leg does not need to be lifted so high. Here you will find more details about the legal requirements for stairs, ramps and handrails as well as stair constructions: Headroom Make sure not to confuse the height of the climber with the height of the headroom or the total height of the flight itself. Standing height is the distance between the nose line and the ceiling. When assembling a staircase, the correct step height and headroom must be taken into account for maximum safety. Local building codes and physical limitations of people using stairs must be considered in determining the correct height. When you talk to an expert, you can be sure that the right highs and highs have been achieved. The tread shall have a minimum tension of 2,5 kPa or a load of 2,2 kN per linear metre or a minimum point load of 1,5 kN on a plate of 100 mm ×100 mm at each stage, whichever is greater. Height of the riser The riser is the vertical piece at the back of each tread that determines the height between one step and the next. It is usually a single uniform piece of wood throughout the stairwell. For more information on maintaining safety when developing your next staircase design, download our Stairs and Safety Flooring catalogue. For landings; The width of the landing shall not be less than the width of the staircase and shall be free of at least 600 mm of cross circulation, door vibration or other structures. General Requirements – Stairways used in living spaces or outdoors must comply with Part 3.9.1 of the Australian Building Code.
All areas not listed in the Australian Building Code must be referenced in Australian Standard AS1657 Section 4. Install BCA-compliant handrails and ramps on your property to create a safe work environment. According to the Australian standard, your stairs and landings must have a railing on the exposed side, unless there is a fixed structure at a maximum distance of 100 millimeters from the staircase structure. Any stairs or railings leading to a storage area or non-habitable rooms must also comply with all of the other regulations mentioned above, with the exception of Part 3.9.1.2 of the NCC. Stair climbing and walking for an uninhabitable space shall be constructed in accordance with AS 1657 – 4.2.1. Another minimal staircase design trend is transparent stairs and railings. These are made of thin materials such as glass. Make sure you stay compliant by adding non-slip steps or stair slopes. Also make sure stairs and handrails are visible at night and for people with limited visibility. If necessary, add automatic lighting sensors and illuminated stair steps or illuminated handrails. Floating stairs have been a major trend in stair design for almost a decade and fit perfectly into progressive minimalist architecture. But with an incredibly stylish appearance that defies gravity dangerously, do floating stairs comply with Australian regulations? The maximum deflection shall be L/100 or 40 mm, whichever is smaller, on the horizontal span (L) of the staircase between the columns.
The following information is intended for guidance ONLY and is specifically adapted to construction classes 1 and 10. If you are constructing stairs in a Class 2 to 9 building, other regulations may be required to suit your building class. The bustling monochrome stairs are huge right now. Often made of glass or metal, they`re a great way to bring a staircase to life, especially for low-light or budget projects. They can also be easily combined with essential safety products such as stairs. We have included a brief reminder below about the requirements needed to design safe and compliant stairs. More detailed information can be found in the above standards. From bamboo walkways to biophilic risers, sustainable stairs are on the rise in commercial architecture. A particularly interesting concept is Michael Jantzen`s staircase (pictured above), which uses the energy of walking down the stairs to produce electricity. We hope the real version will have some handrails! In addition, the depth of the profile must be greater than or equal to 185 mm. For more information, see AS1657. The answer is based on four main risk factors; Handrails, profile spaces, stair surface and load capacity.
Designing a minimalist staircase to Australian standards for stairs and handrails requires careful planning, especially with these features in mind. Add a handrail on each side of the stairs if their width exceeds 1,000 millimeters. At least one handrail must be installed in each staircase, which must have a smooth and continuous top along the entire length of each staircase. Make sure there are no obstacles on or above them. Provide BCA-compliant railings as required. Dane is the Executive Director of Latham. For more than 30 years, he has been responsible for finance, human resources, marketing and IT. A strong supporter of Australian-made and exclusive products, Dane is very proud of the role Latham`s premium products play in iconic Australian buildings such as the Sydney Opera House and the MCG, as well as international structures such as the Petronas Twin Towers in Malaysia. The tread depth (TD) shall be ≥ 185 mm and not more than 30 mm shorter than the gangway depth (G). Note: BCA Volume One has a minimum distance of 250mm for public stairs.
If you need information about stair or railing regulations for a classroom building, please contact our helpful sales staff. Stairs should be inclined at an angle of 20° to 45°, but it is recommended between 30° and 38°. The minimum clearance height is usually 2 meters. Australian standards for stairs and handrails describe that stairs require handrails on all exposed sides, unless there is a fixed structure within 10 cm of the staircase. Each staircase needs a handrail. Stairs longer than 1 meter require a handrail on both sides. The great thing about large stairwells is that they are usually very sturdy, accessible, and safe. Make sure they are built with the correct platforms, handrails and dimensions in mind. All ascents and descents on the same staircase must have uniform dimensions. According to NCC (formerly known as BCA), the following standards apply.
– All dimensions in millimeters (mm). We`ve put together a comprehensive guide on using Australian regulations in your favourite staircase designs. Stair steps should be non-slip and extend across the entire width of the stairs. The edge of the steps should be visible on the background. Non-slip cams can be added to meet these standards. Walking surfaces should be fixed if the stairs are more than 10 meters high or connect more than 3 floors. A safe and well-designed workplace makes your employees healthy and happy. Make sure your stairs comply with building codes and use the latest edition of the Australian standard by working with a reliable builder and glass railing manufacturer. A railing is required for any staircase, balcony, railing, hallway, porch, mezzanine or deck if the fall potential of the above area falls 1000 mm or more to the lower surface. Stairs must be ≥ 600 mm wide inside the columns and have a minimum distance of 550 mm between the rails.
Work with us to make your workplace safe. We are a manufacturer of custom stairs in Western Australia and Perth. Contact us today to learn more! A continuous handrail must be provided on the side of each staircase or ramp.