What is Part K of the Building Regulations?
Part K – Protection from falling, collision and impact Protection from falling involves the fitting of safety measures on staircases, ramps and ladders, as well as advice about the positioning of balusters, vehicle barriers and windows to avoid injury.
Is it a legal requirement to have a handrail on stairs UK?
Handrails are mandatory. Stairs should have a handrail on at least one side if they are less than one metre wide, and on both sides if wider than this. Handrails should be placed between 900mm and 1000mm above the highest point on the staircase steps.
Can a door opening onto stairs?
You may be wondering whether it’s legal to put a door at the head of your stairway. We’ve done the research and have the answer for you. You can put a door at the top of an interior staircase. For safety reasons, if the door swings out over the stairs, you must have a landing at the top of the stairs.
Do you need building regs to change a staircase?
When you are adding or altering staircases you do need to get building regulation approval. If you think about the potential risk of someone falling from/through poorly constructed stairs you can understand why this is an important area where regulation is required.
What are the building regulations for steps?
The individual rise must be between 150mm and 220mm. The individual going must be between 220mm and 300mm. The Pitch of the stair cannot be greater than 42 degrees.
Do building regulations apply to garden steps?
The size and shape of outdoor steps in new buildings is governed by the local Building Regulations. This control is mainly directed at disabled access to the main entrance but there is always a legal obligation to design safely. The rise and going (tread) dimensions of a formal flight of stairs should be constant.
Do I need a handrail on my stairs?
Building regulations stipulate that it is not necessary for there to be a handrail for the bottom two steps of a stairway. A handrail is necessary for three steps, as the maximum number of steps you can have without a handrail is two.
Is a banister required?
Bannisters & Handrails Handrails are always required on stairwells with more than 4 consecutive risers regardless of stairwell length, riser width, or riser height. Bannisters and safety railings should be installed to block off any open drop exceeding 2 risers or 600mm in height.
Are stair nosings a legal requirement?
Construction of Steps For steps to be used by the public, like offices, flats, commercial buildings, or other stairs for public use, all steps should be level and there should not be any nosings on these types of stairs.
Do I need building regulations for stairs?
Do I need building regs to move a staircase?
In the vast majority of cases, you do not need planning permission from your local authority to relocate your stairs. If the new design does not impact the external appearance of your property, you just need to submit a building regulations application.
How do Building Regulations Part K regulations apply to staircases?
Building Regulations Part K (Protection from falling, collision and impact) covers the design of staircases, this article looks at how these regulations and other design issues apply to staircases in domestic dwellings. The figure below shows the basic dimensional constraints, click on the image for a larger copy.
What is part K of the Building Regulations 2010?
APPROVED DOCUMENTK Protection from falling, collision and impact The Building Regulations 2010 Building Regulations 2010 APPROVED DOCUMENT K Protection from falling, collision and impact ONLINE VERSION ONLINE VERSION Main changes in the 2013 edition This approved document supports Part K: Protection from falling, collision and impact.
What regulations apply to the design of stairs and ladders?
For building work relating to requirement K1 of the Building Regulations, regarding the design of stairs, ladders and ramps, see regulation 17 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992.
What is the K1 requirement for stairs?
Requirement K1 applies only to stairs, ladders and ramps Stairs, ladders and ramps shall be so designed, constructed and installed as to be safe for people moving between different levels in or about the building. Limits on application which form part of the building.