General guidance only — all construction work must be overseen by a supervising engineer This handbook is compiled from standards and laws with every source cited, andis being reviewed for certification by engineers Use it to know what to look at, what to ask and what evidence to request on site It is not an engineering determination and can't replace an engineer · Terms of use · Limitations of the handbook

Structure

Stairs, guardrails and designing for older people

Page code P30 · 45 inspection criteria · 4 illustrations

Stairs are one of the most expensive things to fix if they're wrong, because they're concrete cast into the structure. Making the risers equal after casting means chiselling or pouring over, and either way the headroom changes too. The good news is that the law sets out the figures…

This page contains
Stairs can be inspected in three phases, and the phase where fixes are really possible is the first
Five figures that are law — and the one people take from the wrong clause
Measure it yourself in ten minutes — uneven steps are what you need to find
Are the stairs comfortable to walk? — a formula you can check with the figures you've measured
Handrails, guardrails and baluster gaps — not required by law, but you have to decide
Stair nosings, tread surfaces and what makes them slippery
Plan ahead — things added later mean chiselling into walls
Documents and photos you must get from the stair work

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