Stairs – missing handrails
At Collier Stevens, our specialism in building surveys means we’re expertly placed to help you assess and resolve one of the most common, and potentially dangerous, issues in residential buildings – unsafe stairs. Whether it’s missing handrails or non-compliant balustrades, our experts can survey your stairs, advise you on compliance with building regulations and guide you through remedial work to enhance safety and resale value – not to mention, peace of mind. Contact us today and get a free quote, and take the first step to make your stairs safe and compliant.
We saw this staircase on a survey. Typical of its age – probably dating to the mid to late ‘60s – it looks good (to some eyes). Although it’s airy and open, this staircase doesn’t comply with building regulations, with the main concern here lying in the lack of a handrail and balustrade, making this a set of dangerous stairs.
What are the staircase safety rules?
Building regulations require a handrail and balustrade in dwellings where there is a drop of more than 600mm. The handrail should be at 900mm height. If there are openings in the balustrade then a 100mm sphere must not be able to pass through them and the whole unit should not be easy for children to climb.
What about UK handrail regulations?
A handrail is required on both sides if the width exceeds 1000mm. For ease of use by disabled and mobility impaired users, we would recommend a handrail on both sides whatever the width of the stair. Open risers like these are acceptable if each tread overlaps by minimum of 16mm.
Why stair safety still matters
The Building Regulations are not retrospective and enforcement action is not really very likely if an occupier takes the handrail off, but it is likely to come up as a problem at resale when the house is surveyed. The risk here is that an occupier or a visitor can fall off the stairs causing injury – in particular at the quarter landing. Stair design is detailed in approved document K of the Building Regulations.
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The information in this article is for guidance only. There is no substitute for advice specific to your situation. If this is an old post, the law may have changed since it was written.
Steven Way
Steven Way BSc MIHEEM MFPWS MRICS is the Practice Principal and is a Chartered Building Surveyor. With over 35 years as a practicing surveyor, Steve has a wealth of experience and expertise in both residential and commercial building surveying, party wall advice and disabled access auditing. He has also built his reputation as an expert witness.