ABSTRACT

The structural condition of the staircase in a dwelling is more often bound up with the condition of its support at the lowest level from the floor and the further support, if necessary, from the strings fixed to partitions. Furthermore, the satisfactory trimming to the openings in the floors above at landing level plays an important role in maintaining stability. Failures in these components will disrupt the staircase, opening up the joints, loosening carriages and treads from risers, and disturbing the support to handrails and balustrades. The staircase is an area of hazard in any dwelling. BRE estimate that there are roughly a quarter of a million accidents a year on stairs and these result, consistently, in around 600 deaths. Even if the structure of a staircase itself and its supports are sound, the original design may leave a lot to be desired from the aspect of safety, and the inspector needs to draw out particular failings in this respect in the report. Approved Document K of the Building Regulations for England and Wales lists the standard required for new dwellings as distinct from institutional, assembly or other types of buildings south of the border. It is to these requirements that the staircases in older buildings can be related and where many will be found to be well below current standards – one of the reasons why there are so many accidents.