What are the UK Staircase Building Regulations?

All steps should be level and nosing overlaps must be at least 16mm.

Staircase riser consistency

All steps must have the same rise – the distance between the treads.

Any discrepancy between riser depths can pose a trip or slip hazard, so it is best practice to avoid this – unless you have a flat landing breaking up the staircase.

In this instance, it is acceptable to have a difference in the rises and goings on each section of the staircase.

Minimum and maximum going of stairs

Maximum Rise: 220mm

Minimum Going: 220mm

Although there is no minimum rise of maximum going, Building Regulations stipulate that the rise multiplied by 2 plus the going should be between 550-700mm.

For example, (Rise x 2) + Going = 550-700mm

The maximum pitch of private (domestic) stairs is a maximum of 42º

There is no minimum width for a staircase, though widths below 860mm can pose accessibility and usability complications.

Minimum staircase width and length

The maximum width of a public staircase is 1,800mm, and Building Regulations advise that you use an extra handrail, newel, and spindles to divide the staircase if needed.

If the stairs have a width of 1,000mm or more, you should position a handrail on both sides.

Maximum staircase length

In domestic properties, the length of the flight should not exceed 36 risers.

If the staircase must exceed this, there should be a direction change of at least 30º.

1. The top and bottom of every flight must have a landing
2. The landing distance must be longer than the width of the staircase
3. No doors can swing closer than 400mm onto the front of any step
4. All landings should be level, unlike the ground floor which can have a gradient that does not exceed 1:20/2.86°/5%

To meet staircase winder regulations, the centre of the winder tread depth (A) must be equal to or larger than the depth of the going on the straight flight (B).

All stairs should have a handrail on one side if they are less than 1 metre wide – or on both sides, if wider.

A handrail is not needed for the bottom two steps.

Handrail height should be between 900-1,000mm when measured from the top of the handrail to the pitch line.

Handrail Spindle Spacing for Stairs and Landings

It is essential that a 100mm sphere cannot pass through any openings between the spindles, handrail, or between glass panels to stop children from getting their heads stuck.

Headspace for all sections on and off the stairs should be at least 2m.

Loft Conversion Headroom

In a loft conversion, headroom must be a minimum of 1.8m on the low ceiling side and 1.9m in the centre of the staircase width.

If this is not possible, you may be able to add an extra newel post – though this can make the staircase narrower.

A 100mm sphere cannot pass through an open-riser space, to stop accidents.

These staircases can only be used to access a single room, when there is no alternative, for example, for loft conversions.

They are not, however, encouraged as the pitch maximum of 42º is exceeded.

If they must be used, stairs must have:

• A maximum rise of 220mm
• A minimum going of 220mm
• Handrails on either side of the staircase

All steps should be level and no nosing is needed, so developers should choose flush nosings to eliminate trip hazards.

Staircase riser consistency

All steps must have the same rise – between 150-170mm and between 250-450mm for goings.

If there needs to be different rises and goings, you need to install a flat landing to break up the staircase.

Minimum and maximum going of stairs

Maximum Rise: 190mm

Minimum Going: 250mm

Although there is no minimum rise of maximum going, Building Regulations stipulate that the rise multiplied by 2 plus the going should be between 550-700mm.

For example, (Rise x 2) + Going = 550-700mm

The maximum pitch of public (utility) stairs is a maximum of 33º

There is no minimum width for a staircase, though widths below 860mm can pose accessibility and usability complications.

Minimum staircase width and length

The maximum width of a public staircase is 1,800mm, and Building Regulations advise that you use an extra handrail, newel, and spindles to divide the staircase if needed.

If the stairs have a width of 1,000mm or more, you should position a handrail on both sides.

Maximum staircase length

In public properties, the length of the flight should not exceed 16 risers.

1. The top and bottom of every flight must have a landing
2. The landing distance must be longer than the width of the staircase
3. No doors can swing closer than 400mm onto the front of any step
4. All landings should be level, unlike the ground floor which can have a gradient that does not exceed 1:20/2.86°/5%

To meet staircase winder regulations, the centre of the winder tread depth (A) must be equal to or larger than the depth of the going on the straight flight (B).

All stairs should have a handrail on one side if they are less than 1 metre wide – or on both sides, if wider.

A handrail is not needed for the bottom two steps.

Handrail height should be between 900-1,000mm when measured from the top of the handrail to the pitch line.

It is essential that a 100mm sphere cannot pass through any openings between the spindles, handrail, or between glass panels to stop children from getting their heads stuck.

Headspace for all sections on and off the stairs should be at least 2m.

In a loft conversion, headroom must be a minimum of 1.8m on the low ceiling side and 1.9m in the centre of the staircase width.

If this is not possible, you may be able to add an extra newel post – though this can make the staircase narrower.

These staircases cannot be used for public stairs.

Glass risers can be used to give the effect of open-riser staircases, however.

All steps should be level and no nosing is needed, so developers should choose flush nosings to eliminate trip hazards.

Staircase riser consistency

All steps must have the same rise – between 150-170mm and between 250-450mm for goings.

If there needs to be different rises and goings, you need to install a flat landing to break up the staircase.

Minimum and maximum going of stairs

Maximum Rise: 170mm

Minimum Going: 250mm

Although there is no minimum rise of maximum going, Building Regulations stipulate that the rise multiplied by 2 plus the going should be between 550-700mm.

For example, (Rise x 2) + Going = 550-700mm

The maximum pitch of public (utility) stairs is a maximum of 38º

There is no minimum width for a staircase, though widths below 860mm can pose accessibility and usability complications.

Minimum staircase width and length

The maximum width of a public staircase is 1,800mm, and Building Regulations advise that you use an extra handrail, newel, and spindles to divide the staircase if needed.

If the stairs have a width of 1,000mm or more, you should position a handrail on both sides.

Maximum staircase length

In public properties, the length of the flight should not exceed 16 risers.

1. The top and bottom of every flight must have a landing
2. The landing distance must be longer than the width of the staircase
3. No doors can swing closer than 400mm onto the front of any step
4. All landings should be level, unlike the ground floor which can have a gradient that does not exceed 1:20/2.86°/5%

To meet staircase winder regulations, the centre of the winder tread depth (A) must be equal to or larger than the depth of the going on the straight flight (B).

All stairs should have a handrail on one side if they are less than 1 metre wide – or on both sides, if wider.

A handrail is not needed for the bottom two steps.

Handrail height should be between 900-1,000mm when measured from the top of the handrail to the pitch line.

It is essential that a 100mm sphere cannot pass through any openings between the spindles, handrail, or between glass panels to stop children from getting their heads stuck.

Headspace for all sections on and off the stairs should be at least 2m.

In a loft conversion, headroom must be a minimum of 1.8m on the low ceiling side and 1.9m in the centre of the staircase width.

If this is not possible, you may be able to add an extra newel post – though this can make the staircase narrower.

These staircases cannot be used in public and general access staircases.

Glass risers can be used to give the effect of open-riser staircases, however.