1. PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
Steep staircases.
Poorly designed steps that hinder foot movement.
2. PLANNING PRINCIPLE
To provide safe and well-dimensioned staircases for the comfort of all people,
especially those with mobility problems.
3. DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
3.1 General
 Differences in level should be illuminated or
minimized as much as possible for the comfort of disabled people.
A complementary ramped route, elevator or
lift should be provided where there are steps in an otherwise accessible path.
All steps should be uniform.
Circular stairs and stepped landings should
be avoided (fig. 1).
Open risers are not recommended.
3.2 Width
The minimum width of a stairway should be
0.90 m for one-way traffic and 1.50 m for two-way traffic.
For indoor stairs, the riser should be
between 0.12 m and 0.18 m, and the tread between 0.28 m and 0.35 m.
For outdoor stairs, the maximum riser should
be 0.15 m and the minimum tread should be 0.30 m.
3.3 Landing (fig. 2) (fig. 3)
An intermediate landing should be provided
when the stairs cover a difference in level of more than 2.50 m.
The length of the landing should be at least
1.20 m extending along the full width of the stairs.
3.4 Nosing (fig. 4)
Sharp edges and overhanging nosing should not
be used for treads.
Nosing should be flush or rounded and should
not project more than 40 mm.
3.5 Handrails
Handrails must be installed on both sides of
the stairs and around the landing for gripping (fig. 3).
For stairs more than 3.00 m wide, one or more
intermediate handrails could be provided (fig. 5).
The distance between the handrails when both
sides are used for gripping should be between 0.90 m and 1.40 m (fig. 5).
Handrails must extend a distance between 0.30
m and 0.45 m at the top and bottom of the stairs (see Railings and
Handrails) (fig. 3).
3.6 Tactile marking (fig. 2) (fig. 3)
A textural marking strip should be placed at
the top and bottom of the stairs and at intermediate landings to alert sightless people as
to the location of the stairs.
The tactile marking strip should be at least
0.60 m wide and should extend over the full width of the stairs.
To guide users with poor vision, the colour
of the strip should contrast with the surrounding surface. 3.7 Surface
Landings, treads and nosing should be
slip-resistant and free of projections.
Exterior stairs should be pitched forward at
10 mm per metre to drain surface water.
Slip-resistant stair nosing should be used to
fix carpets on stairs.
3.8 Emergency stairs
Emergency stairs should be identified by
tactile markings.
3.9 Mechanical stairs (escalators)
Mechanical stairs can be provided with an
adaptable tread at least 1.20 m long, if they are to be used by persons confined to
wheelchairs (fig. 6).
The edges of escalators should be painted in
a contrasting colour for the benefit of poor- sighted users.
4. EXISTING CONSTRUCTIONS
When the configuration of the nosing cannot
be modified, slip-resistant strip scould be applied to the nosing as an alternative
solution (fig. 7).
Slip-resistant strips should be 40 mm wide
and should not extent more than 1 mm above the tread surface.
To guide people with sight problems, the
colour of the strips should contrast with that of the stairs. |
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