Spiral Staircase Standards - Balustrade

If you’re thinking of fitting a spiral staircase, then it’s worth reading up on Building Regulations and British Standards to make sure you’re fitting the right products. Some continental products which are sold in the UK only comply with European (usually German) standards, and so you could unwittingly fall foul of the building standards. This may not become apparent until you come to sell your property (or rent it) and can become a sticking point to moving house. The most common problem when looking at which spiral staircase to buy is spacing between spindles, which varies across Europe.

This will help to make sure the staircase is safe to give you real peace of mind.

Spiral Staircase balustrade - Building Regulations

Part K of the Building Regulations (Protection from falling, collision and impact) sets out the minimum safety requirements for a staircase. These differ according to how many people are expected to use the staircase.

In a regular home, balustrade must be fitted on all flights of stairs and landings where there is a drop of 600mm or more. This applies to every staircase in the home, e.g. from the ground to the first floor and from the first to the second floor in a three-story townhouse, for example.

Possible exceptions could include small steps down to a conservatory or steps within a split-level living area.

If children under the age of 5 are likely to use the staircase, then the balusters must be no more than 99mm apart – a useful test is to see whether a 100mm sphere can pass through the gap. This is known as the ‘baby’s head’ rule and ensures that children cannot become trapped between the balusters. (Typical products which do pass this crucial test are the Gamia Range by Rintal, The Artemis and Neptune range by Spiral Stairs Direct, at www.spiralstairs-direct.co.uk and certain models in the Arke range)

The balustrade on a domestic staircase including all types of spiral staircase must also be a minimum of 900mm high.

British Standards for spiral staircase balustrade

As well as complying with Part K, balustrade systems fitted to a spiral staircase must also meet the requirements of BS6399 Part 1:1996 Loadings for buildings – Code of practice for dead and imposed loads.

This means that a balustrade fitted to a spiral staircase within a private family home must be able to resist a loading of 0.36kN/m – the equivalent force of one family member falling against the balustrade.

Regulations for a shared staircase

For a staircase used by the occupants of more than one home, the standards are stricter. This would apply to a staircase in an apartment building, student accommodation or a care home.

In line with the requirements of BS6399, stair balustrade must be able to resist heavier loadings of 0.74kN/m. This is because the staircase is likely to be a main thoroughfare used by higher numbers of people, which means the balustrades need to be more robust.

All of the ranges mentioned will withstand these forces and meet British Standards, so you don’t need to worry about meeting Building Regulations. If in doubt ask the supplier to ensure in writing that the spiral staircase they propose will meet both building regulations AND the relevant British Standard before you purchase. 

You can find out more by contacting the spiral staircase suppliers direct at www.spiralstairs-direct.co.uk.