Staircase Head Height Regulations

This part of your stairs is pretty simple.

Staircase head height regulations. The width of the landing shall not be less than the stairway width and a minimum of 600 mm clear of cross traffic door swing or any other structure. Vertical clearance above any stair tread to any overhead obstruction is at least 6 feet 8 inches 203 cm as measured from the leading edge of the tread. Please note that your stair tread cannot be too long or the riser too short because building regulations also state. Maximum 7 3 4 inch stair riser height.

Twice the rise plus the going 2r g should be between 550mm and 700mm. Minimum 36 inch clear width for stairway. The shoulder should be no less than 1 8metres. The centre of the staircase should be no less than 1 9 metres from the ceiling.

The height of the balustrade on the pitch of the staircase must be not less than 865mm form the nosing line. Because the ceiling height in most lofts is lower than in other parts of the home there are special rules regarding staircases and headroom. This dimension is taken plump from the nosing line with the rail or balustrade running parallel up the pitch of the staircase. One of the main concerns of building regulations is the health and safety of those dwelling in a property.

Therefore let us recap on the residential stair code requirements. These are minimums if you can achieve a 2 metre headroom then you should do so. Minimum 6 8 headroom height clearance for stairway. Structural elements fixtures or fur nishings shall not projec t horizontally from either side more than 4 inches 102 mm over any walking surface between the heights of 27 inches 686 mm and 80 inches 2032 mm above the walking surface.

Minimum headroom is typically 2000 mm this may need to be increased if helmets are worn. Utility public max rise 190mm min going 250mm. General access semi public max rise 170mm min going 250mm. Maximum 4 1 2 inch handrail projection into stairway width on either side.

The height of the balustrade on a finished floor balcony landing or path must me above 1000mm. And as such handrails are an important part of any staircase design. Stair way headroom should be 12 or less between floors or restated the total rise for a set of steps between floors should be less than or equal to twelve feet. This means landings could be required if the total rise height of a stairway is more than 12 ft.

Sketch at left provided courtesy carson dunlop associates. Headroom for loft conversions for loft conversions the available headroom will comply with the building regulations provided that the height at the centre of the stair width is at least 1 9 metres reducing to a minimum of 1 8 metres at the side of the stairs. Spiral stairs must meet the vertical clearance requirements in paragraph d 3 of this section.