Space saving stairs

WeAreGhosts

Ruski wrote: »

Alternate because you can't have a narrow 'step', against building regs.


Once you get used to them the spacesavers are fine, and a lot safer then 'narrow' steps (the 'going' to be technical)


HTH


Russ

i thought the 'going' was the width from step to step [as in the step itself], I am talking about the width from side to side [from banister to banister, if that makes sense]

maybe i really mean 'length' rather than width! sorry

MX5huggy

The width is side to side as you say and the going is the depth of the step. How narrow do you want to go?

WeAreGhosts

between 550-600mm

i was just wondering whether there was a building regs reason for most stairs that are narrow being alternating tread ones

leveller2911

As already mentioned there is no "minimum" width as such , which is ridiculous when you consider that in most cases the staircase is the easiest route out of a house in case of fire. We have regulations for the rise (height) and going (width) of each tread, total rise (total height) of a staircase, the minimum height of a handrail,the total maximum pitch (42 degrees) of a staircase but no rules for the width. Crazy idea IMO.

Having said all that there can be implications with regards to headroom regulations if your going up into an attic which if you were to make the staircase 600mm wide you may not comply with. My advice is to get in some professional help to tell you what would be best. Personally I would never recommend a staircase of 600mm wide or less. To have a width of good proportions on a standard total rise of around 2600mm or above I wouldn't go for less than 800mm overall of strings.Otherwise it will look like a ladder.

MX5huggy

WeAreGhosts wrote: »

between 550-600mm

i was just wondering whether there was a building regs reason for most stairs that are narrow being alternating tread ones

There is no point in alternate step stairs being wider because you have to climb up the middle. Stairs generally take up a lot of space but the width doesn't add a lot to the overall size.

cyclonebri1

Bottom line is these space saver stairs, and I've never heard the term "paddle stairs", but it's a perfect description, are hideous.

They look odd, try to teach kids to use them safely.

Ok, they are an option but moreover, a last resort

WeAreGhosts

MX5huggy wrote: »

Stairs generally take up a lot of space but the width doesn't add a lot to the overall size.

yes they do when the area is narrow.