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Open staircase

Can I ask what the regs are to having an open staircase? I will have the banister attached to one wall.

I have done a quick search and can't find any regs to say I can't have an open staircase. Obviously there are regs to headroom and step height but can't see anything that says I can't have a staircase without spindles and banister one side.

Thanks 
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Comments

  • 330d
    330d Posts: 629 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Thanks for the reply. 

    So how does it work with houses that do have open staircase? My neighbour has one along with loads of photos on Google. Are you saying all these houses don't have building reg sign off?
  • EssexExile
    EssexExile Posts: 6,347 Forumite
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    330d said:
    Thanks for the reply. 

    So how does it work with houses that do have open staircase? My neighbour has one along with loads of photos on Google. Are you saying all these houses don't have building reg sign off?
    They modify them after sign-off, no one ever checks later.
    Tall, dark & handsome. Well two out of three ain't bad.
  • Doozergirl
    Doozergirl Posts: 34,021 Forumite
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    edited 27 July 2021 pm31 7:17PM
    330d said:
    Thanks for the reply. 

    So how does it work with houses that do have open staircase? My neighbour has one along with loads of photos on Google. Are you saying all these houses don't have building reg sign off?
    Yes. 

    Or what EssexExile said.  


    Everything that is supposed to be in heaven is already here on earth.
  • daivid
    daivid Posts: 1,282 Forumite
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    I agree with the above, they are a stupid idea. If you want an open look and have the money glass panels are an option. Houses without will either be unsigned off, been attacked by an incompetent DIYer, or pre-date the regs.Though in terms of pre-dating regs I've only ever encountered large gaps rather than completely open i.e. no balustrade (mine have a 170mm gap on the staircase, had a 370mm gap on the landing).
  • 330d
    330d Posts: 629 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    So i have got a copy of the building regs documents. It mentions banisters is only required on both sides if the stair width is more than 1m which mine is not. So therefore I dont need a banister and spindle on one side.

    Secondly the 100mm sphere clearance only applies when you have open risers. 
  • Doozergirl
    Doozergirl Posts: 34,021 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 27 July 2021 pm31 9:27PM
    330d said:
    So i have got a copy of the building regs documents. It mentions banisters is only required on both sides if the stair width is more than 1m which mine is not. So therefore I dont need a banister and spindle on one side.

    Secondly the 100mm sphere clearance only applies when you have open risers. 
    I've been building for 20 years - you're teaching granny to suck eggs here.   You don't need a handrail on both sides, that is correct.    We don't have two handrails in our new self build, we have one, but we do have protection from falling.  My 'spindles' go from floor to ceiling.   There is more than one way to skin  this cat - it could be a solid plastered wall, it could be glass, it could be wires, the choice is near endless.  With or without a handrail.  

    You DO need protection from falling.  And that involves the sphere, so children don't accidentally slip through and fall/accidentally hang themselves. 

    See Page 27  "Guarding of Stairs" in Part K. 

    The sphere ALSO applies to open treads.    You are probably misinterpreting because of the handrail thing.  
    Everything that is supposed to be in heaven is already here on earth.
  • 330d
    330d Posts: 629 Forumite
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    edited 27 July 2021 pm31 9:31PM
    Do you have a photo of your 'spindles'?

    I presume its like this? 


    The shape and layout of my stairs is very similar to that. I do my first 2 steps and the next 3 steps do a turn of 90 degrees. My concern with that is how will i get furniture upstairs? Not much of an opening.



  • Doozergirl
    Doozergirl Posts: 34,021 Forumite
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    edited 27 July 2021 pm31 9:34PM
    Before we'd finished painting, yes. 95mm uprights, 95mm gaps.  The handrail is against the wall.  




    Everything that is supposed to be in heaven is already here on earth.
  • Anyone who goes down this route puts form before function and is in denial about the safety risks.

    I was looking to Air BnB for a month during lockdown last year and the stupidity of the narrow staircase sans banister really put me off hugely. (The ultimate deciding factor for me was the comfort of my own home, even camping on the ground floor with no bathroom was better than moving out).
    No man is worth crawling on this earth.

    So much to read, so little time.
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