Objectives
The overall aim of this project is to improve the safety in use of non-domestic and domestic stairs. The specific objectives are - to determine the potential of slip resistant nosings to reduce the risk of injuries associated with slips on stairs - to highlight additional hazards that might be introduced by including slip resistant nosings on stairs and provide guidance as to the best practice for safer stairs - to investigate the benefit of nosing profiles for the ambulant disabled, including those designs shown in Approved Document M and draft BS 8300 (also to investigate the benefit of the traditional nosings used on domestic timber stairs, with and without carpet coverings).
Description
This project is required to meet DETRs objectives of promoting innovation & culture change, business improvement, construction process improvement, social impact, best practice, sustainability and to address safety & health issues in the construction sector as described in Prospectus 2000. The Priority Area and Theme relevant to this project are Evaluation of Risks to Safety and Health, Social Impact Theme. The results from this project will determine the effect of stair nosings on stair accidents and provide best practice guidance on stair nosing design. Current practice for building managers and building planners is to apply proprietary nosings to all stairs where there may be a risk of falls, and hence injuries, to the public or to the workforce. These nosings were originally designed to protect carpet from wear in use, as the nosing area is easily worn where there is substantial pedestrian traffic on stairs. They have subsequently taken on the appearance of a safety device by including slip-resistant properties into the materials used for the nosings. There is however no evidence that these devices provide safer conditions for users and in some cases have been known to introduce new risks to the users. The materials are known to have slip resistant properties but these apply to walking on the level only (the gait applied when walking on the level is different to walking on stairs). It is believed that most accidents that occur when descending stairs occur because of overstepping rather than slipping on the tread. The type of material on the nosing edge may have an influence on such accidents, either preventing them or potentially increasing the likelihood of harm by causing the victim to fall forward rather than backwards if the fall occurs during descent. Nosings on stairs with short treads can present a hazard to people descending the stairs as the effective width of the tread is reduced and heels may catch on the nosings. Protruding nosings may also present a hazard to some people ascending the stairs, including the ambulant disabled, where the foot is dragged up the riser, the toe may catch on the nosing. Slightly rounded leading edges allow for light modelling for better visibility and will reduce injuries if one should fall against the tread. There is also the question of the shape of the leading edge, which should not have such a large radius that there is a tendency to slide over the edge. Approved Document M and draft BS 8300-2:Section 8 give guidance on profiles for risers and key stair dimensions. The validity of this guidance should be verified. Guidance exists in Approved Document M on nosings for the ambulant disabled. This and other guidance should be evaluated in order to determine the need for amendments to Approved Documents K or M. This should include the dimensions of nosing and guidance on colour, luminance and contrast for visually impaired users. The work will follow as an extension to an existing project that is jointly funded by the Health & Safety Executive. The existing project is assessing the safety of different goings on stairs. The new project will extend the work to include nosings in a variety of environments, including non-domestic and residential (housing) properties. It will also assess the existing guidance contained in Approved Document M, Access and facilities for disabled people, regarding the profile of nosings.
Summary of results
- This project undertook practical trials on a variable going stair rig to determine the potential for slips, trips and falls on stairs with different going size, stair material and surface contaminants. It also examined the use of different proprietary nosings and the potential missteps that might occur in an overstep situation. The final report drew together the results from this project and from earlier work (CC1570, 1994 and 1997) and presented recommendations for changes to Approved Documents K and M. These are summarised as: - an increase in the minimum going for private and public stairs - a decrease in the maximum rise for private and public stairs - a maximum difference between successive goings on a flight - introduction of the concept of acceptable and non-acceptable handrails - an increase in the height of stair guarding, and extension of handrails beyond top and bottom nosings - definition of the maximum pitch for dwelling stairs - definition of the minimum clear stair width at handrail height in dwellings - the adoption of closed risers in dwelling stairs - the banning of winder flights in dwellings In addition the project produced valuable guidance on choosing the right proprietary nosings for non-domestic stairs.
These are summarised as:
- an increase in the minimum going for private and public stairs
- a decrease in the maximum rise for private and public stairs
- a maximum difference between successive goings on a flight
- introduction of the concept of acceptable and non-acceptable handrails
- an increase in the height of stair guarding, and extension of handrails beyond top and bottom nosings
- definition of the maximum pitch for dwelling stairs
- definition of the minimum clear stair width at handrail height in dwellings
- the adoption of closed risers in dwelling stairs
- the banning of winder flights in dwellingsIn addition the project produced valuable guidance on choosing the right proprietary nosings for non-domestic stairs
