6.6 Staircases

MATERIALS STANDARDS

6.6 - M1	Materials standards
6.6 - M2	Staircase units
6.6 - M3	Timber and wood-based products
6.6 - M4	In-situ and precast concrete
6.6 - M5	Fixings

Materials that comply with the design and the guidance below will be acceptable for staircases.

Materials for staircases should comply with all relevant standards, including those listed below. Where no standard exists, Technical Requirement R3 applies (see Chapter 1.1 'Introduction to the Standards and Technical Requirements').

References to British Standards and Codes of Practice include those made under the Construction Products Directive (89/106/EEC) and, in particular, appropriate European Technical Specifications approved by a European Committee for Standardisation (CEN).

STAIRCASE UNITS

Where proprietary staircases or associated components are proposed, they should meet the statutory and design requirements for stairs, as detailed in the drawings and/or specification.

Manufacturers of staircases and balustrading, etc should be sent all relevant drawings and other information to ensure their products meet the design requirements.

Allowance should be made for tolerances or actual site dimensions.

TIMBER AND WOOD-BASED PRODUCTS

Items to be taken into account include:

(a) timber

Timber for joinery should:

• comply with BS 1186 : Part 1
• be Class 3 or better, and
• be free of resinous knots, splits, shakes and wanes.

Fits of joints, construction of joints, moving parts, glueing, laminating, construction of finger joints and surface finish should be to BS 1186 : Part 2.

Timber which is to be exposed to the weather should be suitably durable or be pre-treated with preservative against fungal attack in accordance with Chapter 2.3 'Timber preservation (natural solid timber)'.

(b) plywood

Plywood should be used only for risers and should comply with BS EN 636.

(c) chipboard

Chipboard should comply with Type P5 of BS EN 312.

(d) oriented strand board

Oriented strand board should comply with Type OSB3 of BS EN 300.

(e) medium density fibreboard

Fibre building boards should comply with BS 1142 : Part 2.

(f) laminated timber

Glued laminated timber structural members should comply with BS 4169.

IN-SITU AND PRECAST CONCRETE

Reference should be made to Chapter 2.1 'Concrete and its reinforcement' (Design and Materials) for guidance on concrete, reinforcement and additives.

FIXINGS

Fixings should be checked for compliance with the design and whether they are provided by the supplier, especially for:

• timber and steel staircases
• newel posts
• handrails
• guarding and balustrading.