Safety is paramount when building a staircase. Great care should always be taken when using stairs, as falls can cause serious injury or even prove fatal. Making sure people using the stairs are safe is particularly important in a public building for a number of reasons. Firstly, there will be a huge increase in the number of people using the stairs, increasing the possibility of an accident. Secondly, if your staircase is unsafe, it could leave you open to legal action if someone is the victim of a fall, and even prosecution if you have failed to comply with safety regulations.
So how can you keep your family or visitors safe and stay on the right side of the law? Buildings in England should abide by the Building Regulations 2010, with stairs covered by Part K.
The regulations specify in great detail every conceivable safety aspect for stairs in public and domestic buildings and handrails are a key focal point.
The importance of a securely fitted handrail cannot be underestimated. For a start, people who use the stairs are going to expect it to be secure when they put their hand on it and are in for a nasty shock if it suddenly starts to move! And if you’re not sure of your footing or your balance when you’re on a staircase, it’s a recipe for disaster. In the worst case scenario, a loose handrail could give way completely, sending someone tumbling to the floor below.
So how do you make sure a handrail is securely fitted? Here are a few tips to ensure your handrail is safe for all: