What are the parts of a balustrade?

Balustrade

• Spindles—the vertical supports that sit between a handrail and base rail. Also known as a balustrade.
• Base rail—sits on top of the string or along a landing.
• Handrail—a rail that sits on top of the baluster/spindles.
• Newel post—the vertical post that supports the handrail at the top and bottom of the stairs.

Are banisters a legal requirement?

Handrails are mandatory. Stairs should have a handrail on at least one side if they are less than one metre wide, and on both sides if wider than this. Handrails should be placed between 900mm and 1000mm above the highest point on the staircase steps.

What is Part K of building regulations?

Summary. Approved Document K includes advice on protection from falling, collision and impact. Protection from falling involves the fitting of safety measures on staircases, ramps and ladders, as well as advice about the positioning of balusters, vehicle barriers and windows to avoid injury.

Do you need building regs for stairs?

To stay within Building Regulations, a domestic staircase needs a rise of between 190mm and 220mm. When it comes to staircase width, there are no restrictions as such, but standard flights measure 860mm, and for a main staircase it is agreed that a width of between 800mm and 900mm works best.

What is the difference between banister and balustrade?

A “balustrade” is a sequence of balusters that support a handrail. A “banister” (also spelled with two “n”s) is another name for a staircase baluster, but many architects and interior designers prefer to use the word “banister” to refer to a narrower, more modern support.

What is the difference between baluster and balustrade?

The term baluster is interchangeable with the word spindle. A balustrade is comprised of an assembled top rail, balusters or spindles and often a bottom rail, posts, post caps, and decorative finials. It is a composite made up of individual parts, such as the balusters and a railing/handrail.

Is it illegal to not have a banister in your house UK?

Bannisters & Handrails Handrails are always required on stairwells with more than 4 consecutive risers regardless of stairwell length, riser width, or riser height. As with open risers, any bannister gaps on a guarding or rail should not exceed 99mm in either width or height.

How often do you need a landing for stairs?

Flights and landings Flights can be connected using landings. A barrier, a landing 2+ metres in length or a change in the direction of the stairway of 90+ degrees needs to take place every 36 stairs.

What is the maximum pitch for a private staircase?

42 degrees
This gives, for example, a maximum pitch for a private stair of 42 degrees. The normal relationship between the rise and the going is that 2 x the rise + the going should be between 550mm and 700mm.

What are the requirements for a stair balustrade?

Designing balustrade for stairs, and any other part of a building, should meet performance requirements in accordance with BS 6180:2011 which gives recommendations and guidance for the construction of barriers in and around buildings which are designed to protect people from hazards.

What are the regulations for the construction of stairs?

The Building Regulations Part K stipulate what is allowed and what is not in the construction of stairs. In summary, the regulations that affect handrails and balustrades are as follows: Where there is a drop that exceeds 600mm, either on a landing or on stairs, then a guard needs to be used

Where are staircases and balustrades found in the building code?

Staircases and Balustrades for use externally or between habitable rooms in residential buildings 1&10 can be found in section 3.9.1 Stair Construction and 3.9.2 Balustrades. Other references to staircase construction can be found in the Australian Standard AS1657 Section 4 – Stairways.

What are the building regulations for balustrades?

Understanding the building regulations and interpreting their requirements for balustrades can be a complex and time-consuming task. This guide focuses specifically on the building regulations Document K.