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Stair width to area over kitchen

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  • 09-04-2023 5:25pm
    #1
    KevMayo88
    Registered Users Posts: 394 ✭✭


    Hi,

    We are putting in a little area over our open plan kitchen- a small place where you could sit and have a coffee etc and look down over the kitchen. Our architect ha come back to us us and shown a massive stairs to this place- he has it 900mm wide with steps 225mm wide. We think this is complete overkill. The area is only a small part over the kitchen and not to a first floor. Surely there is a far smaller stair width that could go here? I am looking online at some prefabricated timber or even spiral stairs I could get that are a fraction of the size.



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    #2
    Lumen
    Registered Users Posts: 31,086 ✭✭✭✭Lumen


    I believe the relevant building regulation is TGD K 2014 which specifies a minimum width of 800mm and also specifies rise, going and gait (and other things like guarding).

    It is the professional duty of the architect to design things which are compliant with building regs.

    I don't believe fire regs are relevant in a dwelling, but I could be wrong about that.

    Here's a summary:

    https://www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/100541/cef78564-31b1-4475-aa01-b400b0527388.pdf



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    #3
    sydthebeat
    Subscribers Posts: 41,645 ✭✭✭✭sydthebeat


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058291715/stair-width-to-area-over-kitchen

    1. That's not a massive stairs at all. 225 for the going is bare minimum.

    2. A spiral stairs takes up a lot more space than you'd think. That also needs to comply with regulations. ie a 700mm wide spiral stairs will taken up a circle 1.5 meters diameter. Depending on your layout a straight stairs may be more beneficial.

    3. There are "loft"stair regulations that you may be able to argue, if you don't plan on using the space as habitable, bit it's sounds like you do want to use it as habitable area.

    @Lumen Fire regulations absolutely do apply to dwelling houses.

    To the OP, The architect is correct to design in accordance with regulations, and if you wish to do something which isn't in accordance with regs, no body will sign off on it



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    #4
    Lumen
    Registered Users Posts: 31,086 ✭✭✭✭Lumen


    > @Lumen Fire regulations absolutely do apply to dwelling houses.

    @sydthebeat why does Table 3 in the link I posted not have anything about fire regs (Part B) like Table 1 and 2 ?



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    #5
    Penn
    Registered Users Posts: 33,815 ✭✭✭✭Penn


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120460945#Comment_120460945

    That's a Supplementary Guidance Document. Fire regs for stairs absolutely apply to dwelling houses, though Part B for dwelling houses generally refers back to the rules from Part K (Stairs) which covers the widths, risers etc for stairs in dwellings.



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    #6
    sydthebeat
    Subscribers Posts: 41,645 ✭✭✭✭sydthebeat


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120460945#Comment_120460945

    Because fire regulations have to do with a lot more than just the actual stair design.



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    #7
    Penn
    Registered Users Posts: 33,815 ✭✭✭✭Penn


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120461030#Comment_120461030

    Particularly when it comes to proximity to a kitchen with cooking appliances, direction of stairs, distance to an exit, protection of support for the structure etc. The stair widths are the least of the design issues.



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    #8
    Bracken81
    Registered Users Posts: 221 ✭✭Bracken81


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120460771#Comment_120460771

    100%

    The stairs sounds like its bare minimum standards, albeit 100mm wider than 800mm min., but a 900mm wide stairs would still be very tight

    And spiral staircases are horrific to use on a daily basis



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    #9
    KevMayo88
    Registered Users Posts: 394 ✭✭KevMayo88


    Thanks for the advice all- we are not doing it before sign off, but once architect has signed off, we willbe installing a 600mm wide alternate thread stairs- takes up a fraction of the architects stairwell footprint so happy days.



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