They’re often called space-savers or space-saving stairs because they take up much less room than a conventional staircase. This makes them an ideal choice for accessing loft conversions, galleries and mezzanine floors, or other rooms where stair space is at a premium. How do paddle stairs work? All Abbott Wade paddle stairs are expertly constructed in line with current UK building regulations, so they’re guaranteed to be 100% safe. Manufactured from the highest quality timber, our space saving stairs will not only free up some room in your home, but will look sleek and stylish, too. Despite the orthodox design of space saving stairs, which are popular with homeowners who have had a loft conversion, with an Abbott-Wade creation we ensure your staircase will be perfectly safe for use by all who come into or live in your home. If the drop of your paddle stairs is going to be more than 600mm then you will need to include balustrading to protect users of the staircase from falling. A handrail will also give people using the staircase who are a little uneasy on their feet a helping hand when ascending or descending via the paddle stairs. Space Saver Stairs UK Axxys Stairs The Axxys range of stair parts is another contemporary range again offering Chrome and Brushed finish components like the fusion stairs range. We started offering the Axxys in September 2007 and it is now prooving to be a popular choice.

Approved Document K is part of a series of documents that make up the Building Regulations, which are the minimum standards for the design and construction of buildings in England and Wales. The guidelines set out in Approved Document K are intended to ensure that stairs, ramps, and guards are safe, accessible, and easy to use for all people, regardless of their age or physical abilities. Failure to follow the guidelines could result in a building not meeting the requirements of the Building Regulations, which could lead to legal issues and potentially compromise the safety of the building’s occupants. General Access Stairs: These are stairs that are used by the general public and have to be designed to accommodate a wide range of users. The recommended maximum height for each step on a general access stair is 170mm, while the minimum is 150mm.Shown here with the upgraded open plan option (Open Risers) and the European style handrail option. Utility Stairs: These are stairs used for purposes other than general access, such as those leading to a basement or loft. The recommended maximum height for each step on a utility stair is 190mm, while the minimum is 150mm.

Make sure you consult with a professional before you start constructing your staircase. Further Reading The main regulations cover the height of the staircases, the rise of the stairs, and the run of the steps. You also must ensure that the stairs have handrails, and these shouldn’t have gaps of more than 100mm. The polished beech wood treads with a light (natural) or dark dye are of a special shape to guarantee maximum utilisation of space without compromising the stair functionality. The staircase is supplied with one side railing. Karina 11 shaped treads, steel supporting structure and railing on the internal side... all included in the price! The minimum required headroom at all points of the staircase is 2,000mm, but with loft conversions, the headroom can be as low as 1,800mm.

Building regulations for loft staircases

The staircase needs to be positioned appropriately so that any swings of the door don’t hit the front of the staircase. In the UK, you can also choose to build staircases with open risers but remember to ensure that a 100mm ball cannot go through these gaps.

The run or going of the staircase must be at least 220mm. There are currently no rules regarding the staircase width, but it is generally agreed that widths between 800mm and 900mm work well. On average, main staircases have widths of 860mm. For secondary staircases, you should consider going for a minimum staircase width of 600mm. Conclusion At Abbott-Wade, we’ve been installing new staircasesacross the country for more than 20 years, including many flights of space-saving stairs. We consider ourselves staircaseexperts at this point, so our guide to paddle stairs will explain everything you need to know. What are paddle stairs? If you’ve discussed the legalities of paddle stairs in your home with the local authorities, and you’re ready to start designing your staircase, the expert team at Abbott-Wade can help. We’re an award-winning and environmentally friendly business, well-placed to manufacture paddle stairs. Since paddle stairs are a fixed feature, they’re sturdier and safer than a ladder or folding steps. It’s also faster and more convenient to climb securely installed space-saving stairs. Additionally, paddle staircases often cost much less, as they use less material in their construction. Install paddle stairs with Abbott-WadeThe staircases should have handrails on at least one side if they have a minimum width of one metre. If the staircase is wider than one metre, it must have handrails on both sides. You will not need to include any handrails on the bottom two steps. The pitch of the stairs – the angle formed by the line of the floor at the bottom and the line along the nosing of the treads – must be no steeper than 42°. It must be a straight flight of stairs, with at least 2000mm of headroom (2 metres) for the people ascending or descending. When building a domestic staircase, you will not need to follow any guidelines regarding the lengths of the flights. However, you should avoid going beyond 36 risers. Above 36 risers, you should consider changing direction by at least 30 degrees. One of the benefits of a loft conversion is the utilisation of what could be considered dead space – and while property owners dream of light-filled bedrooms, how you will get up to your newly converted loft space is often hardly given a second thought. However, the staircase is not only important for practical reasons, it can also be a design feature in itself in which we have countless loft conversion stairs ideas in hand. Here is our guide on how to choose loft conversion stairs even for a small landing or small space. Get a designer Are you struggling for space in a small hallway in your home? Looking to re-jig a landing to reveal more valuable foot room? If your answer to these questions is ‘yes’ – or even just a frustrated sigh – then paddle stairs could be the perfect solution for you.