Today, quite a lot of people dream of living in their own beautiful and comfortable two-story house. If you are engaged in the construction of a private multi-storey building, then stairs are simply necessary to move between floors. However, what should be the width of the stairs, the size of the steps and the height of the fence? All this will be discussed later.
Varieties
There are no clear rules that should be followed during the construction of a structure, since each specific case is unique. It all depends on the layout of the building, the functionality and ease of use, as well as the purpose of the stairs you want to receive.
There is a certain classification of structures according to several criteria, on which the minimum width of the stairs depends. All of them according to their purpose are conditionally divided into:
- workers;
- interfloor;
- input;
- checkpoints.
In addition, the stairs can be located indoors or outdoors, and also have a direct or rotary shape. The steps of which design and shape to choose depends solely on your preferences and layout.
Design Features
Any staircase, regardless of shape, size and location, consists of several mandatory structural elements:
- The step is the horizontal surface of the step, the shape and dimensions of which depend on the design features of the stairs.
- The riser is the vertical surface of the step, which is optional and may be absent in some stairs.
- Balusters - vertical racks on which the railing is attached. They play a very important role, as they are responsible for safety.
Dimensions
If you decide to build a staircase yourself, it is very important to calculate the correct dimensions for it, since convenience and safety when moving between floors depend on it. The width of the stairs depends on several factors, which will be discussed later.
Security
Any climb should be safe in the first place, so when calculating the height and width of the stairs, you need to consider many factors, especially if you have children, seniors and people with disabilities. In addition, the basic requirements dictated by fire safety rules should be taken into account. This is very important, because in case of fire, all residents of the house should be able to safely leave it.
When erecting fences, balusters should be located at a distance of no more than 15 centimeters from each other. This will be enough to prevent a person from falling from the second floor in case, for example, if he stumbles or slips. And if you have small children, then this gap should be even less so that the child could not stick his head between the balusters and get stuck.
If you are interested in the question of what should be the width of the stairs to the second floor, then it is recommended to familiarize yourself with the basic requirements and standards described in the construction documentation. In it you will find many tips and tricks. When properly observed, you will not only have the optimal width of the stairs in the house to the second floor, but also a high level of security, as well as excellent functionality and ease of use.
Basic requirements for the size of stairs in a private house
To date, there is standard technical documentation that lists the basic requirements for the construction of stairs in a private house. Their observance, although not mandatory, is nevertheless necessary to have at least some idea of them. The general requirements will be presented below.
Ladder Width Requirements
The minimum width of the stairs in a private house is 90 centimeters. Narrower constructions are not recommended, because if emergency evacuation is necessary, injuries are likely. The same applies to the level of inclination of the stairs, which should not exceed an angle of 40 degrees. With a greater slope, the probability of falling greatly increases.
Optimum width of steps
The width of the steps of the stairs should be exactly the same, so that in the case of moving without light at night, you could not stumble and fall. The optimal indicator is from 21 to 35 centimeters, and the height should be in the range from 12 to 20 cm. The number of steps in one march is of great importance. The more there are, the higher the likelihood of injury in the event of a fall. The optimal number of steps in one march, if the recommended width of the staircase step is observed, is twelve.
Requirements for sites and fences
In order for the structures to be safe and convenient, the dimensions of the staircases should correspond to the dimensions of its spans. The sites should not impede the rapid evacuation from the second floor in the event of a fire. The height of the fence should be at least 90 centimeters, and the railing should be able to withstand a load of at least 100 kilograms.
Ease of use
The width of the stairs to the second floor affects not only safety, but also the convenience of its operation, which is also very important. Therefore, before the construction of the structure, be sure to make calculations. How wide should the stairs be to make it convenient to move between floors?
The width of the spans and platforms should be such that two people of average build were able to move freely. If we talk about numbers, then for a private house a width of 130 centimeters will be enough. If a small number of people live in the house, then the width of the stairs with limited free space in the house or planning features can be reduced to 90 centimeters, but in this case only one person can move on it. In addition, it will be impossible to transfer furniture or other large items.
As for the angle of inclination, the most safe and ergonomic are stairs with an inclination of 30 to 40 degrees. For comfortable movement between the main room and the attic, a ladder with a slope of up to 70 degrees is suitable. This will be quite enough to climb into the attic, and will save space.
When erecting a staircase, it is recommended to make a platform with a width equal to that of spans. In this case, the span length is calculated based on several parameters, the main among which are the slope angle and the shape of the stairs. If you cannot calculate all the dimensions yourself, then in this case it is better to look for ready-made staircase designs or seek help from a professional builder with the necessary knowledge and experience.
The sizes of steps are calculated based on your physiological characteristics and growth. The most convenient for moving up the stairs are the steps, in which the width and height are selected in such a way as to provide a convenient step at normal walking speed. In an average adult, the stride length is approximately 62 centimeters. Thus, based on the recommendations described above, with a step width of 30 centimeters, their height should be about 16 centimeters.
A few words about the fire escape
Probably, each of us saw on fire, especially in foreign films, fire escape stairs that are erected from the outside of the building and are intended for emergency evacuation from an apartment or house in the event of a fire or any other life-threatening situation. If you want to build such a structure in your home, then you should consider some of their features.
By their design features, they are almost identical to the classic stairs, but they are much narrower, so only one person can move around them. In addition, the dimensions of fire ladders should be calculated exclusively in compliance with all the rules, recommendations and requirements of SNiP. However, before proceeding with the design, you must first determine the type and shape of the stairs, as well as the method of attaching it to the facade of the building.
General tips and tricks
When building a staircase in a private house, it is fundamentally important to calculate the correct dimensions for it. It is strictly forbidden to take any numbers from the head. When designing and drawing up a future staircase, the following factors must be considered:
- area of the room;
- ceiling height;
- features of the room;
- the type and shape of the stairs you want to build;
- type of construction and decoration materials;
- number of residents, their age, physical capabilities and physiological characteristics.
Only after you take into account all these parameters, it will be possible to start calculating the sizes of all elements of the stairs. Only having considered everything carefully, you will receive a reliable, safe and convenient design. Do not experiment and try to invent something new, because even the smallest mistake made during the design and construction can be fraught with serious consequences. The most important thing - when building a staircase with your own hands, think about ensuring that all residents are safe and comfortable in the end result.