Today, quite a lot of people dream of living in their own beautiful and comfortable two-story house. If you are building a private multi-storey building, then stairs are simply necessary to move between floors. However, what should be the width of the stairs, the dimensions of the steps and the height of the fence? All this will be discussed further.
Varieties
There are no clear rules that should guide the construction of a structure, since each case is unique. It all depends on the layout of the building, functionality and ease of use, as well as the purpose of the stairs you want to get.
There is a certain classification of structures according to several criteria, on which the minimum width of the stairs also depends. All of them, according to their purpose, are conventionally divided into:
- workers;
- interfloor;
- input;
- checkpoints.
In addition, stairs can be located indoors or outside, and also have a straight or rotary shape. Ledges of what 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:
- Step - the horizontal surface of the step, the shape and dimensions of which depend on the design features of the stairs.
- Riser - the vertical surface of the step, which is optional and may be missing in some stairs.
- Balusters - vertical racks on which railings are attached. They play a very important role as they are responsible for security.
Sizes
If you decide to build a staircase yourself, it is very important to calculate the correct dimensions for it, because it affects the convenience and safety when moving between floors. The width of the stairs depends on several factors, which will be discussed later.
Safety
Any climb must be safe in the first place, so when calculating the height and width of the stairs, many factors must be taken into account, especially if children, the elderly and people with disabilities live with you. In addition, the basic requirements dictated by fire safety rules should be taken into account. This is very important, because in the event of a fire, all residents of the house must be able to safely leave it.
When erecting a fence, balusters should be at a distance of no more than 15 centimeters from each other. This will be enoughenough to prevent a person from falling from the second floor in case, for example, he stumbles or slips. And if you have small children, then this gap should be even smaller so that the child cannot 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, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the basic requirements and standards described in the construction documentation. It contains many tips and tricks. With proper observance of them, 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
Today, there is a standard technical documentation that lists the basic requirements for the construction of stairs in a private house. Although their observance is not mandatory, it is still necessary to have at least some idea about them. Following are the general requirements.
Stair width requirements
The minimum width of stairs in a private house is 90 centimeters. Narrower structures are not recommended, since in case of emergency evacuation, injuries are likely. The same applies to the level of inclination of the stairs, which should not exceed an angle of 40 degrees. Increasing the slope greatly increases the chance of falling.
Optimal step width
The width of the steps of the stairs must be exactly the same, so that in the event of moving without light at night, you cannot 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 also of great importance. The more of them, the higher the likelihood of injury in the event of a fall. The optimal number of steps in one march, if the recommended stair step width is observed, is twelve.
Requirements for platforms and fences
In order for the structures to be safe and comfortable, the dimensions of the landings of the stairs must correspond to the dimensions of its spans. The platforms should not prevent quick evacuation from the second floor in the event of a fire. The height of the fence must be at least 90 centimeters, and the railing must be capable of supporting 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 erecting a 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 can move freely. If we talk about numbers, then for a private house a width of 130 centimeters will be enough. If the house is inhabited by a smallthe number of people, then the width of the stairs with limited free space in the house or layout features can be reduced to 90 centimeters, but in this case only one person can move along it. In addition, it will not be possible to move furniture or other large items.
As for the angle of inclination, the safest and most ergonomic stairs are those with an inclination of 30 to 40 degrees. For comfortable movement between the main room and the attic, a staircase with a slope of up to 70 degrees is suitable. This will be enough to climb into the attic, and will save free space.
When erecting stairs, it is recommended to make a platform, the width of which is equal to that of the spans. In this case, the length of the spans is calculated based on several parameters, the main ones being 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 stair designs or seek help from a professional builder with the necessary knowledge and experience.
Step sizes are calculated based on your physiological characteristics and height. The most convenient for moving up the stairs are the steps, in which the width and height are chosen in such a way as to provide a comfortable step at a normal walking speed. The average adult has a stride length of approximately 62 centimeters. Thus, based on the recommendations described above, with a widthsteps of 30 centimeters, their height should be about 16 centimeters.
A few words about the fire escape
Probably, each of us has seen on TV, especially in foreign films, fire escapes that are built from the outside of the room and are designed 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 take into account some of their features.
In terms of their design features, they are almost identical to classic stairs, but they are much narrower, so only one person can move along them. In addition, the dimensions of fire escapes should be calculated exclusively in compliance with all the rules, recommendations and requirements of SNiP. However, before proceeding with the design, you should first determine the type and shape of the stairs, as well as the method of fixing them on 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 out of your head. When designing and drawing up a drawing of a future staircase, the following factors must be considered:
- room area;
- ceiling height;
- room features;
- type and shape of stairs you want to build;
- type of building and finishing materials;
- number of residents, their age, physical abilities and physiological features.
Only after you take into account all these parameters, it will be possible to start calculating the dimensions of all elements of the stairs. Only by carefully considering everything, you will get a reliable, safe and convenient design. You should not experiment and try to invent something new, since even the slightest mistake made during design and construction can be fraught with serious consequences. The most important thing is that when building a staircase with your own hands, think about how, in the end, all residents will be safe and comfortable.
