Building Regs for Outside Steps

[carpbyday]

Hello, we've had a run of 5 steps built in our garden and I'd like to understand if they need to follow any particular building regs. The steps are halfway down our garden and do not go to or from a dwelling. I see some building regs about uniform rise, and min/max rise, but I can't see for certain whether garden steps have to follow these, or just used as a recommendation. The overall rise is about 750mm. The going on all steps is uniform at around 400mm. First step rise - 270mm Second - 125mm Third - 130mm Fourth - 150mm Fifth - 95mm It feels very awkward walking up and down them! Any advice is greatly appreciated. Many thanks!

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Normally for dwellings any overall rise of over 600mm ought to have handrails and comply with Part K but thousands of homeowners do what they like so I would n be too worried. That said a set of stairs with uneven gongs/risers can often be dangerous especially for those not familiar with them. Did Stevie Wonder build them?

 

[carpbyday]

Normally for dwellings any overall rise of over 600mm ought to have handrails and comply with Part K but thousands of homeowners do what they like so I would n be too worried. That said a set of stairs with uneven gongs/risers can often be dangerous especially for those not familiar with them. Did Stevie Wonder build them?

Thank you, we're coming from this from the angle of what the builders need to do to fix it, and what regs they should have followed to do it properly.
They told me they were building 5 steps, 160mm each. I don't understand how they've managed to mess this up so badly.

 

[Dereekoo]

Steps in a private garden do not have any building re requirements but whatever is put down by builders must be fit for purpose and as per building regs is a good start

• Consistency is crucial: All risers and goings on a staircase must be the same to prevent falls.

not withstanding that actual length the going can or cannot be raised as an issue your steps are a trip hazard especially to the young and old

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Thank you, we're coming from this from the angle of what the builders need to do to fix it, and what regs they should have followed to do it properly.
They told me they were building 5 steps, 160mm each. I don't understand how they've managed to mess this up so badly.

Get the builder back, and tell him to fix it properly.

 

[^woody^]

Building regulations apply to buildings and steps to get in or out of buildings not garden steps.

If you contracted this out, then there would be implied terms to construct the steps to applicable standards, and BS 8300 comes to mind (an accessibility standard) and contains accepted dimensions for the treads and requirements for handrails and visibility.

There would also be other standards for the materials and performance such as slip and trip resistance.

Fundamentally, steps should be even in height and depth