Steps, hand rail needed

[welshcottage]

Hi

Quick Question about handrails, we have differing opinion between builder and carpenter, either is not a problem but building inspector is away until a weeks time and doing some work during that time.

The extension has a porch that then leads up to a lounge area, this has steps, ground level, then step one, step two then up into the lounge, they are 900 wide. Builders saying this is classed as two steps, carpenter says three. Logic says three steps but then I can also see where the builder is coming from as there are just two actual steps!

Any opinions appreciated

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

I recall that once the height difference exceeds 600mm a handrail is required. The number of steps irrelevant.

 

[welshcottage]

This is possibly where the confusion is, but for reading a number of buildings regs can't see a note re height only number of steps.

For reference height from floor to floor is 590 mm, width is 900 mm

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

No, there's no confusion in the regs, page 17 1.41 https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...achment_data/file/443181/BR_PDF_AD_K_2013.pdf

 

[welshcottage]

Thanks freddiemercurystwin

Appreciate the page details, i can now show them both! Wonder where they are getting this 2/3 steps things from!

 

[Nakajo]

Are those the Welsh regs?

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Is what Welsh regs?

 

[Nakajo]

Because I haven't worked in Wales, I'm not sure what an 'excepted energy building' is. That's all.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Ahh, is the OP in Wales?

 

[tony1851]

The fact that his name is 'Welshcottage' could possibly suggest that the question might be relevant to Wales, and the regs might differ from those in England.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

http://gov.wales/docs/desh/publications/170404building-regs-approved-document-k-protection-from-falling-en.pdf 1.28 1.28 1.28 page 17

 

[chappers]

definitely 3 steps to settle the argument, but as Freddie has pointed out height is the relevant criteria