Stairs going

Approved Document K - Protection from falling, collision and impact defines the ‘going’ of stairs as the depth from front to back of a tread, less any overlap with the next tread above. NB For ramps the going is the length of the ramp between landings.

The steepness, rise and going, handrails, headroom, length and width of stairs should afford reasonable safety to people gaining access to and moving about buildings.

The standard of provision needed to give an acceptable level of safety for access and use depends on the circumstances. It may need to be higher in a public building than in a dwelling, because people may not be familiar with the building and there may be more users. A lower standard may be acceptable where access is required only for maintenance, because greater care can be expected from the people requiring to gain access.

[Image: measuring rise and going]

Treads should be level and the rise and going of each step should be consistent throughout a flight of steps.

[Image: rise and going minimum and maximum values]

For tapered treads, consecutive tapered treads, should use the same going. If a stair consists of straight and tapered treads, the going of the tapered treads should not be less than the going of the straight treads.

[Image: measuring tapered treads]

Requirements for alternating stair treads are shown below.

[Image: alternating stair tread]

[edit] Find out more

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki

• Approved Document K.
• Building regulations.
• Lifts.
• Inclusive design.
• Stairs.
• Stairs nosing.
• Stairs riser.
• Stairs tread.