Space saving stairs vs UK building regs

[Inga]

Hi,

Does anybody have any experience with 1m2 space saving stairs from eestairs?
Particularly in getting them signed off by UK building authorities?

We want to use them for our 1 bedroom loft conversion.
Approved Document K covers normal stairs and alternating tread stairs only.
Alternating tread stairs are not an option for us (too scary), nor is a spiral staircase (too narrow).

The design concept from eestairs seems to be relatively unknown here in UK. Presumably as a result, every company we speak to says that we won’t get them signed off, but nobody could explain to us in detail why they think that is. (My gut feeling is that they just stay clear of the unknown.)

Acc. to eestairs it’s the inconsistent going that makes them non-conform to UK building regs. (Ignore the open rise on the drawing, that can be closed.)


<Question>
Does anybody have any experience in getting these stairs or similar approved or rejected?

Your help and advice is greatly appreciated.
Thank you.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

They're not a UK supplier, they're Norwegian, that's why there's no mention of UK Building Regs, they look like Death stairs to me, you can find all kinds of wild and unsafe stairs from around the world, I can't see how Building Control could pass them as they don't comply with the Regs or the British Standards. Typically BC will only permit a non conventional stair when the project is impossible to complete without them.

 

[Inga]

Thank you for sharing your opinion (again). It wasn't my intention to start a discussion about the stairs, I've asked a clear question as to whether anybody has them and has any feedback, positive or negative, from UK BC.
I'm leaving this thread open for people who may be able to contribute that way.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

They won't get signed off because they don't meet the necessary regs for the going/rise and the angle of the pitch. The regs are very clear.

 

[martygturner]

I would agree having done a small barn conversion , and I mean micro barn 5 x 3.25m anything other than regs is bound to fail. In fairness to the BCO he suggested leaving the bedroom as open plan with a railing and using a ladder becoming a meazzine sleeping deck, from memory the max height was 2.4m floor to floor.

We decided to fit a very narrow staircase, strangely the width was not the issue, it was just head height and pitch, as it was a loft we could get down to 1800mm head height and by nicking two treads worth at the top of the stairs by intruding in to the ceiling all was well, yes it left a slope but it was only two treads worth.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

You can get away with a ships ladder regs but only if the loft only serves one single bedroom.

 

[phatboy]

Thank you for sharing your opinion (again). It wasn't my intention to start a discussion about the stairs, I've asked a clear question as to whether anybody has them and has any feedback, positive or negative, from UK BC.
I'm leaving this thread open for people who may be able to contribute that way.

Well, you're a delight aren't you!

 

[clifford1]

"Does anybody have any experience with 1m2 space saving stairs from eestairs?
Particularly in getting them signed off by UK building authorities?"

That looks like a pretty general invitation to start a discussion to me.
Youv've had your answer to the very specific part of your question - are they compliant? Answer - No.

Now on to the general part - "Particularly in getting them signed off".

But if you don't want to broaden the question then it looks like you're not going to get any answers!

 

[noseall]

Hi,

Does anybody have any experience with 1m2 space saving stairs

Yes. They are an absolute bastad to get anything other than a shoe box up. Hate the darn things!

 

[Inga]

Sorry, maybe I misunderstood what this forum is for.

I have an opinion, my family have one, friends, colleagues and neighbours have one, every builder we speak to, too. I am frankly put not interested in any more opinions or gut feelings. I’m looking for Facts. Apologies for being so blunt.

Ee sell their product in the UK.
And since the concept isn’t rocket science, there have to be variations of it somewhere, too.

This product came after the chapter on space saving stairs in Approved Document K was written. (I’m yet to look into the Building Act from 1984, but alternating tread stairs have been in doc K at least since the 90s. Ee applied for a patent on their 1m2 stairs in 2007.)

There is always some room for interpretation for any element of a build, and every sign-off depends on individual BC officers. And that is what I’m interested in: Has anyone used this design concept / this product in a project and got it approved by BC?

 

[Inga]

Yes. They are an absolute bastad to get anything other than a shoe box up. Hate the darn things!

What dimensions did you specify?

Did you get yours signed off by BC?

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

You've been given the facts but you're not interested in them.

 

[noseall]

What dimensions did you specify?

Did you get yours signed off by BC?

I didn't.
We worked on a house with them already in. We hated working there i.e. upstairs, just because of the ridiculous stairs.

 

[phatboy]

You've been given the facts but you're not interested in them.

They want a version of the “facts” that the BC will accept.

 

[wessex101]

I would have thought the best people to ask are EeStairs themselves?
Quoting from their brochure .... "1m2 stairs meet building regulations if used specifically in limited spaces." .... so you would like to think they have information to back this up.

As Freddie said in post #6 for a single bedroom loft conversion the requirements for the stairs are far less onerous and you can have a fixed ladder so these stairs could well be compliant. I rather like them.