Stair landings are integral parts of staircase designs that serve both functional and safety purposes. They are platforms or level floors positioned at key points along a stairway, and they can serve a variety of roles from enabling a change in direction to providing rest for occupants. This article explores what stair landings are, their essential functions, the situations in which they are needed, and the standards governing their dimensions and layout.
What is a Stair Landing?
A stair landing is a flat, level platform that serves as a transition between different flights of stairs or where the direction of a staircase changes. These landings can be positioned at various points along a stairway:
- Between flights of stairs: To allow the direction of the stairs to change.
- At the top or bottom of stair flights: To provide a safe resting space and make the transition between stairs and other areas smoother.
- Where the direction of the stair changes: Often, a landing is used to facilitate a turn or change in the staircase layout.
In staircases, landings help break up long, continuous runs of stairs, which can make ascending or descending more manageable and safer.
Purpose of Stair Landings
Stair landings serve several key purposes:
- Facilitating a Change of Direction: A landing is often provided when a staircase needs to change direction. This is common in L-shaped or U-shaped staircases, where a change in direction allows for a more compact or functional design in buildings.
- Resting Space for Occupants: For longer staircases, landings allow individuals to pause and rest, particularly on steep or high-rise stairs. This is especially important for elderly or physically challenged individuals who may find it difficult to ascend or descend long flights without a break.
- Safety and Functionality: Landings improve the overall safety of the staircase by providing a place to stabilize oneself before continuing. This is crucial in multi-story buildings or places with a high volume of foot traffic.
When Are Stair Landings Required?
There are several scenarios where stair landings are necessary to meet building code standards and ensure safety:
- Top and Bottom of Each Flight: Landings must be provided at the top and bottom of each flight of stairs in both interior and exterior staircases. This ensures a smooth transition between the staircase and adjoining spaces, such as hallways, doors, or rooms.
- When a Doorway Swings Toward the Stairway: If a doorway opens toward the stairway at the top of a flight of stairs, a landing must be provided to prevent the door from obstructing the stairway and creating a hazard. This is particularly important for exterior stairs where the door swings directly into the pathway.
- Intermediate Landings for Tall Staircases: For stairways with a straight run (i.e., no directional changes) and an overall rise greater than 3.65 meters (approximately 12 feet), an intermediate landing should be provided. This is because a staircase of such a height would require a long uninterrupted climb, which could be tiring and unsafe without a resting place.
- Regulations on Stairway Design: Building codes often specify when and where landings should be placed, including requirements based on the width and height of stairways. These codes help ensure that stairways remain safe, accessible, and functional for all users.
When Can Stair Landings Be Omitted?
While stair landings are typically required, there are certain instances where they can be omitted without violating building regulations:
- Doorway Swing Away from the Stair: If a doorway located at the top of a staircase swings away from the stairs (rather than into the stairway), then a landing is not required between the stair and the door. This applies particularly in residential units, where the door’s swing direction reduces the need for a landing.
- Secondary Entrances: In cases where a secondary entrance to a single dwelling unit is accessed by a staircase with fewer than three rises, the landing at the top of the stair can be omitted. Additionally, if the door in question slides open or swings away from the stairs, the landing can be neglected, as it does not obstruct the stairway.
- Bottom of Exterior Stairs: A landing may be omitted at the bottom of exterior stairs if no obstruction exists in the required width of the stairway. For single dwelling units, this width is typically 900mm, while for other types of buildings, the width requirement is usually 1100mm. This ensures that there is sufficient space for safe passage at the bottom of the stairway.
Standard Dimensions of Stair Landings
The design and dimensions of stair landings are not arbitrary. There are established standards that must be adhered to in order to ensure both safety and usability:
- Width of Landing: The width of the landing should be at least as wide as the stairway it serves. This ensures that the landing provides adequate space for users to move freely and safely between flights of stairs.
- Length of Landing: The length of a landing, in the direction of travel, must be at least equal to the width of the stair. This is especially important for straight-run stairways. Additionally, the length of the landing should not exceed 1219mm (approximately 48 inches) to avoid overly wide and impractical landings.
- Impact of Doors on Landings: When a door swings onto a landing, it should not reduce the landing’s width to less than half of the required dimensions. This is to ensure that the landing remains wide enough for users to pass safely. Moreover, if the door swings fully open, it should not extend beyond 178mm (about 7 inches) into the landing, preventing it from obstructing the path.
- Wheelchair Accessibility: In cases where wheelchair access is required, the stair landing must not encroach on the designated space for a wheelchair. Doors must not swing into the wheelchair space, ensuring that the landing remains clear and accessible.
Stair landings are essential components of staircases that not only provide a safe transition between flights of stairs but also enhance the functionality and comfort of stairways. Understanding when landings are required, when they can be omitted, and the proper dimensions ensures that staircases are designed to be safe, accessible, and compliant with building codes. Whether for a residential home, commercial building, or public space, well-designed stair landings contribute to the overall safety and usability of a building.