Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
671. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the safety standards that exist in relation to the installation of a domestic stairs; if there is a requirement for a banister rail on both sides of the stairs for safety reasons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40365/22]
View answerThe Building Regulations set out the legal requirements in Ireland for the construction of new buildings (including houses), extensions to existing buildings as well as for material alterations and certain material changes of use to existing buildings. The related Technical Guidance Documents (Parts A - M respectively) provide technical guidance on how to comply with the regulations in practical terms. Where works are carried out in accordance with the relevant technical guidance, such works are considered to be, prima facie, in compliance with the relevant regulation(s). Technical Guidance Documents are free to view/download on my Department's website at the following link:
www.housing.gov.ie/housing/building-standards/tgd-part-d-materials-and-workmanship/Technical-guidance-documents.
My Department has also published Supplementary guidance on the design of stairs to help achieve compliance with the Building Regulations, available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/6b632-technical-guidance-document-k-stairways-ladders-ramps-and-guards/
Part K (Stairways, Ladders Ramps and Guards) requires, inter alia, that“Stairways, ladders and ramps shall be such as to afford safe passage for the users of a building.” The accompanying Technical Guidance Document K makes provision, inter alia, that “Stairs should have a handrail on at least one side if it is 1000 mm wide or less.”
Part M (Access and Use) requires, inter alia, that "Adequate provision shall be made for people to access and use a building, its facilities and its environs.”
With regard to stairs, the accompanying Technical Guidance Document M, makes provision where there is no habitable room at the entry level, that the stairway providing access to the storey containing the main living room should, inter alia, have a suitable continuous handrail, on each side of the flights and intermediate landings, if the flight comprises of three or more risers.
The Building Regulations are subject to ongoing review in the interests of safety and the well-being of persons in the built environment and to ensure that due regard is taken of changes in construction techniques, technological progress and innovation.
