Staircases are a beautiful component of a home and they also allow us to access different parts of a house. As much as they are a necessity they can also be the cause of very serious accidents in the home. It is therefore important to know what stair safety entails to be on the safe side.
The questions you need to ask
Just in case you have not yet done stair installation in your new home then you will be on the right track but even those who have can still talk to stair installers to see how they can improve on what they have. When considering stair safety, the following questions should be answered honestly.
- Is there a light switch at the top and bottom of the flight of stairs?
- Are all your steps in good condition or do they need repair?
- Is the height and size of each step the same?
- Can you see the step edges clearly?
- Do you have a stair covering? Is the covering fastened properly?
- Is there any clutter on your stairs?
- Are the handrails tightly fixed to the walls? Can you hold on the firmly?
- Is your vision clear as you move up or down the stairs?
If you answered no to all the questions you know that you need to do something to change the situation.
Width and headroom
Stair installers are not only after providing you with the best or latest stair design but they also should focus on ensuring that apart from the aesthetics there is safety. The headroom should be enough to ensure no one hits their head. 2000mm is the least amount of space for headroom. The width of your stairs should be comfortable to fit in. no one should feel squeezed. The best width is 900mm and this is after adding other stair components like balustrades.
Check on the rails and balustrades
The handrails and the balustrades are the most essential in stair safety. This is because they are what a person holds on to or what stops them from falling. There is a code that shows the requirements when it comes to the height of rails and balustrades. Find out what these requirements are in your locality.
Use non slip material
Whatever material you use to cover your stair case ensure that it is non slip. If you do not fancy materials then you will have to go for non slip grips. This is very important especially if your stairs are made of slippery material like glass.
Right pitch
The width of the step and the height of the riser is what is referred to as the pitch. It should not be too high or too low or else it will be difficult to use the stairs. Choose a height and stick with it so that your stairs are safer and also look good.
Turn on the lights
People might miss a step in the dark or if there is not enough light in the house. It is therefore important that your staircase is properly lit. With enough lighting there is no presumption of height or steps hence preventing stumbles.
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