what are the safety requirements for stairs

General safety requirements for stairs include ensuring a safe means of access and egress [1]. Regular inspections and maintenance are crucial to keep stairs in safe condition [1]. Hazardous conditions should be corrected immediately, or the area should be guarded until repairs are made [1].

Specific requirements for stairs include:

• Handrails and Stair Rail Systems: These must be provided as per regulations [1].
• Vertical Clearance: A minimum of 6 feet 8 inches (203 cm) vertical clearance must be maintained above any stair tread [1].
• Uniformity: Stairs should have uniform riser heights and tread depths between landings [1].
• Landings and Platforms: Stairway landings and platforms should be at least as wide as the stair and at least 30 inches (76 cm) in depth [1].
• Doorways: When a door or gate opens directly onto a stairway, a stair platform must be provided, and the swing of the door or gate should not reduce the platform's usable depth to less than specified dimensions [1].
• Strength: Stairways must be strong enough to sustain a live load of 4.8 kPa [2].
• Width: A stairway should be a minimum of 1.12 m in width [2].
• Pitch: Stairways should be pitched not less than 20 degrees and not more than 35 degrees from the horizontal [2].
• Risers: Risers should be constant in height, not less than 127 mm and not more than 200 mm [2].
• Landings: Maximum height of 3.7 m between landings, with a minimum clearance of 1.12 m measured in the direction of the run [2].
• Treads: Treads should be constant in width and not less than 225 mm in width, with a non-slip nosing or strip of non-slip material [2].

It's also important to ensure stairways are adequately lighted [3] and free of slippery conditions [4].