"Christian McArdle" wrote in message
. net...
As i have just removed a stud wall separating our stairs from another
room and now it is an open gap (which we would like to keep this way).
The other wall still exists and has a hand rail.

This is absolutely not acceptable. It may result in severe liability
judgements if a visitor or child is hurt.

There are two issues here, handrails and guarding. You only need 2
handrails
if the stairs are more than 1 metre wide, which is probably not the case.
However, you need guarding if there is a drop greater than 600mm. This is
clearly needed. Generally the guarding would incorporate a handrail. So,
in
summary, you can get away with one handrail, but it has to be on the room
side, not the wall side.

The guarding will consist of a handrail at between 900mm and 1000mm from
the
tread. Beneath this rail must be guarded such that no object (sphere) of
100mm could be inserted through it. This is to stop babies and children
crawling through and being trapped or falling to their death. The
construction must be difficult to climb for a young child. This basically
means you may not use horizontal rails. You can use vertical banisters,
rails angled with the stair rising, or a solid wall.

What about those complicated wrought iron swirls which just ASK to be
climbed?

Our children couldn't and our grandchildren can't be kept from climbing on
and sliding down our banister. Not could I when I visited my aunt who lived
in this house (when I ws a child). We panelled the banisters for a short
while but the children couldn't grip with their legs and didn't feel safe so
we removed them. They looked awful anyway and prevented light from reaching
the hall. That was potentially dangerous.

I'm sure the regs are felt to be essential by those who make them but where
do you stop? I've been in houses with kiddie-safe gates at top and bottom of
stairs - when the youngest child was five. I tripped on the frame of the
gate, that was potentially dangerous.

We should all live on one level?

Mary

Christian.