Did you know that there are more to staircases than you might have initially expected? Not only do they increase your property’s beauty to the next level, but they also serve various functional purposes. Because of this, you will want to ensure their overall functionality and aesthetics. On top of these is making sure that they are compliant with stairs regulation in your locality and that they promote the utmost safety.Here at Aussie Balustrading, our stainless steel staircases for homes are top-notch. For many years, we have provided property owners with solutions for their indoor and outdoor stairs in Perth. If you want to install highly-compliant stairs for your property, we’ve got you covered with high-quality products!In this article, we’ll specifically discuss the number of staircases you may need to have for your home, based on the NCC regulations for stairs.
Stair regulation in Australia
In most cases, you’ll want to pay particular attention to your available space and overall budget when choosing a stair design for your home. However, a far more important aspect is the specific regulatory code in your area, as far as stair installation is concerned. Remember that you must comply with the area’s rules to ensure the utmost safety of the staircase you plan to install.
National Construction Code
Typically, the National Construction Code (NCC) implements and regulates stair design and construction in Australia. Formerly known as the Building Code of Australia (BCA), they cover the key requirements for the following staircase parts or components:
- Balustrades
- Handrails
- Anti-slip surfaces,
- Height and depth ratios of stair treads
- The necessity of landings
NCC specific coverages
Before your staircase design and installation, you must be well-acquainted with what the regulation covers. Here are two key aspects covered by the NCC regulation:
- Stairs serving habitable rooms: These include the living rooms, kitchens, and external stairs.
- Stairs servicing non-habitable rooms: A few examples are those in the attics and storerooms not used daily.
On a more specific note, below are essential requirements for stairs serving habitable rooms:
- The flight must not have fewer than 2 risers and more than 18 risers.
- The flight of stairs must have consistent treads in terms of height and depth.
- The treads must be solid if the stair is higher than 10m or three storeys.
- The riser openings must be less than 125mm if you have an open stair.
- The gap between balustrade railings must be less than 125mm, whether vertical or horizontal.
How many staircases must be in a home
There is no hard and fast rule for requiring specific numbers of stairs in Australian homes. Of course, the number of stairs depends on a handful of factors, such as the following:
- The type of your house
- The number of floors you have
- the availability of your space
- The area where you want a stair installed
- Safety considerations
Please be advised that what you must ensure is the NCC code regulations discussed above to ensure compliance and foster the utmost safety!
Conclusion
At this point, we’ve covered the building codes for creating stairs in Perth in general. Keep in mind that the Australian government considers safety as a top priority. As stairs are known to be dangerous if they are not properly installed, you must follow the requirements discussed above. Ultimately, doing so will ensure the safety, functionality, and even the overall aesthetics of your staircases!As a custom staircase manufacturer in Perth, we provide steel and stainless steel stairs, wireless balustrading, and stainless steel handrails for residential properties. If you are looking for high-quality staircases for your home, get in touch with us today to see how we can help!
