I wish to replace a stair as part of a refurbishment of an existing dwelling. Does the new stair need to comply with building regulations?
In England and Wales, regulation 3 of the building regulations 2000 states that an alteration to a building is considered to be building work for which the building regulations apply if the alteration affects the structure of the building (Part A), the fire protection measures and means of escape (Part B) and the access and use of a building by people with disabilities (Part M). If the original stair complied with these elements of the building regulations then the new stair should also comply. If the original stair did not comply with these elements then the new stair should not be more unsatisfactory. As the building regulations primarily consider aspects of health and safety for people using a building it would be good practice to apply the recommendations of the approved documents where possible.
Is CE marking required for stairs?
It is not a requirement to CE mark stairs and it is unlikely that this will become mandatory for at least five years. The standard EN 15644, which is not a harmonised standard for which CE marking can be applied, has recently been confirmed for a further five years. Stairs can, however, be CE marked if assessed under ETAG 008.
Will I need to have my stairs tested?
The performance of a stair can be determined by various means and stairs are not always required to be tested. Primarily the methods described in the Approved Document to Regulation 7, the regulation which controls materials and workmanship can be applied and these include compliance with standards, CE marking and previous experience. The performance of stairs can also be determined by structural calculations and by following the guidance given in the BWF publication, “the next step in technical guidance for timber stairs (2006)”.
BS 585 parts 1 and 2 are described as absolescent, what does this mean?
When a standard is described as obsolescent it is still current but will not be updated. It is likely that the standard has been superseded by a new standard but is still referenced by another document which is yet to be updated. In the case of the stair standards BS 585 parts 1 and 2 these have been superseded by BS EN 15644 but are still referred to in Approved Document K.
