Stairs at home get updated design guidance

A new design guide to assist stair designers, manufacturers and builders involved in the design and specification of timber stairs for the UK housing market is being launched by the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) Stair Scheme.

The guidance helps to draw together what has been a conflicting hotchpotch of standards to provide authoritative advice on how a staircase in the home should be designed and set out, to ensure safety, and to reduce commonplace concerns such as squeaks and bouncy stairs.

The new Design Guide for Domestic Stairs will be launched on Thursday 12 October, 12.30pm at a reception at Timber Expo (on the Confederation of Timber Industries stand, T445), involving invited speakers from BWF, NHBC and the Home Builders’ Federation.

Hannah Mansell, manager of the BWF Stair Scheme, said:

“This guide provides clear and comprehensive technical advice to our industry, reassurance to our customers, and supports the timber stairs market with a strong platform for continued innovation.

“The document marks the fruition of two years’ hard work by Stair Scheme members in what has been a very open, frank and healthy culture of improving our products and focussing on how we demonstrate performance, so important in the construction sector today. 

“The guide has embraced new consistent ways to determine the walk line of a winder and incorporates new test evidence that can be cascaded to staircase manufacturers to ensure that their products meet the standards.”

The BWF Stair Scheme was established in 2011 to raise awareness of timber stair standards, to accredit to high quality manufacturers and to improve safety. It is the only accreditation and certification scheme of its kind in the UK and accounts for approximately 70% of the timber stair market.

The BWF Stair Scheme design guide will be available to download at www.bwfstairscheme.org.uk

ENDS

Want to attend the launch event for the new guide? You can book a place here.

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