LLONSSON LIMITED T +44(0)1883 622068

49 Court Farm Road, F +44(0)1883 623280

Warlingham, Surrey E sales@llonsson.co.uk
CR6 9BL United Kingdom W www.llonsson.co.uk

VAT Registration No: 515 1657 59

Mezzanine floors: Building regulations part K.

Building regulations relating to stairs and handrails

A recent visit to Eastern Europe reminded me how
we take for granted the safety offered by compliance
with Building Regulations at home.
Part K1 of the regulations deals with the design of
stairs, ladders and ramps whilst part K2 deals with
protection from falling from exposed edges, and it is
only these parts that relate directly to mezzanine
floors.

Stairs

Stairs need to be designed to suit the quantity of

people using them, the nature of the environment in
which they are used, and the people within that
environment, so widths can vary as can the length
and height of treads and the incline of the staircase
within the specified ranges of the regulations that
ensure comfort in use.

The one rule of thumb within these ranges is that the length and height of treads should be consistent in order
to prevent users stumbling.

Handrailing

Hand railing also needs to be designed appropriately for the quantity and type of people using it. When
guarding a mezzanine floors edge, hand railing needs to comply with the height requirements set out in the
regulations.

Depending upon the application, the handrail will either require a hand and knee rail at specified heights and
kick plate in industrial environments or where access is open to the public and children, infill of some kind will
be required with no horizontal elements that could be climbed by children. If vertical elements are used, then
they must be spaced to comply with the regulations, so that not only is there no risk of falling through but also
children are not able to get there heads stuck between them.

Different hand rail load bearing ability will also be required depending upon the environment in which the
handrailing is being used to ensure there is no risk of collapse should it be exposed to crowding.

Prepared by: Llonsson Ltd © Llonsson Ltd 2009 1

REGISTERED OFFICE: ROBERTSFIELD, HOLLAND ROAD, OXTED, SURREY, RH8 9BQ REGISTERED NO: 2389444
LLONSSON LIMITED T +44(0)1883 622068
49 Court Farm Road, F +44(0)1883 623280
Warlingham, Surrey E sales@llonsson.co.uk
CR6 9BL United Kingdom W www.llonsson.co.uk

VAT Registration No: 515 1657 59

The Building Regulations

To access a free copy of the Building Regulations from the Governments planning portal click below:

Approved document K - Protection from falling collision and impact (1998 edition)

Mezzanine floor advice and support

Mezzanine floors, stairs, handrailing and balustrading designed by Llonsson Ltd will always take account of the
environment in which they are being used and will be designed to fully comply with the building regulations.

For help with the design of your mezzanine floor call Llonsson Ltd on 01883 622068

Keywords:

Mezzanine floors, Building regulations, Staircases, Hand railing, Balustrade, Width, Tread

Prepared by: Llonsson Ltd © Llonsson Ltd 2009 2

REGISTERED OFFICE: ROBERTSFIELD, HOLLAND ROAD, OXTED, SURREY, RH8 9BQ REGISTERED NO: 2389444