Stairs & Staircases

Safe Staircases

While it is possible to build a staircase yourself, if you haven’t the necessary experience it is probably best to employ a professional. This is because, while aesthetics and sound design are important, even more important is that the staircase is safe and complies with building codes.  Many people find stairs, especially steep or spiral staircases, difficult to climb. There are several ways to make stairs safer, including handrails and balustrades.

A handrail or banister is an angled beam that is placed on either both sides of the staircase or only on the open side, for people to hold onto. The balustrade system is the series of vertical beams that provide support for the handrail. Many contemporary balusters are not decorative wooden or intricate cast iron posts, instead being replaced by sheets of glass. Whichever is used, balusters prevent children from falling off the staircase, as well as giving support.

StepSure™ Winder System

Winder steps, wedge-shaped steps used to turn corners in staircases, used on U and L shape stairs were traditionally narrow and triangular, and often the cause of falls. Slattery & Acquroff, an Australian stair building company, developed the StepSure™ Winder system to solve this problem. This system makes the winder steps more regular in shape and a spacious corner landing area. This means that even staircases that make a sharp 90° turn, people can navigate them more safely.

The solution in the past was to replace all winders with a landing. However with space becoming more valuable with smaller blocks of land and smaller buildings, allowing an extra metre for the staircase may not be the most effective solution. By using the StepSure™ Winder System, the stairs are no longer intimidating, they are comfortable to walk on and easy to navigate. Rather than a difficult triangular shaped tread, a small flat landing in the corner is used. This system has been approved by the CSIRO as to its compatibility with the Building Code of Australia.