Creating Safe and Appealing
Public Stairs

Answers:

1. Building codes require that stairs be stable, slip resistant, and noncombustible. Outdoor stairs must have solid treads with closed risers and be protected from weather, specifically snow, water, and ice. Nosings are limited to a 11/2 inch projection and a 1/2 inch radius. Handrails are governed by code for placement, diameter, and extensions at the top and bottom of the run. Guardrails must be spaced six or fewer inches apart.
2. The material for the stairs should be consistent with the construction of the building or surrounding structures. Material choices depend on aesthetics, cost, maintenance needs, and climate. Concrete is the most common and cost-effective for both the substrate and the surface material. The top of this should be roughened to make it slip-proof. Metal substrates are also common, though they are subject to corrosion. Stone veneers, such as granite, limestone, and bluestone are often used, but require careful installation to keep mortar joints tight. Marble is problematic because it is soft and slippery.
3. Handrail materials are usually metal. Bronze, brass, and cast iron are durable choices. Powder-coated steel and stainless steel are also durable and often less expensive. Steel is the most common choice, though, for longevity, it should be galvanized and painted. Metal railing can react to the salts used in de-icing to form a corrosive solution. With stone surfaces, the corrosive solution makes stains and can cause the stone to delaminate.
4. About 25 percent of all insurance claims deal with bodily injury, including slip-and-fall cases. The most common problems with exterior stairs cited in insurance cases include: exposed metal edges on poured concrete stairs that catch on the front of the shoe, risers that are not uniform in height, improper lighting, short flights of stairs-one or two steps-where no handrail is required, and stairs that do not comply with ADA requirements for such things as handrail size or position.
5. Historic buildings pose special concerns since it is difficult not to alter the character of the staircase and, in the process, change the look of the building. Handrails should look like they have always been there and fit in with the design and scale of the building. However, meeting current code requirements may prevent accomplishing this goal. While choosing to reuse existing materials can help stairs and handrails blend in with historic surroundings, ADA requirements may be in conflict with historic design. It is worth working with code officials to see if a variance can meet the safety goals and continue the historic design aesthetics.