There’s
a lot of consideration taken when designing public spaces, with small changes
making a huge difference for those visiting the areas. Whilst these changes
might not appear obvious to everyone; to those with impairments, they make
day-to-day life much easier.
With
this in mind, the experts at Marshalls have
revealed what stair nosing is and the difference it makes to public
spaces.
What
is stair nosing?
Stair
nosing is a safety feature installed on the edges of stairs. It is typically
made of durable materials, such as metal or rubber, and is a contrasting colour
to the stairs to enhance visibility. This contrast helps individuals,
especially those with visual impairments, to identify a step and reduce the
risk of falls.
Why
is stair nosing important?
Many
falls on stairs result from someone misjudging the step tread and riser when
climbing up and down the steps. So by creating a contrast between the step
nosing and the colour of the step, people, particularly those with visual
impairments, can differentiate between the tread and riser.
The
sizes of external steps are tightly controlled, helping individuals form a
habit when climbing steps as they know how high they need to step. By
maintaining consistency amongst external steps, people will be able to
correctly judge the height of steps, creating an inclusive and accessible
environment. With this in mind, stair-nosing enhances the visibility of steps
to help people build a consistent habit and approach to climbing the
stairs.
Are
there regulations around stair nosing?
Regulations
and guidance around stair-nosing derive from the BS8300 standards and Building
Regulations Part M. However, these requirements differ slightly when it comes
to the width and positioning of the nosing strips. So, how can consistency and
compliance be achieved?
Marshalls
has recently developed a range of external concrete steps to incorporate a
durable, permanently contrasting visibility strip that meets the requirements
of both Part M and BS8300 standards.
Light
Reflective Value (LRV) is also an important consideration when designing
external steps and choosing the correct materials for their construction. For
those with visual impairments, the contrast between the step and the nosing
must be at least a 30-point difference to create that visual differentiation.
This means that no matter the sun’s intensity on the steps, there will still be
a distinct colour variation between the steps and their nosing.
Mark
King, a paving engineer at Marshalls has shared
the following about the future of public spaces: “As we age, our eyesight
naturally deteriorates - impacting how we interact with and experience
the world around us. The population is undoubtedly living longer, therefore we
can assume that a large number of people are living with visual impairments of
varying severity.
“Steps
are a very common landscaping method, creating transitionary spaces between
indoor and outdoor environments and creating access between different heights
in a space’s natural infrastructure. Therefore, it is important to acknowledge
how this might impact an ageing population and ensure we are doing what we can
to future-proof public spaces across the country.
“As
there are over 2 million people in the UK currently living with sight loss,
this isn’t limited to only those of an older age. Therefore, creating
accessible and inclusive spaces for everyone is crucial.”
You
can read more about the importance of stair-nosing here: https://www.marshalls.co.uk/commercial/blog/external-stair-nosing-regulations-guide
