How many stairs without balustrade? Requirement for OC

bluemetal77 · Aug 05, 2020 11:52 am

Hi Guys .. I've read a few websites in NSW for balustrade requirements however nothing clearly states how many steps or strairs can i go without a balustrade?

We have a steel stringer mono stair case with open risers. 1 side is fully glass balustrade with hand rail, however the other side is against a wall from the top till about the 5th step from down.. then its open on the side. the 4th step is 760mm from the ground .. and half of the 5th step is 950mm from the ground.

Do i need a balustrade on that side for OC?
Eventually that side will be closed off with timber slats vertically. But i'm a bit far from those internal jobs and wanted an interim OC.

Let me know if any advice comes to your mind. Thanks!

bluemetal77 · Aug 06, 2020 12:54 pm

So no idea?

Tash2020 · Aug 06, 2020 5:12 pm

Is the stair a straight flight or L shaped?

bluemetal77 · Aug 06, 2020 5:49 pm

[quote="Tash2020":2ff2g1xd]Is the stair a straight flight or L shaped?[/quote:2ff2g1xd]

Straight flight.. Take a look at the picture.. you can see the part where there is no wall is what I'm talking about.. the first 4 steps won't have anything in the far side to the wall starts.. we will have timber slats eventually, but not in time for OC.

[img:3fcfvuz3]https://forum.homeone.com.au/u/12079_1596696787.jpg[/img:3fcfvuz3]

chippy · Aug 06, 2020 6:33 pm

bluemetal77

[quote="Tash2020":2ff2g1xd]Is the stair a straight flight or L shaped?[/quote:2ff2g1xd]

Straight flight.. Take a look at the picture.. you can see the part where there is no wall is what I'm talking about.. the first 4 steps won't have anything in the far side to the wall starts.. we will have timber slats eventually, but not in time for OC.

[img:3fcfvuz3]https://forum.homeone.com.au/u/12079_1596696787.jpg[/img:3fcfvuz3][/quote]

I think you may just get away with it.
From my reading it's 1.0m above the surrounding ground height that requires a balustrade. You say you are at 950 so you should be ok. Maybe check with your certifier.

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chippy · Aug 06, 2020 6:38 pm

It's the first paragraph that indicates the 1m height rule.

bluemetal77 · Aug 06, 2020 8:24 pm

[quote="chippy":1e6bmv36]It's the first paragraph that indicates the 1m height rule.[/quote:1e6bmv36]

Ah ok.. so the 5th step is at 950mm from the floor.. so should be okay then.

Although I don't quite understand what that 865mm reference is in that blurb above.

[img:1e6bmv36]https://forum.homeone.com.au/u/12079_1596705899.jpg[/img:1e6bmv36]

chippy · Aug 06, 2020 8:37 pm

The first paragraph deals with areas that you need a balustrade, so that's the bit that you are concerned about.

The dot points below it deal with the actual heights of the balustrade above a landing and the line of nosing as well as where you transition from one to the other.

bluemetal77 · Aug 06, 2020 9:12 pm

chippy

The first paragraph deals with areas that you need a balustrade, so that's the bit that you are concerned about.

The dot points below it deal with the actual heights of the balustrade above a landing and the line of nosing as well as where you transition from one to the other.

Ah okay.. Thanks.. that makes more sense.

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bluemetal77 · Aug 06, 2020 9:14 pm

Just realised the picture hadn't come through in previous posts.. its visible above.

oldchippy · Aug 08, 2020 12:33 am

how many of you guys counted the risers?

chippy · Aug 08, 2020 1:59 am

oldchippy

how many of you guys counted the risers?

Latest regulations don't specify number of risers just the difference in height between one surface to the lower level.

oldchippy · Aug 08, 2020 8:14 am

wow, I suppose you don't have to check the studs into the top and bottom plates now either. I think I will have to retire my brace and bits as well as myself.

chippy · Aug 08, 2020 10:52 am

oldchippy

wow, I suppose you don't have to check the studs into the top and bottom plates now either. I think I will have to retire my brace and bits as well as myself.

Not sure what you are trying to say?

bluemetal77 · Aug 08, 2020 11:25 am

chippy

oldchippy

how many of you guys counted the risers?

Latest regulations don't specify number of risers just the difference in height between one surface to the lower level.

That's correct.. it's the height .. whether thats achieved in 4 or 5 risers is irrelevant then.

chippy · Aug 08, 2020 11:33 am

I'm not sure if old chippy was talking about the total number of risers in the flight, but that's fine as well. You've got 17 risers and the max is 18, so I'm at a loss as to what he was talking about.

Stewie D · Aug 08, 2020 11:47 am

" wow, I suppose you don't have to check the studs into the top and bottom plates now either. I think I will have to retire my brace and bits as well as myself. "

I haven't seen studs checked into T & B plates since I did my apprenticeship waaay back in the '70's and my brace and bits, like me are now regarded as "vintage".

Stewie

oldchippy · Aug 08, 2020 8:38 pm

chippy

I'm not sure if old chippy was talking about the total number of risers in the flight, but that's fine as well. You've got 17 risers and the max is 18, so I'm at a loss as to what he was talking about.

I was just taking the P. I thought the number of treads before a landing was 18.It was close.
I figured you guys would have counted them from the photo.
Re checking in studs,Stewie,have you retired your star drills yet?

Stewie D · Aug 08, 2020 8:48 pm

I used one once just for the experience. That was enough!

Stewie

oldchippy · Aug 08, 2020 8:50 pm