Browse Forums Kitchen Corner 1 Jul 07, 2014 12:35 pm Hi Guys, In the design stage of wine cellar that will be accessed via trap door through floor in kitchen. I have enough crawl space under my house to get a storage area with 2.4m high ceiling so thought would be a great idea to incorporate a wine cellar/tasting room (doubles as my man cave). Have tried to design the wine storage racks to act as balustrade to one side of the stair but not sure about the AU regs regarding handrails for trap door accessed storage areas. Do I need balustrades acting when trap door is open? and also do I need a handrail running down the stair? I could design something that would fold out from the underside of trap door when in open position acting as a balustrade... but wont go to the bother if its not required. Pictures below. Any help would be appreciated. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Trap Door Spiral Wine Cellar in Kitchen - Regulations 2Jul 07, 2014 1:13 pm As soon as you open the door you would have to have a balustrade around the opening ( apart from the stair threshold). You also have to follow the BCA Part 3.9.1 & 2 ( now NCC ) rules for stairs - a handrail at 865mm, risers no more than 220mm, goings 370mm max etc as per for spiral stairs and balustrades no more than 125mm apart. Stewie Re: Trap Door Spiral Wine Cellar in Kitchen - Regulations 4Jul 07, 2014 1:44 pm Yes it is a non-habitable storage space but you are creating the opening in a habitable space ( kitchen ) so the opening has to be safe according to the BCA. Like with an attic you can have an attic ladder going up which doesn't have to comply with the standard BCA rules as long as the area at the bottom of the ladder ( hallway etc ) remains safe for the occupants. There may be other caveats for you but I think the stairs are the only ones I can think of. Stewie If you have a floor waste, turn on your sink and put your ear down to the central floor waste and listen. If you can hear water running then they all connect there. If you… 10 12107 If you don't want to annoy the neighbours then simply get yourself some good head phones. For me the sound is much better using headphones. The NCC (National Construction… 1 26168 You need to reference the manufactures installation guide, your supplier may have strengthened the base where it is not required to sit on a bed. 1 1816 |