Designing and Installing Loft Stairs

When converting your loft into new rooms, you will need to install a new staircase. This is essential for ensuring both fire safety and the overall security of your home.

Essential Safety Guidelines:

• Staircase Options: If you have ample room, a full-sized, traditional staircase is generally the preferred choice. Should your available space be limited, a 'space-saving' stair design might be an acceptable alternative. However, for any loft rooms intended as living spaces, you typically cannot use retractable ladders or fold-down stairs. This restriction is due to crucial fire safety concerns and general access requirements.

• Design Standards: You must design your staircase to meet specific safety standards. These standards cover important aspects such as the height of each step (known as the rise), the depth of the tread (or going), the clear space above your head (head height), and the inclusion of secure handrails.

Creating the Stairwell Opening:

To make room for your new staircase, you'll usually need to cut out some of the existing ceiling joists. These joists are located between your current living areas below and the loft space above. Since these joists both support your existing ceiling and help hold the pitched roof structure firmly in place, you must provide new, adequate support in their absence. This replacement support typically involves installing timber 'trimmers' around the perimeter of the opening. Often, these trimmers consist of at least two timbers securely fastened together (referred to as a double trimmer) to ensure the load is correctly distributed to the remaining structural timbers.