Hello everyone,
First of all – I couldn’t find a suitable subforum, so please excuse me and feel free to move this post if necessary.
We moved into our house a few weeks ago, which was built by a general contractor. There are still a few open issues, including one concerning the staircase – and I would like to ask for your advice on this.
We have an open staircase, designed as a two-stringer staircase according to DIN 18065. Since the final treads were not yet installed, temporary construction treads were removed and other transition treads were put in. I found the gap between the treads, or the opening between the steps, rather large (we have an 11-month-old daughter). With the final treads, this gap will generally be about 15.5 cm (6 inches) (in some places there are support strips, so the gap is smaller there). From a quick look at DIN 18065, I gathered that the gap should only be 12 cm (5 inches).
Our construction manager from the general contractor initially confirmed this and wanted to present various solutions, but it has been three weeks now and we haven’t heard anything further.
However, the stair builder contacted us directly and said that the 12 cm (5 inches) limit does not apply because it is only a “recommendation” (not mandatory). He said he has always built staircases this way, and that this rule apparently used to apply only in Baden-Württemberg — we built in Saxony.
When I read DIN 18065 more closely, I’m confused about the categorization of “buildings in general” and “residential buildings with up to two dwellings and within dwellings,” and where our single-family house fits in. I believe this determines whether or not the 12 cm (5 inches) gap requirement applies.
Could you please help us with the following?
Thank you very much,
Best regards
First of all – I couldn’t find a suitable subforum, so please excuse me and feel free to move this post if necessary.
We moved into our house a few weeks ago, which was built by a general contractor. There are still a few open issues, including one concerning the staircase – and I would like to ask for your advice on this.
We have an open staircase, designed as a two-stringer staircase according to DIN 18065. Since the final treads were not yet installed, temporary construction treads were removed and other transition treads were put in. I found the gap between the treads, or the opening between the steps, rather large (we have an 11-month-old daughter). With the final treads, this gap will generally be about 15.5 cm (6 inches) (in some places there are support strips, so the gap is smaller there). From a quick look at DIN 18065, I gathered that the gap should only be 12 cm (5 inches).
Our construction manager from the general contractor initially confirmed this and wanted to present various solutions, but it has been three weeks now and we haven’t heard anything further.
However, the stair builder contacted us directly and said that the 12 cm (5 inches) limit does not apply because it is only a “recommendation” (not mandatory). He said he has always built staircases this way, and that this rule apparently used to apply only in Baden-Württemberg — we built in Saxony.
When I read DIN 18065 more closely, I’m confused about the categorization of “buildings in general” and “residential buildings with up to two dwellings and within dwellings,” and where our single-family house fits in. I believe this determines whether or not the 12 cm (5 inches) gap requirement applies.
Could you please help us with the following?
- Is the staircase required to be built according to DIN or similar regulations so that the opening between the steps is limited to 12 cm (5 inches)?
- How would you handle this with children, or how do you view the 12 cm (5 inches) rule? Maybe I am just being too cautious right now? The stair builder told us the staircase should be protected from children anyway, and later on, protective measures would have to be removed again.
Thank you very much,
Best regards
DIN standards always seem to be just guidelines.
Maybe you wouldn't have been allowed to choose an open staircase with a child in the house—whether the caution is justified or not. If you now see this as a problem (some people use safety gates, while others still opt to go without a handrail), then have risers installed.
Maybe you wouldn't have been allowed to choose an open staircase with a child in the house—whether the caution is justified or not. If you now see this as a problem (some people use safety gates, while others still opt to go without a handrail), then have risers installed.
N
nordanney4 Sep 2024 20:25According to DIN standards, there are no requirements for residential buildings.
If you’re already getting stressed out like overprotective parents at this point, you’ll probably drive the poor kindergarten teachers crazy later on. I see the risk of accidents in the described test setup as only theoretical, even for cats. The toddler will throw their building blocks around but can’t jump after them. A spacing of 11 cm (4.3 inches) between the vertical bars of the railing is required, which makes sense but is not comparable. How do you even get this DIN standard? Legal copies cost a fortune (I don’t afford them and therefore can’t tell you where you might have misread it).
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Thank you all in advance, most of the comments so far have been quite cautious, which I appreciate!
ypg schrieb:The house design was actually planned before the child arrived. We didn’t think that far ahead – by now we probably would have chosen a concrete staircase directly. I think the architect also mentioned the spacing. It’s strange that the construction manager said at two meetings that the gap between the steps may only be 12 cm (5 inches). But we have already installed safety gates at the top and bottom.
Maybe you shouldn’t have chosen an open staircase with a child – whether the caution is justified or not. If you now see a problem with it (some use safety gates, others even forego a handrail), then have risers installed.
11ant schrieb:When I googled "DIN 18065," the second result was from the Technical University of Ostwestfalen-Lippe. Searching for 12 cm (5 inches) there is the quickest way.
How do you even get a copy of this DIN standard? Legal copies cost a fortune (I can’t afford one so can’t tell you where you probably misread it).
11ant schrieb:The spacing between the vertical balusters on the railing is correct, measured precisely. But why don’t you see this as comparable?
The toddler will throw building blocks there, but can’t jump after them. The spacing between the balusters in the railing is required to be 11 cm (4.3 inches) (distance between vertical bars), which makes sense but isn’t really comparable.
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