STAIRCASE

Step profile:
For stairs in buildings subject to disability-friendly building rules, steps
may have no nosing! In order to avoid ugly streaks of rubbed-off shoe
polish on the risers of vertical stairs -> 1,
Profiles with an undercut riser are better, and this produces more tread
surface. For a tread width <260 mm the step is to be undercut
230 mm; this also applies to open stairs without risers.
A human being requires the most space at handrail height, and
considerably less at foot height. The stair width here can be made
narrower in favor of larger stairwell.

Galleries, mezzanines, balconies and circle seating in theatres must

have a protective guard rail (height h), compulsory from 1 m height
difference:
drop <12 m, h - 0.90 m
drop <12 m, h = 1.00 m
For workplaces and if the stair wells at least 20 cm wide, also for over
12 m h.
drop >12 m, h = 1.10 m

Ramp:
Pedestrians, wheelchair users and people with prams or pushchairs should be
able to move easily from one level to another.
Ramps -> 1
stepped ramp -> 2
stair with ramp ->3

Escalator:
Escalators are utilized for the continuous transport of large
numbers of people (they do not count as stairs for the
purposes of building regulations) and, for example in
department stores, have a pitch of 30 or 35°. The 35°
escalator is more economical because it requires less space.
The pitch is derived from a gradient relationship of 16 x 30 cm,
a comfortable size for a step.
In department stores escalator speed is normally no higher than
0.5 m/s.

The average distribution of upward traffic in department stores is: fixed

stairs 2%, passenger lifts 8%, escalators 90%. Approx. three quarters of
downward traffic uses the escalators. Although the average shopping
area for each escalator is 1500 m2 at present, this should be lowered to
an optimum of 500-700 m2•

Length on plan ->1

For 30° pitch= 1.732 x storey height
For 35° pitch = 1.428 x storey height

Lift:
For all buildings, lifts should normally be positioned at
the source of traffic flow.

Traction lifts:
Ideally have their drives above the shaft. The empty weight of
the car and half the live load are balanced by the counterweight.
Placing the drive at the top or at the bottom next to the shaft makes
necessary additional pulleys, resulting in higher operating costs.
The machinery and control system can be accommodated in a separate
machine room or, in the case of lifts without a machine room, placed in
the shaft
Parking:
Parking spaces are usually outlined by 12-20 mm wide yellow or white painted lines. When parking
is facing a wall, these lines are often painted at a height
of up to 1 m for better visibility. Guide rails in the floor along the side have also proved popular for
demarcation of parking limits, and can be about 50-60 cm
long, 20 cm wide and 10 cm high.
Where vehicles are parked in lines facing walls or at the edge of the parking deck in a multi-storey
car park, it is common practice to provide buffers, restraining bars or railings up to axle height to
prevent cars from going over the edge. Where cars are parked face to face, transverse barriers
about 10 cm high can be used to act as stops at the front.

If parking spaces are bounded by a footpath, cycle way or separation strip on the facing side
via a kerb, then the kerb will be used to estimate the border of the parking space

Cafeteria:
To be able to eat in comfort, one person requires a table area around 60 cm wide and 30-40.
This provides sufficient distance between adjacent diners. Although an additional 20 cm space
in the center for dishes and large bowls is sometimes desirable, an overall width of 80-85 cm is
suitable for a dining table. If the space between table and wall is also used for access, the
distance should be >= 100 cm. Round tables need a little more space, a difference of up to 50 cm.
Spa:
Spa is the general term for health and wellness establishments, which should generally include: sauna
facility, massage and solarium, relaxation, fitness and condition training. A commercially operated sauna
(size III-IV) will include: Changing room, shower room with washing facilities, sauna cabins, rest/relaxation
room and subsidiary rooms (staff room, reception, cash desk, sanitary facilities for visitors and staff).
In public saunas, separate rooms are provided for changing, preliminary washing and toilets; for staff and
visitors' toilets, the relevant building regulations apply. Access to swimming areas, food/drink providers and
fitness areas is increasingly being offered in spa and well ness establishments.
The wash room is used for washing with warm water before entering the sauna. The cooling room is used
for cooling off between visits to the sauna using cold air or cold water in, for example, plunge pools,
pouring water, showers and footbaths.

Rest room:
Provides relaxation between or after visits to the
sauna. It should be well ventilated and have visual
contact with the outside and a low noise level.
The design and furnishing should be suitable for
rest and relaxation.

Solarium:
It is an area of approx. 0.80 x 2.00 m is required
per lying place. The side aisle width is 0.40 m.
Pool types and sizes.

Whirlpool:
It is for relaxation and recovery. Max. water depth
10 m. Exercise pool: for relaxation, rehabilitation,
water gymnastics and health care, max. water
depth: 1.35 m, water area 25-60 m2,
salt-water pool: water with a salt content of
min. 5.5 g sodium and 8.5 g chloride per liter. –
mineral pool: water with a mineral content of min.
1 g per liter. - thermal pool: water with a natural
temperature >20 °C. Because this pool is not for
swimming, it can, according to use, be designed
in almost any shape.

Temperature:
Room:
changing room 20-22°C, wash room 24-26°C, cooling room18-20°C,
rest room 20-22°C, massage room 20-22°C.
Humidity: 1
00°C: 2-5% rel. humidity, 80°C: 3-10% rel. humidity,
70°C: 5-15% rel. humidity, 60°C: 8-28% rel. humidity.
Physically Challenged People:
General design basics
Building regulations cover the design, construction and furnishing of housing,
of accessible public buildings or parts of buildings, of workplaces and their
external spaces. These buildings must be accessible for all people free of barriers.
The users must be in a position to be almost completely independent of outside help.
This applies notably to wheelchair users, the blind and visually impaired, those with
other disabilities, old people, children and those of exceptionally short or tall stature.

Movement areas:
Are those necessary for moving a wheelchair and are to be designed according to the
minimum space requirement of a wheelchair user. The wheelchair -> 1-4 and the
movement area for the person -> 9-12 provide the modules for this.
The dimensions of the movement area are 0.90-1.80 m and may overlap
except in front of lift doors.
A depth and width of at least 1.50 m should be provided in every room for turning.

Movement areas must be:

min. 1.50 m wide and min. 1.50 m deep ...
in every room as a place to turn, at the start and
end of ramps, in front of telephone boxes, public
telephones, service counters, passages, pay desks,
checkpoints, post boxes, automatic service
machines, calling/speaking equipment.

min. 1.50 m wide ...

in corridors, main routes and next to stairs up and
down. min. 1.50 m deep ... in front of therapy
facilities (e.g. bath, couch), in front of wheelchair
parking places, next to the long side of the vehicle
of a wheelchair user in car parks.

min. 1.20 m wide ...

alongside facilities which a wheelchair user has to
approach from the side, between the wheel kerbs
of a ramp and next to operated equipment.

min. 0.90 m wide ...

in access ways next to cash desks and checkpoints
and on side routes.

Accessibility without steps:

All levels of buildings designed in accordance with
the principles of accessibility must be accessible
without steps, i.e. using a lift or a ramp.

Lifts Cars of lifts must have a min. clear width of

1.10 m and a clear depth of 1.40 m. The movement area
in front of the doors must be as large as the floor area
of the car, but min. 1.50 m wide and 1.50 m deep.
This area must not overlap with other traffic routes
and movement areas.

Ramps:
May have a maximum slope of 6% . If ramps are longer than 6 m, an intermediate
landing of min. 1.50 m length is required. The ramp and the intermediate landing
are both to be provided with 10 cm high wheel kerbs and handrails
(diameter 3-4.5 cm) at a height of 85 cm.
The clear ramp width must be min. 1.20 m. Wheel kerbs and handrails must
project 30 cm horizontally into the platform area. There must be no stairs down
in the extension of the ramp.

Stairs:
The movement area next to the stairs going up and down must be min. 1.50 m
wide; the tread of the first step is not to be included in the calculation of the
movement area.

Sanitary facilities:
At least one toilet must be provided for wheelchair users in all sanitary facilities.
The seat height should be 48 cm.
Corridors and meeting areas Corridors and routes longer than 15 m must have a
passing place for two wheelchair users of at least 1.80 m width and depth.

Wheelchair parking place:

A wheelchair parking place for each wheelchair user is to be included in the design,
preferably in the entrance area. Space requirement and movement area.