< Previousuniversal design guidelines for feature stairs 10 Curved stairs at the Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts in Lubbock, Texas. SECTION ONE11 synergillc.com The Interior Environment It’s important to consider the space that houses an internal staircase and how other design elements like light- ing, layout, and signage can hinder or encourage stair usage.12 Section 1|The Interior Environment INTERIOR CONDITIONS Obstacles. The line of travel towards a stairway should be kept clear of obstacles. The location and configuration of stairs should be care- fully considered in new buildings and buildings undergoing internal reorganization. Unenclosed Stairs. Unenclosed stairs should not be positioned directly in line with a corridor or principal circulation route; unenclosed stairs should always require a conscious change in direction to use them. This will reduce the likelihood of a person inadvertently stepping onto stairs. Signage. Signage alerting building users of stairways along a path of travel should be placed within sight lines. Each environment will have a unique group of people with unique cultural backgrounds. Signage should be written in the languages commonly spoken among potential stair users according to the population in the area. Signs like this NYC Dept. of Health sign direct at- tention to and encour- age use of stairways. When possible, avoid placing large windows, bright light fix- tures, or other design elements that may draw stair users’ atten- tion away from the stairway. Visual Distractions. The user’s perception of stairway features is essential for accurate foot placement. Thus, visual distractions should be minimized. Missteps and other errors in gait often occur when people turn their gaze away from the stairway. Stairways should be designed in a way that draws the user’s attention to important features of stairways, rather than to any event, activity, or element within the space. 13 universal design guidelines for feature stairs Lighting Illumination Level.Soft light is recommended for illuminating stairways. The recom- mended minimum level of illumination at tread level is 150 lux. The minimum illumination on each stair landing should be at least 200 lux. Time-delay or sensor-operated lights used in stairwells should be set to a maximum of 2-3 seconds. However, the time-delay should be set to ensure that the timings accommodate the needs of all users. Lighting as a Design Element. Motion sensor night lights, lighted handrails, base lighting, lighting under nosing, and electroluminescent grip edges can not only enhance visibility, but provide a unique design feature, as well. Stairway lighting should fall evenly on handrails and walking surfaces, not directly in users’ fields of vision, and should be controllable to illuminate stairs consistently at all times. Detecting stairs from even a few feet away can be chal- lenging for those with low vision, particularly when going downstairs. Without sufficient lighting, any stair user can struggle to see treads on stairs with dark or shaded surfaces, espe- cially at the beginning or end of a run. AMBIENT LIGHTING Lighting for stairways should be consistent and sufficiently illuminating to improve the detection of stairways and increase visibility of stair edges.14 Section 1|The Interior Environment15 universal design guidelines for feature stairs synergillc.com | 2022 Natural Light. Good stair design should consider how lighting at various times of day can interfere with stair use. For those with low vision, the visibility of stairs facing windows may depend on outside lighting conditions and whether users are facing the light. Sunlight from windows can be distracting, and bright sunlight can hinder people’s ability to perceive their surroundings by creating shadows and/or shining light into the user’s field of view and causing glare. Naturally lit stairs with after-hours traffic should provide an additional light source that allows users to see treads, risers, and handrails. Natural light illuminates the stairs in this atrium (bottom left). In the middle of the day, however, the sunlight can be quite blinding (top left) and cause glare (above).universal design guidelines for feature stairs 16 Synergi’s stairs at the Milken Institute for Pubic Health building on the George Washington University campus in Washington, DC. SECTION TWO17 synergillc.com Since perceiving stairs is essential for safe navigation, our minds use distinct clues in the environment to understand how a stair- case is structured: where it begins, wheth- er it goes up or down, and where it ends. Nonstandard design elements can make a stair’s structural design unpredictable, lead- ing to uncertainty and confusion when navi- gating it. Inclusive stairway design should avoid irregularities in both stair geometries and staircase structures. Structural Considerations18 Section 2|Structural Considerations STAIRCASE STRUCTURE It is fairly common to see staircases with a smaller or bigger first or last step, or one or two steps at a landing that connects two flights of stairs. Such irregularities in a stairway’s structure cowme as a “surprise” to stair users and often lead to falls. The human brain gauges the rise and run of a stair flight within the first three steps; any structural inconsistencies that follow are therefore unexpected. Stairways should avoid irregular staircase structures. Extra or Irregular Steps. It is fairly common to see staircases with one or two steps at a landing that connects two flights of stairs or runs of just a few steps for a change in direction. Such irregularities in a stair’s geometry or a stairway’s structure come as a “surprise” to stair users and often lead to falls. Single Story Level Changes. If possible, surface level changes within a single story should be avoided in new buildings. Avoid Single Steps. Single steps should also be avoided as they are less readily apparent than a longer flight and may present a trip hazard. Three-Riser Minimum. A reasonably safe stairway should consist of at least three risers, so that it is noticeable, and people do not accidentally walk into it.19 universal design guidelines for feature stairs synergillc.com | 2022 Switchback Stairs. Switchback or dog-leg stairs often cause people with hearing difficulties to collide with oncoming people, unless the gap is sufficiently wide between the switchback runs. Curved Stairs. Spiral, curved, and winder stairways should be avoided, as they use treads that vary in depth from one end to the other. These winder or “pie-shaped” treads are tapered, narrowing along the inner radius, and can easily present hazardous conditions by causing missteps.Next >