Regulations

Antislip Characteristics / Pendulum Test Values (PTV’s)

Antislip Characteristics / Pendulum Test Values (PTV’s)

Slips on steps and stairs occur in both ascent and descent, but a slip on descent is more likely to lead to a fall and injury. Research has shown that slips while descending are more likely to occur when the user oversteps, placing only 50% to 60% of their foot on the tread.

In order to adhere with current building regulations the following criteria must be met when selecting a stair nosing for your stairs:

"The whole tread or the nosing should incorporate slip-resistant material, starting as close as practicable to the front edge of the nosing and extending the full width of the tread".

All AATi products include a cast profile with encapsulated silicon carbide in the wearing surface. This ensures the pedestrian has the very best antislip foot contact on the stairway, both at initial contact and as full body load is put on to and leaves the step.

AATi products retain extremely high Slip Resistance Values (SRV) or more commonly referred to as Pendulum Test Values (PTV) in both wet and dry conditions, typically achieving PTV of between 40-70 points. A PTV greater than 36 is considered to be suitable, as pushing and turning are unlikely on stairs. However, a material with a wet PTV greater than 40 is considered to be more appropriate for a surface when a user is likely to be turning or pushing (e.g. when pushing a person in a wheelchair).

On existing nosings, the slip resistance of step nosings are generally expressed by their Rz roughness value as PTV is difficult to measure. In such cases a roughness Rz value of 20 μm is recommended.

AATi products optimise wet and poor-weather antislip performance by easily dispersing water and thawing winter products and cleaning fluids from the foot contact area.

E&OE

https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200128/building_control

Approved Document K

Approved Document K

Construction of steps – for building other than dwellings

For steps, apply both of the following guidance;

• Make step nosings apparent: use a material that will contrast visually, a minimum of 55mm wide, on both tread and the riser .
• Avoid, if possible, step nosings that protrude over the tread below. If the nosings protrudes, ensure that this is by no more than 25mm.

For common access areas in buildings that contain flats

Provide a stair with steps that comply with all of the following guidance;

• Make step nosings apparent: use a material that will contrast visually. 50mm to 65mm wide on the tread and 30mm to 50mm on the riser.
• Use a suitable tread nosing profile with 25mm maximum overlap and 60˚ rake back angle
• Use riser which are not open

Approved Document K is available free online.

E&OE


https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/approved-documents

Approved Document M

Approved Document M

Stepped access

Note: Where there appears to be a conflict between the guidance in Part M and Part K, Part M takes precedence.

• Materials for treads should not present a slip hazard, especially when the surface is wet.
• Contrast visually, when used to indicate the visual perception of one element of the building, or fitting within the building, against another means that the difference in light reflectance value (LRV) between the two surfaces is greater than 30 points (in levels of less than 200 points of lux, 20 LRV in greater than 200 points of lux).
• LRV- that total quantity of visible light reflected by a surface at all wavelengths and directions when illuminated by a light source.
• All nosings are made apparent by means of a permanently contrasting material 55mm wide on both the tread and the riser
• A corduroy hazard warning surface is provided at top and bottom landings of a series of flights to give advance warning of a change in level in accordance with the diagram ‘A’ in the Appoved Document M
• Where there is side access onto an intermediate landing, a corduroy hazard warning surface 400mm deep is provided either on the intermediate landing 400mm from both upper and lower flights, if there is sufficient space to accommodate the surface outside the line of the side access, or within the side access 400 mm from the intermediate landing if there is a continuous handrail opposite the side access

Approved Document M is available free online.

E&OE

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/approved-documents

BS8300:2009

BS8300:2009

Identification and slip resistance of nosings

Each step nosing should incorporate a permanently contrasting continuous material for the full width of the stair on both the tread and the riser to help blind and partially sighted people appreciate the extent of the stair and identify individual treads. The material should be 50 mm to 65 mm on the tread and 30 mm to 55 mm on the riser, and should contrast visually with the remainder of the tread and riser.

NOTE 1 A nosing that wraps around the riser might assist blind or partially sighted people.

NOTE 2 A proprietary nosing can provide a durable solution that satisfies both visual contrast and slip resistance criteria
(see BRE IP 15/03 [13])

The whole tread or the nosing should incorporate slip-resistant material, starting as close as practicable to the front edge of the nosing and extending the full width of the tread.

NOTE 3 Please refer to the current document for further guidance on slip resistance of surfaces

*All AATi products include a cast profile with encapsulated silicon carbide in the wearing surface. This ensures the pedestrian has the very best antislip foot contact on the stairway, both at initial contact and as full body load is put on to and leaves the step.

Slip resistance - Step nosings

The following indices are used to indicate the slipperiness of surfaces:
a) Pendulum Test Values (PTVs) obtained using a pendulum tester in line with BS 7976;
b) Surface micro-roughness (Rz) measurements using a stylus instrument in accordance with BS 1134.

Where slip resistance is required for nosings and treads, the slip resistance needs to be the equivalent to that expected for level surfaces. A PTV greater than 36 is considered to be suitable, as pushing and turning are unlikely on stairs. However, a material with a wet PTV greater than 40 is considered to be more appropriate for a surface when a user is likely to be turning or pushing (e.g. when pushing a person in a wheelchair).

On existing nosings, the slip resistance of step nosings are generally expressed by their Rz roughness value as PTV is difficult to measure. In such cases a roughness Rz value of 20 μm is recommended.

Use of corduroy hazard warning on an external stepped access
• Corduroy hazard warning surface at top of stairs to extend at least 400mm at each side of stairs and to stop 400mm from nosing.
• 800mm of cover when the approach is straight on and 400mm when a conscious turn is needed to reach the step
• Corduroy hazard warning surface is required at bottom of stairs at least 400mm from the bottom step

Authorisation to reproduce BS8300:2009 is granted by BSI. British Standards can be acquired in PDF or hard copy formats from the BSI online: www.bsigroup.com/shop or by contacting BSI for hardcopies only. Tel: +44 (0)20 8996 9001, Email: cservices@bsigroup.com. 

E&OE

https://www.bsigroup.com

Light Reflectance Values (LRV’S)

Light Reflectance Values (LRV’S)

People with impaired sight risk tripping or losing their balance if there is no warning that steps provide a change in level. The risk is most hazardous at the head of a flight of steps when a person is descending.

The change in level can be clearly highlighted with a nosing that contrasts with the surrounding tread and riser materials.

To meet standards it is important to ensure you gain the compulsory requirements a 30 points difference in contrast LRV (in levels of less than 200 points of lux, 20 LRV in greater than 200 points of lux). This 30 points difference creates a ladder effect which helps partially sighted individuals recognised the edge of the step when ascending or descending.

LRV is the total quantity of visible light reflected by a surface at all wavelengths and directions when laminated by a light source.

The LRV scale runs from 0 (black) to 100 (white) and all step nosings are to be made apparent by means of a permanently contrasting material on both the tread going and riser of each step.

AATi have developed an extensive range of products to ensure a suitable colour contrast can be achieved for any applications, the Sightline™ and Wideline™ products have been tailor-made to exhibit a wide range of Antislip coloured inserts from the RAL colour chart. AATi can also provide LRV’s for all plain metal Antislip stair nosing products which are self-coloured. Please enquire for further details.

E&OE


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_reflectance_value

Rail Company Guidelines

Rail Company Guidelines

Transport for London (TFL) and London Underground

AATi (Antislip Antiwear Treads International) formed in 1984 and adopted the traditional TFL/London Underground cast stair tread designs, which have been an enduring and very effective feature on the UK rail network for over 60 years.

AATi products are deep tube approved and registered for use on the London Underground’s Approved Product Register (APR). Products registered on this register endure numerous testing requirements and must comply to strict guidelines as set out in the main standards; Category 1 Standard no 1-33 refers to Premises and stairways coupled with Category 1 standard 1-085 Fire safety classification.

Category 1 standard S1133:  Premises- Stairways and Ramps

1 Purpose 
1.1 The purpose of this standard is to define the performance requirements for stairways, steps, fixed ladders, ramps and handrails in all operational LU premises and property.

2 Scope
2.1 This standard applies to new and altered public stairways, temporary stairways, fire escape stairways, non-public stairways and steps, fire fighting stairways, fixed ladders, public ramps, non-public ramps, fire escape ramps and temporary ramps. 
2.2 For existing public stairways, refer to CIRIA C722 Safer stairs in public places – assessment of existing stairs. 
2.3 For stairways and ramps loading requirements, refer to S1053 Civil Engineering – Building and Station Structures. 
2.4 For embankment/embankment/cutting step design, refer to S1054 Civil Engineering – Earth structures.

Category 1 standard 1-085: Fire safety performance of materials

1 Purpose
The purpose of this Standard is to define the requirements for the fire safety of materials, in terms of flammability, smoke emission and toxic fume emission, installed on the London Underground (LU) network:

1.2 The business objective of this standard is to ensure that the risk to which the public
and employees are exposed is controlled to a level that is as low as reasonably
practicable.

2 Scope
2.1 This standard specifies the requirements for materials installed in underground
locations with regard to:
a) Flammability (including the risk of explosion);
b) Smoke emission;
c) Toxic fume emission.

Note: This standard does not cover the wider aspects of fire engineering, and it may benecessary to invoke other London Underground, National or European Standards tocover fully all aspects of fire safety for a particular application.

2.2 This standard shall apply to installations:
a) In stations covered by Section 12 of the Fire Precautions (Sub-Surface Railway
Stations) Regulations 1989 and 1-086;
b) In passenger and engineering trains;
c) In running tunnels;
d) In other locations that are not effectively separated from locations covered by a)
or c) above;
e) In all other locations where risks from flammability, smoke or toxic fumes are not
controlled to a level as low as reasonably practicable by other means.

E&OE

https://tfl.gov.uk

Network Rail

Network Rail

AATi products have been an enduring and very effective feature on the UK rail network for over 60 years. Constant investment over the years has been made to improve AATi products with formerly British Rail and now this continuation has flourished with Network Rail. In order to cope with increasing passenger numbers network Rail are undertaking programme upgrades to the network including Crossrail, electrification of lines, upgrading Thameslink and a new high-speed line (HS2).

AATi have supplied stair nosings for across the network within the ‘Access for All’(AFA) scheme, a major programme improving accessibility at train stations nationwide by installing lifts and ramps.

 AATi is also specified in Network Rail’s DDA Step Free Programme at Stations:

"Nickel bronze stair treads with machine screw fixings by Antislip Antiwear Treads International (AATI) SN93/140mm or similar approved. Fitted with coloured abrasive inserts and coloured line along riser face to DDA requirements".

E&OE

https://www.networkrail.co.uk