A worked example of a compliant staircase (Scotland)
Written by Scott Jones, The Stair Guys, independent staircase measuring and sourcing specialists·Last updated
Scotland is governed by the Domestic Technical Handbook, not the English Approved Document K, and its figures are not the same, so a stair drawn to English numbers can fail here. This is a worked Scottish private stair with every figure inside the handbook.
| Measurement | This example | Scotland (Domestic Technical Handbook) |
|---|---|---|
| Floor to floor height | 2600mm | sets the number of risers |
| Risers | 13 at 200mm | rise 100mm to 220mm; maximum 16 risers per flight |
| Going | 240mm | 225mm minimum (England allows 220mm) |
| Pitch | 39.8 degrees | 42 degrees maximum |
| Headroom | 2m | 2m minimum |
| Width | 900mm | 900mm minimum (800mm if a handrail both sides) |
Why it passes, and where Scotland differs
Every check clears. The 200mm rise sits inside the 100mm to 220mm range, the 240mm going is over the Scottish 225mm minimum, the pitch works out at 39.8 degrees against the 42 degree maximum, and 13 risers is well within the 16-risers-per-flight cap. Width is a full 900mm.
The traps for anyone crossing the border with English drawings are the going and the riser cap. Scotland wants a minimum going of 225mm, not the 220mm England allows, so a stair drawn at 220mm going is fine in England and fails in Scotland. And Scotland caps a flight at 16 risers, where England has no per-flight riser limit at all. Get those two right and the rest of the geometry follows. Full detail on the Scotland regulations page, and the England version of this example is here.
Frequently asked
Can you give an example of a compliant staircase in Scotland?+
Yes. A private staircase of 13 risers at 200mm rise, with a 240mm going, over a 2600mm floor-to-floor height, is compliant with the Scottish Domestic Technical Handbook. It gives a pitch of 39.8 degrees (under the 42 degree maximum), the going of 240mm is over the 225mm Scottish minimum, and 13 risers is within the 16-per-flight cap. Minimum width is 900mm.
How are Scottish staircase rules different from England?+
Two differences catch people out. Scotland requires a minimum going of 225mm, where England allows down to 220mm, so a stair drawn to the English going can fail in Scotland. And Scotland caps a flight at 16 risers, where England has no per-flight riser limit. Scotland is governed by the Domestic Technical Handbook, not Approved Document K.
What is the minimum going for stairs in Scotland?+
225mm for a private stair, measured under the Domestic Technical Handbook. That is 5mm more than the 220mm England allows, which is a common reason an English drawing does not comply north of the border. The going is the horizontal depth of each step, measured nosing to nosing.
Related guides
- UK Staircase Building Regulations, ExplainedThe building regulations for stairs in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, in plain English. Rise, going, pitch, headroom, guarding and handrails, every figure sourced.
- Staircase headroom: how much you need and how to check itHow much headroom a staircase needs under UK building regulations: the 2 metre rule, the reduced loft-conversion allowance, where headroom is tightest, and how to check it properly.
- Staircase handrail requirements: height, sides and gripWhat UK building regulations require of a staircase handrail: the 900mm to 1000mm height, when you need one side or both, and why a wall-mounted rail needs proper clearance and grip.
- Staircase guarding and balustrade: height and the 100mm ruleWhat UK building regulations require of staircase guarding and balustrade: where it is needed, the 900mm height, the 100mm sphere gap rule, and why it must not be easy for a child to climb.
- Private staircase dimensions: rise, going and pitchThe rise, going and pitch rules for a private (domestic) staircase in the UK, the 2R+G formula, why every rise must be equal, and the simple going = rise divided by 0.9 rule of thumb that keeps a stair within 42 degrees.
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