A worked example of a compliant staircase (Wales)
Written by Scott Jones, The Stair Guys, independent staircase measuring and sourcing specialists·Last updated
Wales has its own building regulations, but for the geometry of a private staircase the Welsh Approved Document K follows the same figures as England, so the same worked example applies. Here it is, and then the one place Wales genuinely diverges.
| Measurement | This example | Wales (Approved Document K) |
|---|---|---|
| Floor to floor height | 2600mm | sets the number of risers |
| Rise | 200mm | 220mm maximum |
| Going | 250mm | 220mm minimum |
| Pitch | 38.7 degrees | 42 degrees maximum |
| 2R plus G | 650mm | 550mm to 700mm |
| Headroom | 2m | 2m minimum |
| Width | your choice | no legal minimum for a private stair |
Same geometry as England, but its own document
Every check clears exactly as it does in England: the 200mm rise is under the 220mm maximum, the 250mm going is over the 220mm minimum, 2R plus G is 650mm, the pitch is 38.7 degrees and headroom is 2m. The point worth knowing is that this is the Welsh Approved Document K, not the English one, even though the private-stair numbers match. Where Wales does diverge is on accessibility: it did not adopt the M4(2) and M4(3) accessible and wheelchair-adaptable categories that England now uses, so those requirements do not apply in Wales. Full detail on the Wales regulations page, and the England version of this example is here.
Frequently asked
Are staircase regulations in Wales the same as England?+
For the geometry of a private staircase, yes. Wales uses its own Approved Document K, but it follows the same figures as England: a maximum 220mm rise, a minimum 220mm going, a pitch up to 42 degrees and 2R plus G between 550mm and 700mm. The main difference is on accessibility, where Wales did not adopt the M4 categories that England uses.
Can you give an example of a compliant staircase in Wales?+
Yes. A private staircase of 13 risers at 200mm rise, with a 250mm going, over a 2600mm floor-to-floor height, complies with the Welsh Approved Document K. It gives a pitch of 38.7 degrees, a 2R plus G of 650mm and 2m headroom, the same private-stair geometry as England.
What is different about Welsh staircase regulations?+
The private-stair geometry matches England, but Wales runs its own Approved Document K and, importantly, did not adopt the M4(2) and M4(3) accessible and wheelchair-adaptable dwelling categories that England introduced. So the accessible-stair requirements that can apply to some new homes in England do not apply in Wales.
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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