General access and utility staircase regulations
Written by Scott Jones, The Stair Guys, independent staircase measuring and sourcing specialists·Last updated
Most staircase advice assumes a "private" stair, the everyday stair inside a home. But Approved Document K sets three categories, and the other two, general access and utility, are held to stricter, shallower rules. Get the category wrong and the stair is not merely a tight fit; it is non-compliant and will not pass. This is the trap that catches self-builders and small commercial projects.
| Measurement | Private stair | General access stair | Utility stair |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum rise | 220mm | 170mm | 190mm |
| Minimum going | 220mm | 250mm | 250mm |
| Maximum pitch | 42 degrees | 38 degrees | set by rise and going |
| Max risers per flight | 16 | 12 (up to 16 for small premises of no more than 2 storeys) | 16 |
Which category applies
A private stair serves a single dwelling. A general access stair is one used by the public or by people who are not familiar with it, such as the stair in a block of flats, an office or a shop; it has to be gentler, hence the shallower 170mm rise, the deeper 250mm going and the 38 degree pitch, and a flight is limited to 12 risers (up to 16 only in small premises of no more than two storeys). A utility stair is for occasional access, for example to a plant room or a store; it may be a little steeper than general access (up to 190mm rise) but still needs the 250mm going and is limited to 16 risers. A stair serving more than one category has to meet the more demanding one.
SourceApproved Document K: Protection from Falling, Collision and Impact (2013), Table 1 and paragraph 1.6
Frequently asked
What is the difference between a private, general access and utility stair?+
A private stair serves a single dwelling (max rise 220mm, going 220mm, pitch 42 degrees). A general access stair is used by the public or unfamiliar users and is gentler (max rise 170mm, going 250mm, pitch 38 degrees, max 12 risers per flight). A utility stair is for occasional access such as a plant room (max rise 190mm, going 250mm, max 16 risers).
What is the minimum going for a general access or utility stair?+
250mm for both general access and utility stairs under Approved Document K. Note that the utility figure is 250mm, not 220mm; the 220mm minimum going applies only to a private (single-dwelling) stair.
How many steps can a general access stair have in a flight?+
A general access stair is limited to 12 risers per flight, rising to a maximum of 16 only in small premises of no more than two storeys above ground. A utility stair may have up to 16 risers per flight.
Can I use a domestic staircase in a block of flats?+
No. A block of flats or other shared building needs a general access stair, which is shallower and wider than a private stair. A domestic stair drawn into a communal setting is non-compliant, not just tight, and will not be signed off, so the correct category has to be chosen from the start.
Sources
Primary sources we used and reconciled before publishing.
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.
Ready when you are.
Free and no obligation. The Stair Guys survey the real space, never off a plan.