Thread: Staircase builder

Originally Posted by brettule

Yeah well I was looking at some staircase designers in Melbourne who build spirals from 1000mm to 2500mm diameters. Are you sure 1800mm is the allowed minimum? What's the point building smaller ones then or is there some loophole?

You probably have to say its a pot plant stand.

Well you can say what you want but when it's the only staircase going to another level you still need sign off for occupancy don't you?

I have to get a ladder to get to my attic/roof space. Thats another level where I can put stuff. You just say your to lazy and use the pot plant stand instead of a ladder if anyone asks. Tell them when you have the spiral pot plant stand made that it needs to hold up 100kg Pots on each step.
Hey, I'm just trying to help you find a way to get to the roof with a staircase at the end of a hallway.

If its a NEW property, then yes you will not get occupancy.
If its existing house with a roof space like the rest of us, you are allowed to line it and put a floor on it for storage. Just put it in as a round manhole access.
Then put pot plant stand in afterwards that become convenient to get to the roof space..

Sorry, didnt read your question closely enough. 1800 is the standard opening for most spiral applications. Most staircase manufacturers only go down to 1500 which means anything less becomes a special and costs. If you are not looking at a habitable room you may wish to go to the narrowest building regs will allow but they are a worry for getting things up and down. Insurance may also play a part here.

What follows is ONLY my opinion - I have only built two staircases and fitted one spiral stair in my life.

1. spiral stairs are bloody dangerous if you: drink alcohol, and; ever wear socks at night (I imagine there's no need for anyone to ask me how I know this)

Sounds to me like an application that "could" be met by an attic ladder/stowable attic stair. It comes down (like the stair/ladder!) to how tall your ceilings are, but I believe a range is now made to suit different height ceilings ...

As a non-habitable space and potentially infrequently used, this is probably the best solution - a permanent stair is a huge space eater - a very steep stair is more dangerous than usual (how many times do you want to be wrong with that one?) and a custom made unit will cost a LOT more than a precision-built mass produced unit, designed specifically for that task.

Originally Posted by seriph1

As a non-habitable space and potentially infrequently used, this is probably the best solution.

and

Originally Posted by brettule

I want to use the attic space a little more frequently as a studio rather than just storage. That's why a permanant ladder or steep staircase suits me better.

That's the problem, it will not be an infrequent space any more but it will probably be converted to a habitable space.

Hence the type of stairs will be only a minor problem but permits for the conversion will be more difficult. Something that has not been properly looked at I suppose. So the OP might be better to get professional advice before going much further.


Peter.