Approved Document K: Protection from falling, collision and impact – 2013 Edition England
Approved Document K (2013 edition) provides technical guidance for compliance with the Building Regulations 2010 regarding building work carried out in England. The document specifies requirements for the design and construction of stairs, ladders, and ramps, as well as protection against falling, collision, and impact. It took effect on 6 April 2013, superseding the 1998 edition. The guidance also applies to excepted energy buildings in Wales as defined in the Welsh Ministers (Transfer of Functions) (No. 2) Order 2009.
The regulatory scope of this document encompasses six primary requirements: K1 (Stairs, ladders and ramps), K2 (Protection from falling), K3 (Vehicle barriers and loading bays), K4 (Protection against impact with glazing), K5 (Protection from collision with open windows, manifestation of glazing, and safe cleaning access), and K6 (Protection against impact from and trapping by doors). It incorporates previous guidance on glazing safety and manifestation that resided in Approved Document N and overlapping access requirements from Approved Document M.
The following sections detail the geometry, safety features, and structural requirements defined by the Secretary of State to meet the statutory requirements of the Building Regulations 2010. These include specific measurements for rise, going, headroom, and guarding across various building categories such as dwellings, assembly buildings, and industrial premises.
Requirement K1: Stairs, Ladders and Ramps
Stairs, ladders, and ramps must be designed and installed to ensure safe movement between levels. The document categorizes stairs into three types: Private stair, Utility stair, and General access stair, each with specific dimensional limits for rise and going.
- Private stair: Maximum rise of 220mm, minimum going of 220mm, and a maximum pitch of 42 degrees.
- Utility stair: Maximum rise of 190mm and minimum going of 250mm.
- General access stair: Maximum rise of 170mm and minimum going of 250mm.
- Headroom: A minimum clear headroom of 2m is required for all access between levels, with specific allowances for reduced headroom (1.8m to 1.9m) in loft conversions.
Guidance also covers alternating tread stairs and fixed ladders. Alternating tread stairs are restricted to loft conversions providing access to a single habitable room and potentially a bathroom or WC, but only when space is insufficient for standard stairs.
Requirement K2: Protection from Falling
Pedestrian guarding must be provided for any stairs, ramps, floors, balconies, or accessible roofs where there is a risk of falling. The standard of provision varies between dwellings and non-domestic buildings.
- Dwellings: Guarding is required for falls greater than 600mm. The minimum height for internal guarding is 900mm; for external balconies and roof edges, it is 1100mm.
- Buildings other than dwellings: Guarding is required for falls exceeding the height of two risers or 380mm if not part of a stair.
- Child safety: In buildings used by children under five, guarding must prevent a 100mm sphere from passing through and must not have horizontal rails that facilitate climbing.
Requirement K4 & K5: Glazing Safety and Manifestation
Glazing in critical locations must either break safely, be robust, be in small panes, or be permanently protected by a screen. Critical locations are defined in Diagram 5.1 and include glazing in doors, door side panels, and low-level walls.
- Safe breakage: Must comply with BS EN 12600 Class 3 or BS 6206 Class C. For wider panes in doors, Class 2 or Class B may be required.
- Manifestation of glazing: Large uninterrupted areas of transparent glazing in non-domestic buildings must be made apparent through permanent manifestation at two levels: between 850mm to 1000mm and 1400mm to 1600mm above the floor.
- Safe access for cleaning: Provisions must be made for the safe cleaning of windows and skylights. If cleaning cannot be performed from the ground, the document specifies safe reaches for cleaning from inside or the use of ladders up to 6m or 9m.
Requirement K3 & K6: Vehicle Barriers and Door Safety
Provisions are required to protect people from vehicle collisions and hazards associated with doors and gates. This includes structural barriers for vehicle ramps and floors.
- Vehicle barriers: Must be capable of resisting loads given in BS EN 1991-1-1. Minimum barrier heights are 375mm for floor edges and 610mm for ramp edges.
- Door visibility: Swing doors and gates wider than 450mm must include vision panels to provide a clear view of the space on either side, specifically within the zones of visibility shown in Diagram 10.1.
- Powered doors: Must include safety features to prevent trapping, such as pressure-sensitive edges, and an accessible stop switch.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum pitch allowed for a private staircase?
The maximum pitch for a private stair, as defined in Table 1.1, is 42 degrees.
What is the minimum headroom required for stairs in a loft conversion?
While the standard minimum headroom is 2m, for loft conversions where space is limited, Diagram 1.4 permits reduced headroom of at least 1.8m at the edge and 1.9m at the center of the stair width.
When is manifestation required on glass doors?
Requirement K5.2 specifies that manifestation is required for large uninterrupted areas of transparent glazing in non-domestic buildings to make them apparent, typically at two different height levels.
What are the height requirements for pedestrian guarding on a balcony?
For single-family dwellings, the minimum height for guarding on external balconies and roof edges is 1100mm, according to Diagram 3.1.
Are vision panels mandatory in all doors?
Under Requirement K6, vision panels are required for swing doors and gates in buildings other than dwellings to ensure a clear view of the space on either side, unless the door leaf is narrower than 450mm.
What is the maximum rise for a general access stair?
For a general access stair, the maximum rise is 170mm and the minimum going is 250mm, as specified in Table 1.1.
Can I use a fixed ladder as a primary means of escape?
No. Paragraph 1.31 states that retractable ladders should not be used as a means of escape. Fixed ladders are only permitted in dwellings for access to a loft conversion with a single habitable room when a standard stair cannot be fitted.
What structural load standard must vehicle barriers meet?
Vehicle barriers must be designed to resist the loads specified in BS EN 1991-1-1 with its UK National Annex and PD 6688-1-1.
