Approved Document K: Protection from falling, collision and impact

Key requirements

• General headroom over stairs and landings: at least 2.0m measured vertically from the pitch line of a flight and from the landing surface.
• Buildings other than dwellings, and common access areas in blocks of flats, need 2.0m clear headroom on escape routes, except at doorways.
• Loft conversions in dwellings may use the reduced headroom profile in Diagram 1.4 where 2.0m cannot be achieved: 1.9m, with a 1.8m zone over half the stair width.
• Worked conversions: 230cm = 2300mm = 2.3m (above the 2.0m general minimum); 180cm = 1800mm = 1.8m (below it, and only the loft-conversion relief uses 1.8m).
• Sets stair and ramp geometry, including rise, going and headroom.
• Guarding is required to floors, roofs, balconies and openable windows.
• Applies to new work and alterations, including changes of use.

Performance at a glance

General headroom

≥ 2.0m over flights and landings

Loft conversion relief

1.9m with a 1.8m half-width zone

Worked conversions

230cm = 2.3m; 180cm = 1.8m

Escape routes (non-domestic)

2.0m clear, except doorways

Scope

Stairs, ramps, guarding, windows

Applies to

New buildings, extensions and alterations in England.

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