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The Well Opening

In order to access the upper floor your new spiral staircase will either pass through an existing well opening in that floor or you will need to form a new one.
In either case two key dimensions will be used to specify what staircase components you require.
The instructions oposite explain how to take these two critical measurements, If a new well opening needs to be formed you will need to consult a qualified builder.
Firstly measure the width and depth of the opening as shown. We offer two diameters of spiral stairs, 1400mm and 1600mm.
Your well opening will need to be a minimum of
50mm larger in both directions ie. 1450mm x 1450mm minimum for a 1400mm diameter flight).
It may be that you will need to extend your current well Opening.

Secondly measure the floor to floor height that the staircase needs to rise, this is known as the total rise of the flight be careful to measure to the finished floor of the upper floor as you will want the landing platform to sit flush with any floor covering
you may be intending to use . You now have all of the measurements you need to work out your component requirements.
 
Treads and Rises
The next step in working out your component requirements is to decide how many treads you require (this is done by deciding on a quantity of treads that gives a suitable individual rise).
Each tread/Landing platform can he adjusted to give an individual rise of between 170 and 220 mm which is the range allowed by UK building regulations.
Ideally you would want to stay between 190 and 210mm to build a flight that is most comfortable in use.
To work out the number of rises needed, take your total rise measurement and try first dividing it by 13 rises, a common number for UK staircases. This calculation will give you the individual rise which needs to fall between 170 and 220mm (but ideally 190 and 210mm as we have
said). If it does not then adjust the number of rises until it does.
You may well find that there is more than one possible solution, ie. 2600mm overall rise divided by 13 rises = individual rise of 200mm, or the same 2600mm overall rise divided by 12 rises = individual rise of 216.6mm.
Both are acceptable falling between 170 and 220mm however a rise of 200mm is far more comfortable and would be the preferred solution in this instance.
Once you have calculated the number of rises that suits your situation best then you will know how many treads you require. This is one less than the number of rises as the last rise is accomplished by the landing platform. So for a 13 rise flight you will need 12 treads plus a landing
platform.

Access to the first Tread
The final step before making a list of component codes required Is to check that the first tread will be in a position where access to it is unimpeded.
 Use the drawings below to help. These spiral staircases can he installed clockwise or anti-clockwise, however this will have some bearing on the entry point.
Start from the landing platform at the top and count hack down the flight the relevant number of treads to see where the entry point is. Make sure that the entry is clear and unimpeded. If it is not you have 3 ways of altering the situation.
1. Change the position of the landing platform. This is obviously easier where a round well opening is being used as more flexibility is available. With a square platform you will have only 4 options here.
2. Consider installing the staircase anti-clockwise instead. This will usually alter the entry point.
3. You may be able to adjust the number of rises (remember we said there is often more than one solution to this number) which will again alter the entry point.
Using one or more of these methods it is normally possible to work out a solution.


Once you have finalised the number of treads and the configuration of the staircase you are ready to specify your components.

Clockwise layout
 
Anti-clockwise layout
 

The Stair Select System
The Stair Select is a system of standard stocked components that can be used to complete your installation.

Each stair consists of a maximum of 3 product codes with additional landing balustrading components available.

Primary Pack
Contains virtually everything required to build your flight including the centre post. Balustrading for the stairs and balustrading for the landing platform and 11 treads. All orders will require a Primary Pack.
Tread Pack
The tread pack is an optional item which contains 1 additional tread with its balustrading. It is used to increase the height of a flight where the standard 11 treads in the Primary Pack cannot reach high enough, Up to 2 extra Tread Packs can he used with a standard Primary Pack.
Landing Pack
Contains a landing platform to complete your flight to suit either a round or square or rectangular well opening. The Landing Pack is ordered separately to suit the shape of well opening you are using. All orders require a Landing pack.

Specifying your components
1. You will always require 1 Primary pack- Select the correct diameter and model type for your requirements from the list .
2. You will always require 1 Landing pack. Again select the correct diameter and model type for your requirements. This time you also need to select either a Round or a Flat landing to suit your well opening shape.

3. With the Landing and Primary Pack you have a total of 12 rises. The last step is to add in the relevant number of additional Tread packs. So for a 14 rise Flight you will need 2 additional Tread Packs in the correct diameter and model.

4. Finally specify the landing components required using the final section of the Installation Instructions to decide what you need.

Recanto Timber Centre Pole Spacers
As an option the Recanto can be fitted with timber spacers replacing the black items. Spacers are available in 1500mm lengths which can he cut to size to suit the individual rise Normally 2 lengths will be sufficient for each staircase.

NOTE:
These are large diameter tubes designed to slide over the centre pole. They need to he cut perfectly level which will require professional equipment.

Building Regulations
Building Regulations make specifications regarding 3 key areas relating to spiral staircases.

Balustrading Strength Requirements
Balustrading for spiral staircases are subject to the same strength requirements as those used on normal staircases. These spiral staircases supplied to us from Richard Burbidge are the only spiral stairs in the UK that have been independently tested by the industry recognised authority, TRADA, to ensure conformity to these requirements.

Individual Riser Height
UK Building Regulations require that each individual rise must be of equal height and be no more than 220mm. these spiral staircases can be adjusted between 200 and 230mm.

Clear Width
UK Building Regulations require a minimum Clear Width on each tread of 600mm for staircases serving one room only. These spirals are available in 2 diameters, 1400mm and 1600mm with clear widths of 607 and 707mm respectively.

These spiral staircases are not suitable for use as staircases serving more than one room.

Riser Brackets
For stairs frequented by children, Building Regulations require the gap between treads to be reduced to under 100mm. An optional riser bracket is available to achieve this.