Unless you’ve been blessed with a completely level outdoor space, you’ll likely need to install some steps. For commercial and public spaces, this comes with a few considerations, from crucial regulations and health and safety measures to aesthetic decisions that influence visitors’ perception of the space. That’s why we’ve created this helpful advice guide. Whether you’re adding outdoor steps to hotel grounds, a public park, or the grounds of a residential complex, we want you to feel confident in your choices.
For a broader look at paving choices for a commercial space, see our commercial paving guide or sign up for our commercial paving CPD for landscapers and architects.
Choosing a Material for Commercial and Public Outdoor Steps
At RF Paving, we offer a wide variety of natural stone options for paving your outdoor steps, plus stunning Italian porcelain options. But which is right for your project?
One thing to bear in mind is the project location. Aligning with the materials used elsewhere in your city creates a smart look and a sense of connection to the wider area. So, for a project in York, we might encourage the use of sandstone to suit the rustic, characterful aesthetic of the wider city. Meanwhile, granite is more widely used in cities like London and Manchester. It’s a great choice for steps because of its strength, aesthetic beauty, and ease of maintenance.
For high-footfall and high-traffic areas, we also have to follow UK Building Regulations, which specify that materials need to be 80mm thick, making porcelain steps unsuitable in the majority of cases. However, porcelain is ideal for an open space like a roof terrace with high footfall, or for domestic environments.
When asked for his advice, our Head of Commercial Sales, Stuart Clarke, said: “When choosing step materials for high-traffic areas, look beyond the initial purchase price. The real cost comes from how the material performs over its lifetime.
Property managers and developers should consider ongoing maintenance, repairs, replacement costs and, where relevant, operating costs. Downtime is another overlooked factor. If repairs or maintenance restrict access or disrupt the use of an area, they can add costs and inconvenience.
Looking at the TCO gives a much clearer picture of overall value and helps ensure that decisions are based on long-term performance, rather than simply the lowest upfront price.”
Our guide to natural stone paving can elaborate on the different types of stone step paving available and the benefits of each option.
Structural Considerations for Commercial and Public Outdoor Steps
For commercial and public realm projects, the installation of steps is just as important as the material itself. Commercial steps should be installed on a suitable concrete subbase, providing a solid foundation that helps prevent movement over time and adds strength and stability.
Another option is to use pre-formed concrete stair units and clad them with the chosen stone or porcelain. Using thinner tread and riser sections, these can be securely mortared onto the concrete structure to create a consistent finish while retaining the strength of the underlying stairwell.
Consider the finish as well. Textured surfaces help provide slip resistance, and an R11 rating is a minimum requirement for outdoor applications. Good design, correct installation, and regular maintenance all play important roles in creating steps that are safe, durable, and built to stand the test of time.
Legal Considerations for Commercial and Public Outdoor Steps
There are a few legal standards to bear in mind when designing and installing outdoor steps in your commercial space.
Approved Document M provides the minimum legal standard for access to and use of buildings. It stipulates that commercial steps should have a minimum tread of 280-420mm and a rise of 150-170mm.
You’ll also need to bear Approved Document K in mind, which deals with protection from falling, collision and impact. However, Approved Document M typically takes precedence in commercial or public spaces.
Accessibility of Commercial and Public Outdoor Steps
Another important consideration for outdoor steps is accessibility. To help with this, you can use BS 8300:2018, a non-binding code of practice that addresses the design of an accessible and inclusive built environment. This often exceeds the minimum requirements of Document M for greater accessibility. It recommends that your outdoor steps have a tread of 300-450mm and a rise of 150-180mm.
Nosing for Outdoor Steps in Public Spaces
A different nosing piece signals to a visually impaired person that the material or use has changed and the area isn’t flat. If a visually impaired person is looking down the steps and there isn’t a nosing, the steps would blend into one piece.
The nosing is normally a darker stone than the main step, usually with a minimum 30-point LRV (Light Reflectance Value) difference between the step nosing and the rest of the step.
Black is mainly used, and a typical black surface has around a 5% to 10% LRV, while brilliant white has about 85%.
Approved Document M recommends 55m nosing on both your step and riser. Meanwhile, BS 8300:2018 recommends 50-65mm of nosing on the tread and 30-55mm on the riser, which is echoed by Approved Document K.
The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) gives an ideal nosing of 55mm on the tread and 30-50mm on the riser.
Do Commercial or Public Outdoor Steps Require a Handrail?
For steps of more than three risers, a handrail is required at a height of 850-`1000mm above the pitch line. For steps wider than 1000mm, handrails should be placed on both sides.
The diameter of your handrail is also important for proper grippability. Circular handrails should be 40-50mm in diameter, or 50mm for an oval handrail.
Do Commercial or Public Outdoor Steps Require Lighting?
Proper lighting is important to prevent slips, trips and falls on your commercial steps. BS EN 12464-2, which specifies lighting requirements for outdoor workplaces, mandates an illumination of around 50-100 lux, with the top and bottom tread being the most important to adequately light.
In an outdoor space, lights should also be adequately protected from the elements. This means selecting lights with an IP rating of 67, which means they are completely protected from dust and highly water resistant.
Maintaining Natural Stone Steps in Commercial and Public Spaces
Outdoor steps in commercial and residential spaces require more regular maintenance than domestic outdoor steps, including daily sweeping and cleaning 2-3 times per week. We also recommend a deep clean, which may include pressure washing, every 6 months. Our outdoor paving maintenance guide can help to advise on cleaning techniques for different step paving materials.
When asked about key maintenance considerations for commercial steps, our Head of Commercial Sales, Stuart Clarke, says, “I think the weather is one of the main maintenance issues; high rainfall can cause the stones to become covered in algae if they are not installed correctly. Without sufficient drainage, water can sit and turn into algae.
We also have to remember that with natural stone products, some natural minerals can leach out from time to time; however, using the right cleaning products can bring the product back to life.”
Explore RF Paving’s natural stone steps and made-to-order options for your landscaping project today. Want to enhance your knowledge of paving in commercial landscaping and architecture? Sign up for our CPD.
