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Publication Review

Title: Stair Safety: Research Review
Author: HUD and NAHB Research Center, 1992
File: Free Research Review, PDF 1.06 MB, 96 pages
Audience: For building scientists, designers and builders concerned with understanding, designing and building safe stairs. Some homeowners with a more technical background may also find this document of use.

Review
A review of the literature and data concerning stair geometry and other characteristics in the context of safety. Fairly dense research paper.

Issues covered include:

• stair riser and tread requirements
• stair related injury data
• riser height and speed of ascent
• stair angle, riser height and speed of ascent
• classification of treads
• tread depth and speed of ascent
• riser height and speed of descent
• riser height and speed of descent
• stair angle treat size and speed of descent
• range of stairs for comfort and safety
• stair classification by geometry
• toe switch and heel switch classifications
  

Detail drawings include:

• detail sections through various stairs, but generally heavy on text and light on graphics

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